Our Story
In January 1997 after an inspiring and eye-opening trip to a leading film festival, Jeff Friday asked himself three transformative questions:
Not knowing the answers, Friday took a blind leap of faith, departing from his job as film division president of the largest multicultural advertising agency, to devote his professional life to building the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), recognized today as the leading film festival of its kind in the world.
Overview
The American Black Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to empowering Black talent and showcasing 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 counterparts, 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-seven years later, the ABFF 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. It 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 world’s largest community of Black film and TV enthusiasts”, the festival draws a live audience of 5,000+ persons to Miami Beach, as well as more than 35,000 virtual attendees on the ABFF PLAY platform. The live festival opens with a Hollywood release followed by a robust lineup of studio premieres, independent films, master classes, panels, talent showcases, and a variety of networking and hospitality events. The virtual segment follows the live festival featuring screenings and panels, reaching an audience spanning across 123 countries.
The 28th annual ABFF will be held in Miami Beach, June 12-16, 2024, and on ABFF PLAY from June 17-24. The American Black Film Festival is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC (ABFFV) is an American entertainment company specializing in the production of events that celebrate Black culture and achievement.
Programming Objectives
Programs designed to encourage and assist with career development.
Exhibition platform where a cross section of content creators can share their work.
Numerous networking opportunities to connect and share resources.
Up-and-coming creative and industry professionals meet and stay connected, building strong ties within and beyond the Hollywood community.
Acknowledging outstanding work and rewarding creatives, inspiring them to continue their road to success.
Festival Activities
Features, shorts, web series and documentaries produced by and about people of African descent, screened as a part of ABFF’s Official Festival Selections.
Premieres and advanced screenings of television and film content courtesy of major studios, networks and streaming platforms.
Industry sessions led by highly accomplished professionals covering a variety of entertainment related disciplines.
Moderated panel discussions and one-on-one celebrity conversations.
Exclusive passholder events at Miami Beach hot spots.
Activations encouraging network-building amongst festivalgoers and industry executives.
Comedy, music, and other live events.
Events that spotlight the works of emerging actors, and content creators.
Consumer activities that focus on broadening the personal interests, social skillsets, and wellness of festivalgoers (I.e. fitness, cooking, music, etc).
The closing ceremony where the winners of the film and talent programs are announced. The event is livestreamed on ABFF PLAY.
A free family-oriented day of screenings and activities for residents of the greater Miami community.
Film Program
All 2024 Official Selections will play during the live and virtual segments of the festival.
A competitive section for feature-length films directed by and/or both written and produced by persons of African descent. Films within this section compete for the Jury awards for: Best Narrative Feature, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. In addition, if a person of African descent directs a film accepted to this section and it is their first feature film, they will be eligible to compete for the John Singleton Award for Best First Feature Film.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Films must have a 72-minute minimum runtime.
- Films must have been directed and/or both written and produced by a person of African descent.
- Entrants must be 18 yrs. or older.
- Open to U.S. and international entries.
- Films must be in the English language or contain English-language subtitles.
- Films must have completed post-production on or after January 1, 2023.
- 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 12, 2024, are not eligible for this category.
A competitive section for nonfiction feature films directed by or about persons of African descent. Documentaries selected to this section compete for the Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Films must have a 60-minute minimum runtime.
- Films must be directed by or about persons of African descent.
- Entrants must be 18 yrs. or older.
- Open to U.S. and international entries.
- Films must be in the English language or contain English-language subtitles.
- Films must have completed post-production on or after January 1, 2023.
- 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 12, 2024, are not eligible for this category.
A competitive section for short-form episodic series directed by and/or both written and produced by persons of African descent. Series selected to this section compete for the Jury Award for Best Series (Television or Web).
Eligibility Criteria:
- Episodes must have a 15-minute maximum runtime inclusive of credits.
- Submissions must include one (1) episode and the series treatment and or bible for consideration.
- Entrants must be 18 yrs. or older.
- Episodes must have been directed, and/or both written and produced by a person of African descent.
- Competition is open to U.S. and international entries in the English language or containing English-language subtitles.
- Episodes must have completed principal photography on or after January 1, 2023.
Non-Competitive Section
A noncompetitive showcase of narrative short films directed by persons of African descent. This section is by invitation only.