The American Black Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to recognizing Black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counter-parts, ABFF Founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the Black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration.

Twenty-five years later, the festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging Black artists – many of whom have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians – including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Kevin Hart (Night School), Omari Hard-wick (Power) and Steven Caple Jr. (Creed II). Today, the ABFF is widely considered the preeminent pipeline for Black artists in front of and behind the camera and has significantly expanded the range of talent working
in the entertainment Industry.

As “the nation’s largest gathering of Black film and television enthusiasts” the ABFF attracts a broad audience of celebrity talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Historically, 7,000 to 10,000 people have traveled to Miami Beach each year for the event. The festival opens with the debut of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by a robust lineup of Hollywood premieres, independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

In response to the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color, in 2020 the ABFF program was presented virtually on abffplay.com, attracting online attendees from 90 countries around the world. The program included the first presentation of the John Singleton Award for Best First Feature Film and the launch of an LGBTQIA film section, “ABFF Pride.”

With the support of a global network of major entertainment, media and consumer product companies, the festival continues to lead the way promoting diversity in the motion picture and television industries.

For 2021, the American Black Film Festival celebrates its 25th year with a brand-new festival format– a hybrid event, with exclusive live events in Miami Beach, November 3-7, followed by a week of online events on ABFFPlay.com, November 8-14.

For 2022, ABFF will return to Miami in June, its original summer timeframe. read more