In response to growing demand for accessible, high-quality educational programming, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is launching the ABFF Masterclass Series, a new online program designed to connect emerging creatives with some of the most accomplished voices working across film, television, and digital media today.
Presented as quarterly live webinars beginning in March, the series will feature directors, producers, showrunners, studio executives, actors, and other creative leaders sharing practical insights about the craft, business, and evolving future of storytelling.
Delivered via Zoom, each session will combine expert instruction with real-world case studies and interactive audience engagement, creating a dynamic learning environment for filmmakers and creators from around the world.
Navigating the Film Festival Circuit
with Crickett Rumley
With over 15,000 festivals worldwide, deciding where to submit, how to attend, and how to leverage your official selections can quickly feel overwhelming. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Whether you are brand new to the circuit or mid-run, you will learn how to make the system work for you.
Topics of the session include:
- Laying the groundwork for festival success before the cameras even roll
- Decoding the Tiers & Types of festivals
- Separating high-value festivals from predatory scams and fake awards
- Strategizing for both shorts and features
- Navigating complex premiere requirements
- Budgeting for both submission fees and travel expenses
- Designing effective marketing materials that go beyond a festival's own outreach and promotion
Come with questions, and walk away with a roadmap to promote your project, protect your budget, and turn your film's festival run into a career-defining experience.
PRODUCING LIKE A PRO with Kimberly Ogletree
This 75-minute producing masterclass, programmed in association with New York Film Academy (NYFA), offers an introduction to the essential principles and practices of producing for film.
Drawing on over two decades of professional experience, Kimberly Ogletree provides a practical overview of how producers guide a project from concept through execution while balancing the creative vision with logistics, resources, and leadership.
Topics of the session include:
- Refining the Producer's Role
- Advanced Script & Project Evaluation
- Strategic Budgeting
- Scheduling for Efficiency
- Department Collaboration
- On-Set Leadership & Communication
- Risk Management & Problem-Solving
- Deliverables & Next Step
Crafting Standout Screenplays
with Carolyn McDonald
This 75-minute screenwriting masterclass, programmed in association with New York Film Academy (NYFA), will cover the basics of a 3-act feature screenplay, along with elements that offer participants tools to enhance their screenwriting skills to create signature works that stand out.
Topics of the session include:
- Establishing a foundation of definitive, yet universal themes
- The Anatomy of a screen story & log line
- Vital elements of the 3-act structure
- Building multi-faceted characters: wants, needs & why’s
- Crafting relatable protagonists, complex villains & stimulating relationships
- Creating memorable set pieces at key moments in each act
- Landing with a satisfying climax & resolution
- The “less is more” of visual writing