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The American Black Film Festival Announces the 2019 Emerging Directors and Music in Motion Showcase Selections

The annual festival takes place June 12-16 in Miami Beach

Los Angeles, CA, (May 20, 2019) – The Emerging Directors and Music in Motion Showcase selections have been announced for the 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place June 12-16 in Miami. These programs were launched with the aim of increasing diverse representation in the entertainment industry and are set to screen from June 13-15 at the Regal Cinemas South Beach.

The Emerging Directors Showcase will highlight the next generation of storytellers and the work of aspiring directors of color from around the world. These original voices have developed narrative feature films, that are compelling in content and reflect today’s social issues.

The Music in Motion Showcase will feature short-form content that combine artistic musical expression and poignant visuals, such as music videos, spoken word, mini documentaries, and clever narratives to highlight the black experience.

The following films are the 2019 official selections in the Emerging Directors Showcase.

(*) denotes films that will screen at the Regal Cinemas, Theater 18, during the ABFF SOCIAL IMPACT SHOWCASE “FATHERHOOD: THE FOUNDATION OF THE BLACK FAMILY” event.

BLUEBERRY

2018 | USA | 16 min

Directed & Written by: Martina Lee

Produced by: Robbin Rae / Yana Bille

Cast: Stevie Johnson, Even Alex, Hilty Bowen, Rebecca King Crews, Tiwana Floyd

Logline: An Afrocentric podcast host goes on a quest to find his idol Harambe Cornell, but is stuck taking care of his 9-year-old son who wants to participate in the Mr. Rainbow’s Contest dressed as a blueberry.

GUMMI BEAR (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 18 min

Directed & Written by: RJ Dawson

Produced by: Rebecca Shuhan Lou

Cast: Amari O’Neal, Darielle Dorsey, Candice Renee, Javon Terrell

Logline: A brother and sister learn just how difficult it can be to be kids on an average day of life.

http://www.gummibearfilm.com/

HEAVENLY (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 13 min

Directed & Written by: Ya’Ke Smith

Produced by: Ya’Ke Smith, Ralph Lopez, Marcos Luis, Nina Noble, Felicia D. Henderson

Cast: Ashlee Smallwood, Billie D. Merritt, Alan Trong, Mikala Gibson, Shelton Jolivette

Logline: Crystal, a former ballet dancer, returns home after being sex-trafficked and struggles to shake the physical and psychological trauma she endured while in “the life.”

https://www.facebook.com/heaventhemovie/

MANHOOD

2019 | USA | 11 min

Directed & Written by: Rodney Stringfellow

Produced by: Anil Dhokai

Cast: Alfonso Freeman, Kennedy Johnson

Logline: On her 10th birthday, a little girl is scared that her father will make her undergo the same violent rite of passage her older brothers went through.

MEREBA (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 7 min

Directed by: Dawit N.M.

Written by: Dawit N.M., Marian Mereba

Produced by: Alexandre Pagot, Salim El Arja, Jordan Cardos, Benjamin Narich, Melanie Parisi, Theo Lemonnier

Cast: Marian Mereba, Jalan Durimel, Jibril Durimel, Zalma Bour, Jade Frank, Sam Hoffman, Mallory Leisten, Solomon S. Yenesu

Logline: The emotions of life framed together—the jungle breaks us, but also makes us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1XTHoGuQvg

NEGROLAND

2019 | USA | 13 min

Directed & Written by: Jewel McPherson

Produced by: Arthur Cohen, Ryan Patrick, Ruth Ferrera, Shamier Anderson, Lisa Stepp

Cast: Shamier Anderson, Marley Garner

Logline: In the near future a grieving African American father fights to save the life of his young zombie daughter.

NO TRAVELER RETURNS

2019 | USA/IVORY COAST | 12 min

Directed & Written by: Ellie Foumbi

Produced by: Ellie Foumbi, Joseph Mastantuono

Cast: Souléymane Sy Savané, Dawuda Jabbie, Fatouma Jabbie, Maba Ba

Logline: A young African immigrant’s struggles to adjust to life in America push him towards an existential crisis.

https://www.facebook.com/No-Traveler-Returns-144937003038252/

ORIGIN

2018 | USA | 19 min

Directed & Written by: Simone Lyles

Produced by: Simone Lyles, Patrick Boyd

Cast: Christina Childress, Maxine Goynes, Hugo Pierre Martin

Logline: In 1982, Kora’s self-help conversion tapes only seem to push her closer to the truth about her feelings for her best friend.

originfilm.info

OUTDOORING

2018 | USA | 18 min

Directed & Written by: Maxwell Addae

Produced by: Mis Loe

Cast: Thomas Daniel Smith, Theodore Mark Martinez

Logline: A young man attends his new nephew’s Ghanaian baby-naming ceremony with a plan to steal the money collected to run away and keep a secret hidden.

www.outdooringthefilm.com

SOPHIE’S QUINCEAÑERA

2018 | USA | 12 min

Directed & Written by: Keith Powell

Produced by: Jeremy O’Keefe, Graham Patrick Martin, Keith Powell, Matt Miller

Cast: Bashir Salahuddin, Ana Ortiz, Wallace Langham, Vladimir Caamano

Logline: A building manager dealing with his own grief must help his tenant perform a messy task at her daughter’s quinceañera.

www.sophieqfilm.com

SOULS (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 15 min

Directed & Written by: Malakai

Produced by: Anna Hashmi, Stephen Love, Marquita Bradley

Cast: Tabitha Browne, Johan Beckles, Nia Chanel

Logline: Unable to deal with her grandmother’s declining mental and physical health, a young girl uses her cardboard spaceship to escape her reality before the matriarch of her family dies.

SUICIDE BY SUNLIGHT

2018 | USA | 17 min

Directed by: Nikiyatu

Written by: Nikyatu, Robin Shanea Williams

Produced by: Nikkia Moulterie

Cast: Natalie Paul

Logline: Valentina, a day-walking black vampire protected from the sun by her melanin, is forced to restrain her bloodlust to regain custody of her estranged daughters.

http://nikyatu.com/

THE ARRIVAL

2018 | UK | 17 min

Directed & Written by: Annetta Laufer

Produced by: Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor

Cast: Naomi Ackie, Anthony Welsh, Sharlene Whyte

Logline: A young Caribbean woman struggles to adapt to her new life in the revered “Mother Country” of 1960s Britain.

http://romancandleproductions.com/

THE CURE

2018 | USA | 11 min

Directed & Written by: Kristian King

Produced by: Chester Algernal, Ritu Bansal, Ria Tobaccowala

Cast: Veanna Black, Jasmyn Coleman, Michael Mario Good, Greta Glenn

Logline: Lisa has been blessed with a gifted child, but must grapple with the costs of utilizing this miracle to keep a roof over her family’s heads.

https://www.kristianking.work/thecure

TRAINING WHEELS*

2018 |USA | 14 min

Directed & Written by: Sanicole (Sandrel Young)

Produced by: Natasha Parker, Lil Rel Howery, Kevin Fredericks, Sanicole, Richard Thomas

Cast: Zuri McPhearson, Tiffany Renee Johnson, Josiah Fredericks, Deron Powell, Messiah Equiano, David Leonard

Logline: An incredibly gifted little girl uses her telepathic powers to bring her wayward father home.

Facebook.com/TrainingWheelsShortFilm

VEILED WINGS

2018 | ITALY | 14 min

Directed by: Nadia Kibout

Written by: Nadia Kibout, Ersilia Cacace

Produced by: Alessandra Lo Savio, Giorgia Lo Savio (Jinga Pictures)

Cast: Nadia Kibout, Paola Lavini, Matteo Carlomagno, Damian Lo Pinto

Logline: How can seemingly different cultures co-exist? Nadia, a Muslim woman, and Imma, an Italian Catholic woman, meet each other and share an unexpected day.

WORLDS FROM HOME* (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 14 min

Directed & Written by: Delmar Washington

Produced by: Delmar Washington, Lynette Coll, Natasha Ward

Cast: Affion Crockett, Eli Rubio, Lynette Coll, Jason R. Moore

Logline: After their RV breaks down in the Mojave Desert, a father and his young son experience a series of challenges while rebuilding their relationship, including an encounter with a mysterious creature.

http://www.delmarwashington.com/worldsfromhome

ZAHRA AND THE OIL MAN (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 20 min

Directed by: Yucef Mayes

Written by: Yucef Mayes, Aaron Melvin

Produced by: Yucef Mayes, Aaron Melvin

Cast: Megan Hackett, Brian Dives, LJ Nelson, Saladine Stafford

Logline: Zahra, the daughter of a Muslim street merchant, fights to save her father’s struggling business in hopes of changing the trajectory of her family’s financial future.

www.zahraandoilman.com

The following films are the 2019 Music in Motion Showcase selections and will screen on Thursday, June 13 at 10 p.m. at Regal Cinemas:

BIRTH OF AFROBEAT

2018 | USA | 7 min

Directed & Written by: Opiyo Okeyo

Produced by: Opiyo Okeyo, David Glines

Cast: Tony Allen

Logline: Drum icon Tony Allen reveals how he created Africa’s biggest music genre.

http://RestInBeats.com

BLACK GIRL POEM (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 2 min

Directed & Written by: Daryl Paris Bright

Produced by: Daryl Paris Bright, Ariel Zucker (CNT Productions)

Cast: Daryl Paris Bright, Amber Jones, Claudia Logan

Logline: In Black Girl Poem, black women take a surrealist approach in confronting the power dynamic of sexual harassment within the African American community.

http://www.cntproductions.com/

CTRL

2018 | USA | 10 min

Directed & Written by: Gynai Kristol

Produced by: Bruce Fields

Cast: Gynai Kristol, Donnay Ragland, Al-Shabazz Jabateh

Logline: G finds herself caught up with someone unworthy of her time, but finally gains a sense of self-worth allowing her to entertain the right guy for her. But just because she moves on doesn’t mean her old friend will.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 5 min

Directed by: Mr. Boomtown

Written by: Farrah Parker, Ramon Montgomery

Produced by: Anthony Hamilton, Farrah Parker, Ramon Montgomery

Cast: Ezra Wright, Jakira Mouzon, Jina Smith, Greg Paroff, Kenneth Raphael, Keith Way

Logline: Grammy Award Winner Anthony Hamilton presents Love Conquers All, a short film that addresses the social injustices that plague our nation.

MAKEITTAKEIT (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 3 min

Directed by: Justin Rhodes, Kory Williams

Written & Produced by: Justin Rhodes

Cast: J. Rhodes

Logline: 2019 officially marks 400 years since the first slaves landed in America. J. Rhodes was tasked with breaking down these 400 years into a 3-minute, 23-second lyric-based visual.

MENTAL EXORCISM (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 4 min

Directed by: John “Dr Teeth” Tucker

Written by: Brad Scarface Jordan

Produced by: John “Dr Teeth” Tucker

Cast: Brad “Scarface” Jordan

Logline: In the gripping music video, MTV & BET acclaimed video director John “Dr Teeth” Tucker and legendary rap artist Scarface engage a never-ending social juxtaposition: citizen vs cop.

www.directorscutt.com

For a full listing of panels and screenings coming to the 2019 American Black Film Festival, please continue to go to the website and also download the American Black Film Festival app TODAY on Apple and Google Play for Festival updates.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Registration ends May 22nd for discounted rates and questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); BET Networks, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Comcast NBCUniversal, Cadillac (Presenting Sponsors); Dream in Black | AT&T, Capital One Spark Business, Hilton, Prudential Financial, WarnerMedia (Premier Sponsors); AMC Theatres, American Airlines, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Netflix, Sony, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, Aspire, Crown Royal, Gentleman Jack, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, OWN, Spotify, truTV, UMC – Urban Movie Channel, Verizon Media, Warner Bros. (Supporting Sponsors); ABC, Arrington & Phillips LLC., Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman Law Firm, Franklin Kurnit Klein & Selz PC, IFC, SAGIndie (Industry Partners) and Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com, Invest Atlanta (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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The Slate of Films in Competition Announced for the 2019 American Black Film Festival

Emerging and established filmmakers bring innovative storytelling and diverse perspective to the festival lineup

The annual festival takes place June 12-16 in Miami Beach

Los Angeles, CA, (May 10, 2019) – The 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is excited to announce their distinctive 2019 lineup of narrative features, documentaries and short films in competition. Films are set to screen in Miami from June 13-15 at the Regal Cinemas South Beach and the New World Center.

Adhering to its mission of providing a platform for diverse voices in cinema, the festival is set to showcase 25+ films and web series to a record number of attendees through its narrative, documentary, web series and HBO® Short Film Competition. The slate will boast an array of genre’s surrounding the black diaspora and feature a multitude of emerging and veteran filmmakers. Each of this year’s selections tackle topical issues including, survival, violence, parenthood, health, love, forgiveness, mental illness and friendship. These stories continue to illustrate the Festival’s commitment in being the cornerstone for emerging content creators of color, as well as highlight empowering stories pertinent to today’s society.

The winners of each category will be announced during the “Best of ABFF” Awards, presented by Dream in Black | AT&T, on the evening of Saturday, June 15th at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. The nominees for Best Director, Best Narrative Feature, Best Actor and Best Screenplay will be announced on Friday, May 17th.

The complete list of films in competition at the 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival is listed below:

NARRATIVE FEATURES
The following films are the 2019 official selections in the Narrative Features category. Films in this category are eligible to be nominated for the following Jury Awards – Best Director (presented by Cadillac, prize is $5,000), Best Narrative Feature (presented by Prudential Financial, prize is $5,000), Best Actor (presented by AT&T), and Best Screenplay (prize is $2,500). In addition, each film will compete for the ABFF Audience Award (presented by BET Networks, prize is $10,000).

All films in this section will screen at the Regal Cinemas 18 Theater June 13 – June 15.

#TRUTH

2019 | USA | 105 min
Directed & Written by: Charles Murray
Produced by: Jackie Stone
Cast: Dorian Missick, Simone Missick, Michael Beach, Terrell Tilford, Victoria Platt
Logline: After a journalists’ cousin commits suicide, he investigates what caused her to take her life and the people he believes are responsible.

ALL IN (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 105 min
Directed by: Ibrahim Yilla
Written by: Tressa Azarel Smallwood, Iman Smallwood, Leslie Allen
Produced by: Kia Freeman, Gregory Freeman, Tressa Azarel Smallwood, Audrea Topps-Harjo
Cast: Niatia “Lil Mama” Kirkland, Elise Neal, Robert Christopher Riley, Lyric Hurd, Lena Anthony, Jim Jones, Traci Braxton
Logline: A dysfunctional single mother gets pulled back into a life of crime while trying to make a better future for her three children.
Website: www.megamindmedia.net

HIS, HERS & THE TRUTH (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 90 min
Directed & Written by: Coke Daniels
Produced by: Vanzil Burke, Victor Burke, Cristina Davis, Errol Sadler
Cast: Brad James, Ashley A. Williams, Terri J. Vaughn, Dorien Wilson, Cocoa Brown Dawn Halfkenny, Duane Finley, Kaye Singleton, Edsel Love Patterson, Shacai O’Neal, Karon Riley, Erin Elizabeth Feest

Logline: Alan and Tanya have been acquaintances for years, but have yet to become romantically involved, until now.
Website: https://hishersthetruth.com

IF NOT NOW, WHEN? (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 126 min

Directed by: Meagan Good, Tamara Bass

Written by: Tamara Bass

Produced by: Meagan Good, Tamara Bass, Sway Calloway, LaMyia Good, Datari Turner

Cast: Meagan Good, Meagan Holder, Mekia Cox, Tamara Bass, Valarie Pettiford

Logline: A story about love, forgiveness, sisterhood and second chances.

Website: www.krazyactressproductions.com

JEZEBEL

2018 |USA | 88 min

Directed & Written by: Numa Perrier

Produced by: Numa Perrier, Winter Dunn, Dwayne Dugger II

Cast: Tiffany Tenille, Numa Perrier, Stephen Barrington, Bobby Field, Brett Gelman

Logline: In the last days of her mother’s life, 19-year old Tiffany crashes with five family members in a Las Vegas studio apartment. In order to make ends meet, her older sister, a phone sex operator, introduces her to the world of internet fetish cam girls.

Website: www.thejezebelmovie.com

JUSTINE

2018 | USA | 106 min

Directed & Written by: Stephanie Turner

Produced by: Angie Edgar, Louise Shore, Stephanie Turner, Glynn Turman

Cast: Glynn Turman, Stephanie Turner, Darby Stanchfield, Josh Stamberg, Cleo King, Bridget Kallal, Ravi Cabot-Conyers

Logline: A single mom of two takes a job as a nanny to an 8-year old girl with spina bifida. At first an unlikely pair, the two end up helping one another overcome personal obstacles.

Website: justinethemovie.com

LOVE DOT COM – THE SOCIAL EXPERIMENT (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 98 min

Directed by: Charneice Fox

Written by: Charneice Fox, Michelle Sewell

Produced by: BK Fulton, Jacquelyn E. Stone, Monty Ross, Michele Lopez, Kimberly C. Gaines, Charneice Fox

Cast: Brave Williams, Tobias Truvillion, Kym Whitley, LisaRae McCoy, Charles Malik Whitfield, Wes Felton Raheem DeVaughn, Christopher Williams

Logline: A vegan chef with a broken heart and an exhausted budget finds love face to face but opts for technology to make the final decision.

Website: www.lovedotcomthemovie.com

PERFECTLY SINGLE

2019 | USA | 99 min

Directed & Written by: Van Elder

Produced by: Van Elder, Jela Okpara

Cast: Erica Hubbard, Torrei Hart, Dominique Perry, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Omar Gooding

Logline: A quirky and successful optometrist in the twilight of her life turns to her friends for help in finding social fulfillment, but she has ignored one particular place…Within.

PRINCESS OF THE ROW

2018 | USA | 85 min

Directed by: Van Maximilian Carlson

Written by: Van Maximilian Carlson, A. Shawn Austin

Produced by: A. Shawn Austin

Cast: Tayler Buck, Edi Gathegi, Ana Ortiz, Jacob Vargas and Martin Sheen

Logline: The inspiring tale of a runaway foster child who will stop at nothing to live with the only family she knows: her father… a homeless mentally ill veteran who lives on the streets of LA’s Skid Row.

Website: www.facebook.com/PrincessOfTheRowMovie

SAME DIFFERENCE (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 88 min

Directed & Written by: Derege Harding

Produced by: Datari Turner

Cast: Essence Atkins, Terrence Jenkins, Edwina Findley, Demetrius Shipp, Jr., Melvin Gregg, Ginger Gonzaga, Page Kennedy, Kandi Burruss, Affion Crockett, Lew Temple

Logline: As Tonya Keating grapples with the innate knowledge that her death is imminent, she is compelled to let go of the past and reconcile with her estranged twin sister.

STRIVE

2018 | USA | 82 min
Directed by: Robert Rippberger
Written by: Piper Dellums, Sha-Risse Smith
Produced by: Robert Rippberger, Ace Salvador, Hiroki Kamada, Piper Dellums, Scott M. Rosenfelt, Tobias Deml
Cast: Joie Campbell, Ricky Flowers Jr., Chelsea Williams, Danny Glover, Shaylin Becton
Logline: A teenager from the projects in Harlem aims to get into Yale, but must push against the world holding her back.

UNA GREAT MOVIE

2018 | USA/MEXICO | 102 min

Directed & Written by: Jennifer Sharp

Produced by: Jennifer Sharp, Matthew Morgan

Cast: JoNell Kennedy, Numa Perrier, Jose Casasús, Jake Olson

Logline: A beautiful diverse movie about a black American in Mexico, slowly becomes a romantic comedy with an all-white cast.

Website: www.unagreatmovie.com

DOCUMENTARIES
The following films are the 2019 official selections in the Documentary category. Each film will compete for the Jury Award Best Documentary, presented by ABFF, prize is $2,500.

All films in this section will screen at the Regal Cinemas 18 Theater June 13 – June 15.

BUCKJUMPING

2018 | USA | 70 min

Directed by: Lily Keber

Produced by: Lily Keber, Stephen Rose

Principal Subject(s): Mia X, Mannie Fresh, Ausettua AmorAmenkum, Nicholas Payton, DJ Jubilee

Logline: Buckjumping follows six dancing communities as they demonstrate ownership of the streets of New Orleans, commemorate their dead, forge community and find spiritual transcendence.

Website: buckjumping.com

CHICAGO AT THE CROSSROAD (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 83 min

Directed by: Brian Schodorf

Written by: Brian Schodorf, Afrika Porter

Produced by: Malik Yusef, Afrika Porter, Nathan Weber, Brian Schodorf, Burundi Partlow, Randy Crumpton, Malachi Gross

Principal Subject(s): Malik Yusef, Leonard GLC Harris, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Father Michael Pfleger, Arne Duncan

Logline: Where did Chicago go wrong? Chicago at the Crossroad tells the story of a city caught in the aftermath of a policy of mass displacement shaded by a long history of segregation.

Website: https://www.chicagoatthecrossroad.com

ONE CHILD LEFT BEHIND: THE UNTOLD ATLANTA CHEATING SCANDAL

2018 | USA | 87 min

Directed & Written by: Jodi Gomes

Produced by: Jodi Gomes, Anthony McLemore, Ladawn Jones, Marsha Hallager

Principal Subject(s): Dana Evans, Tamara Cotman, Christopher Waller, Diane Ravitch, Lamar Waldron
Logline: In 2009, 1,176 Atlanta teachers were investigated for test cheating; 35 were indicted, 12 went to trial and 11 were found guilty on RICO charges. The guilty, serving 30-year sentences, finally break their silence in this tell-all film.

Website: www.onechildleftbehindmovie.com

THE TAKEOVER: THE REVOLUTION OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 62 min

Directed by: Eric D. Seals

Written by: Donnie Seals Jr.

Produced by: Brittany Applegate

Principal Subject(s): Daphne Maxwell Reid, Kathryn Ogletree, Clovis Semmes, Michael Wilbon, Harry Lennix

Logline: In 1968, more than 100 black Northwestern students took over the school’s Bursar’s Office for 38 hours to demand equal rights.

Website: digife.com/TheTakeover

VISION PORTRAITS

2019 | USA/CANADA/GERMANY | 78 min

Directed & Written by: Rodney Evans

Produced by: Rodney Evans, Rob Wunder

Principal Subject(s): Rodney Evans, John Dugdale, Kayla Hamilton and Ryan Knighton

Logline: A documentary that chronicles the creative paths of blind and visually impaired artists including a photographer, dancer, writer and the film’s director.

Website: www.rodneyevansfilm.com

HBO® SHORT FILMS
The following films are the 2019 official selections in the HBO® Short Film Competition, now in its 22nd year. Each film in this category will compete for the ABFF’s HBO® Short Film Award, prize is $10,000 for the winner and $5,000 for each of the finalists. The 22nd Annual HBO® Short Film Competition is on Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m. Hosted by Bevy Smith (Page Six TV), the competition will be held in the New World Center – Performance Hall. The winner will be announced during the “Best of the ABFF” Awards Presentation on Saturday, June 15 at 9 p.m.

CAP (World Premiere)

2019 | USA | 16 min

Directed & Written by: Marshall Tyler

Produced by: Moira Griffin, Marshall Tyler

Cast: Medina Senghore, Tunde Adebimpe, Dusan Brown

Logline: 15-year-old Manny Bennitt learns the hard way the price of being cool.

EVELYN X EVELYN

2018 | USA | 13 min

Directed & Written by: Eric Pumphrey

Produced by: Angelo Pullen, Tommy Savas, Luke Baybak, Jenna Johnson, Judy Craig

Cast: Natalie Paul, Jocko Sims

Logline: Grief can be overwhelming for just us to tackle alone.

FLIGHT

2018 | JAMAICA | 13 min

Directed by: Kia Moses, Adrian McDonald

Written by: Kia Moses

Produced by: Tashara-Lee Johnson

Cast: Rohiem Phillips, Craig Robinson, Jermaine ‘Zbek’ Nelson, Danielo Reid, Akalia Golding, Christopher McKoy

Logline: A Jamaican boy sets out on a dream, ten times his size, to fly to the moon, despite his circumstances and father’s opposition.

THE FISHERMAN

2018 | GHANA | 15 min

Directed & Written by: Zoey Martinson

Produced by: Kofi Owusu Afriyie, Zoey Martinson

Cast: Ziggy Netteyson, Kiki-Romi, Elizabeth Nortey

Logline: An aging fisherman goes out to sea one day and returns with a talking fish.

Website: www.thefishermanshortfilm.com

WEDNESDAY (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 13 min

Directed by: Daniel Willis

Written by: Jessica D. Shields

Produced by: Melina Lizette, Mariyam Mahbub

Cast: Mychala Lee, Chene Lawson

Logline: Recently homeless and living in a car with her mother, a teenage girl commits a reckless act, desperate to rescue a vestige of their former life.

Website: www.facebook.com/wednesdayshortfilm/

WEB SERIES
The following are the 2019 official selections in the Web Series category. Each film will compete for the jury award Best Web Series, presented by Verizon Media.

All films in this section will screen at the Regal Cinemas 18 Theater June 13 – June 15.

BLACK GIRLS GUIDE TO FERTILITY

2018 | USA | 20 min

Directed by: Crystle Roberson

Written by: Sonhara Eastman

Produced by: Sonhara Eastman, Ronald Eastman II, Carmen K. Jones

Cast: Raney Branch, Monyetta Shaw, Ali Amin Carter, Cindy Jefferson, Nicky Buggs, Jamir Vega

Logline: Ava is a 37-year-old romance novelist who faded into obscurity after finding love-and now finds herself on the rise again after self-publishing a diary detailing her fertility woes.

Website: http://www.blackgirlsguidetofertility.com

KING ESTER (World Premiere)

2018 | USA | 20 min

Directed & Written by: Dui Jarrod

Produced by: Angelica Ross, Caralene Robinson, Ryan Robertson, Jon Mallow

Cast: DeJaye Joseph, Angelica Ross, Janet Hubert, Dane Edidi, Martin L. Bradford, Lindsey G. Smith, LJ Scott, Roland Lane, Omar Washington

Logline: A bold-living trans woman must decide whether to stay or leave New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina approaches.

Website: www.kingester.com

LITTLE APPLE

2018 | USA | 14 min

Directed & Written by: Riley S. Wilson

Produced by: Riley S. Wilson, Lisa Cortes, Okema T. Moore, Angel Lenise

Cast: Apple Montague, Milan Williams, Charlene Montague, Gabrielle Eitienne

Logline: For Apple, a 9-year-old Harlem girl, a new school year brings new enemies, new special abilities and a new neighborhood in the midst of natural and supernatural conflict.

Website: www.LittleAppleTheSeries.com

OTIS

2018 | USA | 20 min

Directed & Written by: Alexander Etseyatse

Produced by: Ebony Lewis, Lily Johnson

Cast: Alexander Etseyatse, Dwinsley Homere, Keithen Hergott, Murray Adams

Logline: A mentally unstable young man struggles to win his old life back.

Website: anAEfilm.com

PLATONIC

2018 | USA | 13 min

Directed by: Winter Dunn

Written by: Moni Oyedepo

Produced by: Arielle Noel, Moni Oyedepo

Cast: Moni Oyedepo, Chinedu Unaka, Adriyan Rae, Ego Nwodim

Logline: Platonic is the story of two friends who overlook their “mild” attraction to each other for the good of the friendship.

Website: platonictheseries.com

TALES FROM THE BIG APPLE (World Premiere)

2018 | NIGERIA | 12 min

Directed & Written by: Victor Okoye Frank (Victor O’Frank)

Produced by: Mina Sanosi

Cast: Emmanuel Ogonna, Abdulazeem Dulo Harris, Andrea-Rachel Parker

Logline: Emeka is new to the big apple, does he have what it takes to survive the big city?

For a full listing of panels and screenings coming to the 2019 American Black Film Festival, please continue to go to the website and also download the American Black Film Festival app TODAY on Apple and Google Play for Festival updates.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Registration ends May 22nd for discounted rates and questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); BET Networks, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Comcast NBCUniversal, Cadillac (Presenting Sponsors); Dream in Black | AT&T, Capital One Spark Business, Hilton, Prudential Financial, WarnerMedia (Premier Sponsors); AMC Theatres, American Airlines, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Netflix, Sony, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, AspireTV, Crown Royal, Facebook, Gentleman Jack, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, OWN, Spotify, truTV, UMC, UrbanFlix, Verizon Media, Warner Bros. (Supporting Sponsors); ABC, AIDS Health Foundation, Arrington & Phillip’s – Attorneys at Law, Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman Law Firm, Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, IFC Networks, SAGindie (Industry Partners) and Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com, Invest Atlanta, TheGrio.com (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

,

The 2019 American Black Film Festival Announces its Lineup of Panels, Conversations and Spotlight Screenings

Screenings include The Bobby Debarge Story (TV ONE), BEATS (Netflix) and David Makes Man (OWN), along with an array of panelists including Spike Lee, Malcolm D. Lee, Steven Caple Jr., Niecy Nash, Will Packer and more!

Los Angeles, CA, (May 8, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, continues to deliver on their promise to showcase some of today’s hottest talent and provide a platform for emerging artists. This year’s lineup will include conversations, screenings and panels with diverse and inspiring filmmakers, icons and industry executives, presented by some of the most innovative brands in entertainment.

Academy Award-winning director Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) will come together with his protege and first time-director, Stefon Bristol, for a Clips and Conversation about his latest Netflix film, “See You Yesterday.” Stefon is an ABFF alum and was a finalist in the 2017 HBO Short Film Competition, held exclusively at the festival. Netflix will also showcase two additional films, The Black Godfather and a special screening of Beats. The Black Godfather charts the exceptional and unlikely rise of music executive Clarence Avant. Director Reginald Hudlin will discuss the making of the film during a Q&A after the screening. A coming of age drama, Beats is about a musical prodigy (Khalil Everage) who forms an unlikely friendship with his high school security guard played by Anthony Anderson.

Beyond the Spider-Verse: What’s Next for Sony Pictures Animation with a conversation between Academy Award-winner Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse), Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love) and Karen Tolliver (SVP of Creative, Sony Pictures Animation). The Art of Directing panel will merge together directors from last year’s top films, Malcolm D. Lee (Night School), Steven Caple, Jr. (Creed II), George Tillman Jr. (The Hate You Give) and Boots Riley (Sorry to Bother You) for a discussion about their creative process. NBCUniversal will present two exciting panels: The Story Behind the Music with Songland’s Ester Dean, an intimate conversation with Grammy-nominated songwriter Ester Dean (Pitch Perfect) covering her successful career and her role in finding the next great song and songwriter on “Songland.” Their dual panel, The Come Up: A Conversation with the Stars of NBC will feature Jocko Sims (New Amsterdam), Niles Fitch (This is Us), LaRoyce Hawkins (Chicago P.D.) and Ego Nwodim (SNL); Bravo Media Presents: Families & Black Love will discuss love, family and relationships with Porsha Williams (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), Karen Huger (The Real Housewives of Potomac) and Dr. Jaqueline Walters (Married to Medicine).

WarnerMedia’s panel will discuss all things “Claws” with My Journey from ABFF to the Claws Writing Room: The CinderFella Story of 2017 ABFF Award Winner Darrin Dortch with panelists Niecy Nash, Darrin Dortch, Janine Sherman Barrois and Eliot Laurence.

Accenture and Hilton will present The About Women panel with Iyanla Vanzant (Fix My Life), Tracy Oliver (Little, Girl’s Trip) and La La Anthony (Power), who will offer their personal in-depth experiences and perspectives on being women of color in Hollywood. The panel will be moderated by Emmy Award-winning journalist, Jemele Hill.

The ABFF screenings will feature The Bobby Debarge Story courtesy of TV One, a highly-anticipated tale of the eldest sibling of the world-famous pop group Debarge and his struggles with fame and fortune.

OWN presents two highly-anticipated dramas at the festival, with the episodic world premiere of “Ambitions,” helmed from executive producer Will Packer, featuring Jamey Giddens, Robin Givens, Essence Atkins, Brian White and Kendrick Cross. OWN’S second film, David Makes Man, from Oscar-winner Tarrell Alvin McCraney and executive producers Oprah Winfrey and Michael B. Jordan will be screened then followed by a talkback with McCraney, AKili McDowell (Criminal Activities), Phylicia Rashad (Empire), Dee Harris Lawrence (Unsolved) and Alana Arenas (Canal Street). IFC will highlight a new series, Sherman’s Showcase, produced by actors/writers Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin and executive produced by John Legend, a musical variety show that draws inspiration from “Solid Gold,” “Soul Train” and “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.”

Def Comedy Jam co-creator Bob Sumner will host the screening of his truTV show Laff Mobb’s Laff Tracks, with DJ and comedian Cipha Sounds. This half-hour series, with the next generation of comedians, brings their hilarious personal stories to life with a playful reinvention of stand-up.

Director Matty Rich will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his film, “The Inkwell,” in the classic cinema section of the festival and will discuss the making of the film and its importance to film history.

For a full listing of panels and screenings coming to the 2019 American Black Film Festival, please continue to go to the website and also download the American Black Film Festival app TODAY on Apple and Google Play for festival updates.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Registration ends May 22nd for discounted rates and questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); BET Networks, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Comcast NBCUniversal, Cadillac (Presenting Sponsors); Dream in Black | AT&T, Capital One Spark Business, Hilton, Prudential Financial, WarnerMedia (Premier Sponsors); AMC, American Airlines, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Netflix, Sony, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, Aspire, Crown Royal, Gentleman Jack, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority, OWN, Spotify, truTV, UMC – Urban Movie Channel, Verizon Media, Warner Bros. (Supporting Sponsors); ABC, Arrington & Phillips LLC., Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment, Morris Yorn Barnes Levine Krintzman Rubenstein Kohner & Gellman Law Firm, Franklin Kurnit Klein & Selz PC, IFC Networks, SAGIndie (Industry Partners) and Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com, Invest Atlanta (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and ABFF has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

,

Finalists Announced for the 7th Annual ABFF Comedy Wings Competition

COMEDIANS WILL FACE OFF FOR THE TOP SPOT IN MIAMI ON FRIDAY, JUNE 14TH

The 23rd American Black Film Festival held in Miami June 12-16

Los Angeles, CA, (April 17, 2019) – ABFF Ventures announced today their selection of finalists who will compete at the 7th annual ABFF Comedy Wings Competition, presented by HBO. Last night, nine comedians competed in the ABFF Comedy Wings Semifinals Showcase held at the HaHa Comedy Club in Los Angeles, hosted by Chris Spencer.

The contestants were judged by accomplished artists and industry executives, including “Def Comedy Jam” Producer Bob Sumner; Comedian and Actor Jay Phillips; Television Executive and Producer Rikki Hughes; Comedian and Actor Guy Torry; Comedian and Actor J.B. Smoove; Comedian and Actress Kym Whitley; Manager, Talent Development Robert Patla; Comedian and Actor Red Grant; ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday, Founding Partner at Curated By Media Cameron Mitchell and Comedian and Actress, Erica Ash.

The finalists will receive an all-expense paid trip and (2) festival passes to the 23rd American Black Film Festival from June 12-16. Each finalist will then go toe-to-toe in a comedy battle on Friday, June 14th at the New World Center in Miami for a chance to win a $5,000 cash prize and attend an informational meeting with HBO talent executives. Comedian Deon Cole will host this highly popular night of hilarity at its best.

The Comedy Wings Competition is one of several platforms innovated by the ABFF that is designed to uncover talent and introduce them to a broader audience. ABFF has always participated in the cultivation of Black talent and has provided a stage over the years for dynamic performers such as Kevin Hart, Cedric the Entertainer, Craig Robinson, Tommy Davidson and Bill Bellamy.

“The Comedy Wings Competition highlights emerging comedians and allows us, through our long-time partnership with HBO, to showcase this talent to the entertainment industry. We’re very excited about this year’s lineup of finalists and expect one or more of them to a break out star,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF Ventures.

“HBO has been proudly supporting The Comedy Wings competition since its inception,” said Dennis Williams, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO. “It has become one of the highlights of the festival and we are thrilled to be able to open doors and provide opportunities to diverse, groundbreaking comedic voices. HBO has a longstanding reputation for discovering and nurturing talent and we are excited to laugh with the finalists that will grace the stage this year at the ABFF!”

This year’s five finalists are emerging comics from across the United States, with diverse styles and sensibilities. The 2019 ABFF Comedy Wings finalists are:

Allan Cunningham
Comedian Allan Cunningham is one of the last great storytellers. His laid-back demeanor allows him to paint a hilarious picture so vivid you can hang on the wall. Off stage you can catch him mastering his craft as an actor, director and writer.

Brian Tucker
From humble beginnings in Atlanta Georgia, Brian Tucker also known as B-Tuck, began his stand-up comedy career in 2013. He started regularly hosting at the Original Uptown Comedy Corner. As well as touring comedy clubs all across the east coast including Comedy Zone, Stardome, Zanies, Stand Up Live, and Atlanta Comedy Theater. Since starting his career, he has worked with major acts such as Ricky Smiley, Michael Colyer, Mark Curry, Kountry Wayne, Karlous Miller, and TK Kirkland.

Kevin D. White
Comedian Kevin D. White is an American stand-up comedian and writer that loves poking fun at cultural stereotypes one joke at a time. Being a native of Chicago, IL and with over 15 years in stand up, his creative content is undeniably funny. He has shared the stage with some of today’s leading legends such as, Katt Williams, Lil Rel, Hannibal Burress, Damon Williams, Faison Love and Deon Cole just to name a few. White is more than ready to become one of your favorite comedians.

Reginal Thomas
Reg Thomas has been moving across the country with his brand of smart comedy, in which he focuses on his upbringing and experiences in life. He is simply a productive stoner living in a crazy world, trying to make sense of it all. Thomas has produced content for media companies including BuzzFeed, Atlantic Records and KicksOnFire.com. He has written for Complex Magazine, been on Trutv for their show Jobs Unlisted and, also produces the touring comedy show Productively Stoned. He has toured with Amanda Seales, Chris Redd and Jordan Rock.

Tyana Davis
Tyana Davis, known professionally as Ty Davis, is a comedian, radio personality, writer, producer and actress. She is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina but resides in Maryland. After her mother retired from the military in 2001, she moved to Baltimore where she started her comedy career almost five years ago. Ty frequently performs at The Baltimore Comedy Factory, DC Improv, various venues in the DMV and along the upper east coast. She is the host of The Morning After Show on DTLR Radio Monday through Friday 11am-2pm ET.

Festival passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Registration ends May 22nd for discounted rates. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); BET Networks, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); Capital One, Hilton, Prudential, Turner (Premier Sponsors); American Airlines, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sony, TV One (Official Sponsors); Accenture, Gentleman Jack, OWN, truTV, Warner Bros., Urban Movie Channel (UMC) (Supporting Sponsors); SAGIndie (Industry Partner); and Black Enterprise, Blackfilm.com (Media Partners).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

ABOUT HBO:
HBO® is one of the most respected and innovative entertainment brands in the world, serving iconic, award-winning programming to 142 million subscribers globally. A subsidiary of WarnerMedia, HBO is the world’s most successful pay TV service with an extensive array of programming that includes some of the most notable titles to be on television including Game of Thrones®, Big Little Lies®, Westworld®, The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, Band of Brothers®, and The Wire®. In the United States, HBO® and sister network Cinemax® are available across multiple platforms including HBO On Demand®, Cinemax On Demand®, HBO GO® and MAX GO®, as well as HBO NOW®. Internationally, HBO branded services, including television networks and the standalone streaming product HBO GO®, are available in more than 70 countries across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. HBO and Cinemax programming is also sold into more than 150 countries worldwide.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

,

The ‘About Women’ Global Initiative Launches as a Panel at the 2019 American Black Film Festival

Panelists include Academy Award-winning Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter and writer/producer Tracy Oliver

Los Angeles, CA, (March 20, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, launches ABOUT WOMEN, a global initiative dedicated to inspiring and uniting women of color in the film and television industry. The mission is to ensure that the voices of multicultural women in Hollywood are heard and their perspectives considered.

The ABOUT WOMEN panel will bring together a multigenerational group of women including filmmakers, actors, designers, and executives to discuss topics, issues, and opportunities specific to their experiences, including gendered language in the workplace, wage disparity, the #METOO movement and other inequities that adversely affect women of color in Hollywood.

Confirmed panelists include Academy Award-winning costume designer, Ruth E. Carter (Black Panther, Selma) and film/television writer and producer Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip, Little). More panelists to be confirmed. The session will be moderated by Emmy Award-winning journalist, Jemele Hill.

The panel will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019 from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm in the Americana Ballroom 3 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel and is sponsored by Hilton and Accenture.

“We wanted to create a platform where leading women in Hollywood could share their stories with other women around the world to help define clear pathways to success for aspiring female artists and executives in the entertainment industry,” says Nicole Friday, General Manager, ABFF Ventures.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); BET Networks, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capital One, Hilton, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines, Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sony, TV One (Official Sponsor); and Accenture, Gentleman Jack, truTV, Warner Bros. (Supporting Partner).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

,

The Social Impact Showcase, a Section Dedicated To Socially Conscious Films, Launches at the 2019 American Black Film Festival

EVENT HOSTED BY ACTOR AND AUTHOR OMAR EPPS

Los Angeles, CA, (February 13, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), taking place in Miami June 12-16, launches the first Social Impact Showcase, a curated program dedicated to raising awareness of films based on cause-related themes, relevant to communities of color. This year’s theme Fatherhood: The Foundation of the Black Family will feature a collection of short films, followed by an engaging conversation with the directors, and the event host— actor and author Omar Epps.

The goal of this program is to change the narrative of Black fathers by highlighting their presence, importance and contribution to their families, and by extension, the Black community. Therefore, positively affecting society’s view of them. The event will take place during the Festival at the Loews Miami Beach on Saturday, June 15.

Epps knows the personal impact of being a present father within his family and openly recalls growing up without his biological father, then becoming one himself. He shares his story of pain and triumph in his new book, From Fatherless to Fatherhood that recognizes the many themes surrounding the importance of family and community.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Jeff Friday and the ABFF on this year’s newly minted fatherhood initiative. Fatherhood within our urban communities has been a painful issue en masse, but there are also several positive stories that don’t get highlighted. I’m looking forward to celebrating men who’ve succeeded in fatherhood and will share my own story as written in my first book, From Fatherless To Fatherhood,” says Omar Epps.

Below is the criteria for the Social Impact Showcase. Deadline for submissions is March 11th. Please visit: https://www.abff.com/miami/submissions/social-impact-showcase/ for more details.

Criteria:

  • Films must have a 30-minute maximum runtime
  • Section is open to US & international entries
  • Entrants must be 18 years of age or older
  • Writer, director, or producer must be a person of African descent, or the film content must have a multicultural perspective
  • Films must be in the English language or contain English-language subtitles
  • Films must have completed principal photography on or after January 1, 2018
  • Films that have been, or will be, broadcast or streamed on television or the internet, or released via any other public distribution platform (theatrical, Blu-ray, DVD, VOD, etc.) in any country prior to June 17, 2019, are not eligible for this category

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Passes are on sale at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to Festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capital One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV, Warner Bros. (Supporting Partner).

ABFF Social Media Platforms:

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to empowering black artists and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Committed to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black filmmaking community by encouraging resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. He ultimately envisioned it as a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood. ABFF is the pre-eminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in entertainment. For more than two decades the festival has been a platform for emerging black artists — premiering the early work and showcasing the talent of many of today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the festival attracts a broad audience of A-list talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the event. The five-day festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

,

New Line Cinema’s “SHAFT” Selected as the Opening Night Film at the 2019 American Black Film Festival

SAMUEL L. JACKSON, JESSIE T. USHER, RICHARD ROUNDTREE, REGINA HALL & MORE STAR IN THE NEWEST CHAPTER OF THE FILM FRANCHISE

Los Angeles, CA, (February 5, 2019) – New Line Cinema’s action comedy Shaft will open the 2019 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) on June 12 at the New World Center in Miami. Opening nationwide on June 14, the latest film in the popular franchise is directed by Tim Story (“Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man” franchises) and stars three generations of John Shaft: Samuel L. Jackson (“Avengers: Infinity War,” “Glass”), Jessie T. Usher (“Independence Day: Resurgence”) and Richard Roundtree (“What Men Want”); along with Regina Hall (“Girls Trip”). The ABFF runs from June 12-16.

The new film follows JJ—aka John Shaft, Jr. (Usher)— as he works to uncover the truth behind his best friend’s untimely death. For this he will need an education only his dad can provide. Absent throughout JJ’s youth, the legendary locked-and-loaded John Shaft (Jackson) agrees to help his progeny navigate the streets of Harlem. And while JJ’s own FBI analyst’s badge may clash with his dad’s trademark leather duster, there’s no denying family. Besides, Shaft’s got an agenda of his own, and a score to settle that’s professional and personal.

Shaft also stars Alexandra Shipp (“X-Men: Apocalypse”), Titus Welliver (“Argo”) and Cliff “Method Man” Smith (“The Deuce,” “Keanu”). The screenplay is written by Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”) & Alex Barnow (“The Goldbergs”). John Davis produced the film, with Richard Brener, Josh Mack, Tim Story, Ira Napoliello, Kenya Barris, Marc S. Fischer serving as executive producers. Shaft will be in theaters nationwide June 14, 2019 and distributed in North America by Warner Bros. Pictures.

“We are thrilled Shaft will be the opening night film at the 2019 ABFF. The original classic film helped to define a genre that revolutionized black storytelling, not only for its powerful imagery and style, but also for Isaac Hayes’ award-winning soundtrack. Its impact is still significant in our culture today, and we are extremely excited to see Tim Story’s rendition of this brand new multi-generational feature,” says Nicole Friday, General Manager of ABFF Ventures.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capital One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV, Warner Bros. (Supporting Partner).

ABOUT ABFF:
ABFF Ventures, LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversify in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed in 2014 and acquired the American Black Film Festival to widen the global footprint of the brand and stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. The company is a joint venture between Film Life, Inc and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement. ABFFV’s tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker Magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World,” and “ABFF Honors,” a televised annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities. In 2018, the company expanded with the launch of ABFF Studios, a division that produces branded entertainment.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

,

Actress/Producer La La Anthony Will Serve as the 2019 American Black Film Festival Ambassador

THE 23RD FESTIVAL RETURNS TO MIAMI JUNE 12-16, 2019

Los Angeles, CA, (January 25, 2019) – Today, ABFF Ventures announced actress, producer, author and entrepreneur La La Anthony will serve as the 2019 American Black Film Festival’s Ambassador, to be held in Miami Beach, June 12-16.

“It is an honor to be named the 2019 ABFF Ambassador. I have admired the work of the American Black Film Festival for many years and am looking forward to being a part of the great work they do in the black film community,” expressed Anthony.

La La currently stars in the #1 hit show, “Power” as Lakeisha Grant on the STARZ Network and recently served as Executive Producer of the hit BET docu-series “Killer Curves.” Her film credits include the critically-acclaimed Spike Lee film, Chi-Raq, ABFF alum and producer Will Packer’s Think Like a Man and Think Like a Man Too, and David E. Talbert’s Baggage Claim. On stage, she starred in the Off Broadway play “Love, Loss and What I Wore” and also produced the 2016 Tony Award nominated play “Eclipsed,” starring Lupita Nyong’o. La La is also a #1 New York Times best-selling author of two books, The Love Playbook and The Power Playbook.

“La La Anthony’s recent work in both film and television is a reflection of the American Black Film Festival’s mission—showcasing the talent of today’s successful diverse artists,” says Jeff Friday, CEO and founder of ABFF Ventures. “We are happy to have La La as our 2019 ABFF Ambassador and hope to see you in Miami this June.”

Previous Ambassadors have included: Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, Idris Elba, Jay Ellis, Taraji P. Henson, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick and Common.

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer three different levels of access to the Festival. Questions regarding registration, sponsorship and programming, should be directed to [email protected]. The 2019 Festival will continue the annual celebration of highlighting Black filmmakers. Attendees will enjoy celebrity conversations, panels, master classes, spotlight screenings and independent films and more.

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capitol One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV (Supporting Partner).

ABOUT ABFF:
ABFF Ventures, LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversify in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed in 2014 and acquired the American Black Film Festival to widen the global footprint of the brand and stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. The company is a joint venture between Film Life, Inc and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement. ABFFV’s tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker Magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World,” and “ABFF Honors,” a televised annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities. In 2018, the company expanded with the launch of ABFF Studios, a division that produces branded entertainment.

PRESS CONTACT:

Strategic Heights Media
Michelle Huff Elliott
[email protected]
212-634-7176

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Film Submissions Open for the 2019 American Black Film Festival

Los Angeles, CA, (January 24, 2019) – The 23rd annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) returns to Miami from June 12-16, 2019 and continues to showcase quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Film submissions are now open in four competitive categories: Narrative Features, Documentary Features, Web Series and the HBO® Short Film Competition. Over $50,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded to the winners at the Festival’s Best of ABFF Awards presentation. Festival attendees will also have their choice of over seventy programs and events, including celebrity conversations, panels, master classes, spotlight screenings and hospitality lounges.

Last year’s Festival celebrated diverse filmmakers and presented attendees with an array of films including: Jury Award winner for Best Director and Audience Award winner “Sprinter,” directed by Storm Salter, Best Web Series winner “KELOID U.S.A.,” directed by Huriyyah Muhammad, and Jury Award winner for Best Screenplay “JINN,” by Nijla Mumin.

Below is a brief description for each category. For complete submission criteria and eligibility visit www.abff.com/submissions.

Narrative Feature – Submission Deadline: February 15, 2019

  • Best Narrative Feature – Prize $5,000
  • Best Director, Narrative Feature – Prize $5,000
  • Best Screenplay, Narrative Feature – Prize $2,500
  • NBC Actor Spotlight Award – Prize TBD
  • Best Narrative Feature – Prize TBD

Documentary Feature – Submission Deadline: February 15, 2019

  • Best Documentary – Prize $2,500

HBO® Short Film Competition – Submission Deadline: February 15, 2019

  • HBO® Short Film Award – Prize $30,000

Web Series – Submission Deadline January 31, 2019

  • Best Web Series – Prize TBD

World Showcase – Submission Deadline February 15, 2019

  • Non-Competitive

Social Impact Showcase – Submission Deadline March 11, 2019

  • Non-Competitive

ABFF remains committed to introducing emerging content creators of African descent to the industry at large and is recognized as one of the leading film festivals in the world. Festival passes are on sale now at www.abff.com, and offer five (5) different levels of access to festival events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to [email protected].

ABFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Sponsors of the 2019 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsor); Capitol One, Turner (Premier Sponsor); American Airlines (Official Sponsor); and truTV (Supporting Sponsor).

ABOUT ABFF:
ABFF Ventures, LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversify in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed in 2014 and acquired the American Black Film Festival to widen the global footprint of the brand and stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. The company is a joint venture between Film Life, Inc and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement. ABFFV’s tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker Magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World,” and “ABFF Honors,” a televised annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities. In 2018, the company expanded with the launch of ABFF Studios, a division that produces branded entertainment.

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CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS. SUBMIT NOW!

Entries open for second year of American Black Film Festival & Lightbox Documentary Initiative

Initiative fosters diversity and supports emerging African American directing talent

(August 2, 2018) – Award-winning production company Lightbox and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) have announced that the second year of their Initiative to foster diversity in the feature documentary arena is now open for entries. The ABFF & Lightbox Documentary Initiative is aimed at African American filmmakers and any filmmakers interested in exploring non-fiction stories and themes that speak directly to the African American experience.

Selected films from the Initiative will be developed and produced by Lightbox and ABFF Studios, leveraging Lightbox’s success in producing award-winning and commercially successful documentaries, with the ABFF’s unparalleled pipeline and record of accomplishment for identifying many of the industry’s most promising Black filmmakers.

More information about the Initiative and entry information can be found at: http://abffventures.com/film/documentary-feature-initiative/

The winner of the inaugural year of the Initiative, Storm Over Brooklyn, has been greenlit for production by HBO. Directed by Muta’Ali, the feature documentary tells the story of Yusuf Hawkins, a black American teenager who was shot and murdered after being trapped by a group of white youths in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in 1989.

Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn, Co-Founders of Lightbox said: “Supporting filmmakers from minority communities and creating content which reflects every aspect of our society is one of the most important things we can do as documentary makers if we want the genre to remain relevant and engaging to audiences. We are honored to be launching the second year of this Initiative, and look forward to the winning project being just as prestigious as last year’s winner.”

“Authenticity within documentary filmmaking is paramount. The mission behind the Lightbox and ABFF Documentary Initiative is to help increase the opportunities and access for filmmakers of color, bringing new voices to the world stage. HBO is the perfect home for our first project Storm Over Brooklyn, we’re eager to discover and help develop the next,” said Jeff Friday, Founder & CEO of ABFF Ventures.

Storm Over Brooklyn is directed by Muta’Ali and executive produced by Jeff Friday, Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn. Academy Award®-winning directors Daniel Lindsay and TJ Martin, who directed Lightbox’s Emmy® award-winning feature documentary about the 1992 Los Angeles riots, LA 92, have also come on board the project as Executive Producers and supporters of the initiative.

Lightbox was founded by Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Whitney) and Emmy® Award-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, Fantastic Lies, Whitney). Whitney, Lightbox’s theatrical feature documentary about the global superstar, directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, had a special screening at the 2018 American Black Film Festival and was released worldwide this month. The company recently announced a new theatrical feature documentary, Tina Turner (working title), which will tell the full story – for the first time – of the global icon and undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll, to be directed by Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin.

ABOUT LIGHTBOX:
Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, Lightbox is a multi-platform media company creating high quality non-fiction content for an array of distribution platforms. It was founded by two-time Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Whitney) and Emmy®-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, American High, Whitney). Lightbox’s most recent release is Whitney, a major theatrical feature documentary directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival; The company is currently in production on Diagnosis (w/t) an innovative Netflix Original eight-part documentary series produced in partnership with Scott Rudin Productions and The New York Times; Citizen Harvey (w/t) a theatrical documentary on the Weinstein scandal which will also air on BBC 2; Tina Turner (w/t), a theatrical feature documentary which will tell the full story – for the first time – of global icon and undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll, directed by Academy® and Emmy Award winners Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin; Gypsy’s Revenge, a feature length documentary for Investigation Discovery and Food Exposed with Nelufar Hedayat (8×60′) for US Network FUSION. The company has previously produced documentary series including Captive, a major 8-part series for Netflix about international hostage crises; LA92, an Emmy-winning feature documentary on the 1992 LA riots for National Geographic Channels; War Child – an acclaimed feature documentary on the refugee crisis for Channel 4; Absolutely Fashion: Inside British Vogue for BBC Two and The Traffickers for Fusion, as well as content for Xbox Entertainment Studios, NBC Universal’s Esquire Network and ESPN’s prestigious 30 for 30 Strand.

ABOUT ABFF:
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry, and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black talent, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content, targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of African American culture and achievement in media and entertainment.

PRESS CONTACT:

For Lightbox
Mark Ogle
OH Communications
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7789 981 561

For ABFF
Michelle Huff Elliott
Strategic Heights Media
[email protected]
212-634-7176