Registration Center & Partner Expo
Sponsored by American Airlines
Masterclass: Legal Aspects of Indie Filmmaking
Presented by Arrington & Phillips
This seminar will introduce filmmakers to the legal and business aspects of independent filmmaking. From conception to distribution, attendees will learn all the basics needed to make, produce and distribute their own independent film. Instructed by Marvin Arrington and Vince Phillips.
Official Selection Screenings
Narrative, Documentary, Web Series and Voices of Culture sections
Bounce TV’s Pre-Event Champagne Reception
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Johnson: Clips & Conversations
Presented by Bounce TV
Join the cast and producers of Johnson for a conversation around the anticipated return of season 2. Johnson focuses on life-long best friends and their sometimes-complicated journey of love, friendship, heartbreak, and personal growth as told from the Black male perspective. The show is executive produced by Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer’s A Bird & A Bear Entertainment.
Moderator: David J. Hudson, Head of Original Programming for Scripps National Networks
Panelists: Deji LaRay (series creator & showrunner); Thomas Q. Jones (showrunner, “P- Valley”, “Luke Cage”); Philip Smithey (“Switched at Birth”, “The Rookie”) and Derrex Brady (“NCIS”, “First”) with Earthquake (“The Neighborhood”, “Chappelle’s Home Team – Earthquake: Legendary”) and Eric C. Rhone (executive producer)
Refreshments Will Be Served.
Finding Happy: Clips & Conversations
Presented by Bounce TV
Meet the cast of Bounce’s newest series, Finding Happy, a show created about, for and by Black women. The dramedy follows Yaz Carter as she navigates her loving-but-complicated family, her stagnant career, and a merry-go-round of unrequited love as she looks to find her happy.
The show is executive produced by Eric C. Rhone and Cedric The Entertainer’s A Bird & A Bear Entertainment.
Moderator: Keisha Taylor Starr, Chief Marketing Officer for Scripps National Networks
Panelists: B. Simone (MTV’s “Wild ‘n Out”); Kim Coles (“Living Single”); Marketta Patrice (“Black Jesus”); Angela Gibbs (“Hacks,” “The Fosters”) and Kendra Jo (series creator & showrunner)
Spotlight Screening: BET HER Presents: Content for Change, An Exclusive Preview of Upcoming Shorts
Courtesy of BET Networks
A compilation of clips from BET HER “Her Stories” franchise – a platform used to empower the next generation of Black women filmmakers through a curated selection of original movies. These short films will premiere in July for Minority Mental Health Month and October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Q&A with Naturi Naughton, Director of Behind The Smile! And LisaRaye McCoy, Director of The Pink Fight. Moderated by Executive Producer Tressa “Azarel” Smallwood.
A Champion of Independent Black Film: Celebrating the Legacy of Michelle Materre
Presented by Meta
Michelle Materre, prolific film distributor, professor, curator, and fervent supporter of women and BIPOC filmmakers, passed away in March. To honor her decades as a champion of independent film and her mission to lift the voices of underrepresented people in cinema, ABFF and Daughters of Eve Media will present a roundtable discussion featuring trailblazing and renowned women filmmakers.
Moderators: Terri Bowles and Dr. Michele Prettyman, Daughters of Eve
Panelist: Josslyn Luckett (Film Writer, Professor in the Department of Cinema Studies at NYU) and Ayoka Chenzira (Film Writer/Director, Dynasty, Queen Sugar)
Fierce Female Filmmakers of TriStar Pictures
Presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment
Join three trailblazing filmmakers – Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball), Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou), and Nicole Brown (TriStar Pictures President) for an intimate sit-down conversation as they open up about their highly anticipated Sony Pictures releases: The Woman King starring Viola Davis, and the Whitney Houston biopic I Wanna Dance with Somebody starring Naomi Ackie. This conversation will dive into the importance, power and future of Black film while providing a sneak peek of what audiences can expect in their upcoming releases via exclusive content — this will be a conversation you won’t want to miss!
Moderator: Brett King, Vice President, Creative Programming, Diversity & Inclusion for Sony Pictures Entertainment
Panelists: Nicole Brown, President of TriStar Pictures; Kasie Lemmons, Director, I Wanna Dance with Somebody; Gina Prince-Bythewood, Director, The Woman King
Spotlight Screening: Stranger Next Door
Courtesy of TV One
Former police detective Rochelle Sellers (Vicky Jeudy) has had a year for the ages. After being shot by an unknown assailant and forced to retire, she divorces her husband and has to testify against him as the key witness in a high-profile police corruption trial. To ensure she is protected, she decided to live in seclusion and take on the role of caretaker for her ill father. However, when Jesse Holmes (Skyh Black) moves in next door, Rochelle is smitten. The perceived fairy tale takes a turn for the worst when it appears that Jesse is not the man he professes to be.
Directed by: Victoria Rowell | Executive Produced by: Jami McCoy-Lankford, Je’Caryous Johnson | Cast: Tim Reid (Ernest Sellers), Vicky Jeudy (Rochelle Sellers), Skyh Black (Jesse Holmes) | Produced for TV One by: Je’Caryous Johnson (Je’Caryous Productions), Jami McCoy-Lankford (Hillionaire Productions)
Flipping the Script: Defining your own Path to Success presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Equity and Inclusion
Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery
Over the last few decades, the road to stardom and success in Hollywood has changed significantly. With the emergence of the digital age, social media and waves of new talent, many are finding success, their own way and on their own terms. This engaging and motivating panel moderated by Karen Horne (Senior Vice President, Warner Bros. Discovery, Equity + Inclusion), discusses the impact of breaking into the entertainment industry both traditionally and non-traditionally; and ways to stay relevant in an ever-changing production landscape that is no longer one size fits all. Panelists include, Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Winning Time and The Gilded Age, HBO), Carlos King (Love & Marriage Franchise, OWN), Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins (Trials to Triumphs Podcast, OWN), Bashir Salahuddin & Diallo Riddle (South Side, HBO Max).
Moderator: Karen Horne, SVP Equity & Inclusion, Warner Bros. Discovery
Panelists: Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Winning Time and The Gilded Age, HBO), Carlos King (Love & Marriage Franchise, OWN), Ashley Blaine Featherson-Jenkins (Trials to Triumphs Podcast, OWN), Bashir Salahuddin (South Side, HBO Max), Diallo Riddle (South Side, HBO Max)
RSVP and proof of vaccination required: https://flippingthescript.splashthat.com/
“This Is Us”: From Script to Screen
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal
Go behind the scenes of NBC’s beloved drama “This Is Us” with actress Susan Kelechi Watson, writer Eboni Freeman and producer Christiana Hooks. Delve into a poignant conversation about the final season and the episode “Our Little Island Girl: Part 2″ that is centered on Beth Pearson and was co-written by Susan and Eboni. Learn about the show’s unique approach to bringing multidimensional narratives to life by reflecting on the past, inspiring the future, and creating beautiful stories that transcend generations.
Moderator: Danielle Young, Journalist and Host of Real Quick
Panelists: Susan Kelechi Watson – Actress and Writer, Eboni Freeman – Writer, Christiana Hooks – Producer
Life Of A Showrunner
Presented by UPS
This panel examines the road to becoming a television showrunner, the dufties and demands it entails, career strategies to be considered, the parameters of creative control as well as the freedom it affords, and what running a writers room looks like.
Moderator: Peggy Byrd, Boston Globe Chief Marketing Officer
Panelists: Robin Thede (A Black Lady Sketch Show), Rikki Hughes (The Hype), Randy Huggins (BMF)
Spotlight Screening: Right to Offend: The Black Comedy Revolution
Courtesy of A&E Network
This new two-part documentary event explores the progression of Black comedy and the comedians who have used pointed humor to expose, challenge and ridicule society’s injustices and to articulate the Black experience in America. The series examines Black comedy through a unique lens, tracing the evolution and social awakening of the courageous comedians who dared to push against the constraints of their time and spoke truth to power.
Introduction by Jessica Sherif (Co-Director), Mario Diaz (Co-Director), and Amira Lewally.
Directed by: Mario Diaz, Jessica Sherif | Executive Produced by: Alexa Conway, Mario Diaz, Loren Hammonds, Lance Nichols, Ian Orefice, Jessica Sherif, Brad Abramson, Elaine Frontain Bryant
ABFF Comedy Wings Showcase
Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO
A night of fun and laughter hosted by Aida Rodriquez and introducing stand up comics: Marshall Brandon, Cherie Danielle, Shanna Christmas, Rob Gordon, and Alan Massenburg
