Saturday, June 15
Low Budget, Big Film: Filmmaking with Miguel Parga – Separate Ticket Required
Presented by New York Film Academy
Join an evocative exploration of the essential skills and principles of filmmaking. From conceiving a story idea to production planning and editing, these skills will help you configure the major pieces to make and budget for a film.
Tickets: $50
Festival Registration Center
Affion Crockett Presents Microphone Masters: Comedy, Community, and Collaboration
Courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal
Affion Crockett Presents Microphone Masters: Comedy, Community, and Collaboration” moderated by Talitha Watkins, President & Head of ColorCreative, with panelists Affion Crockett, Actor, Comedian, and Producer; Delmar Washington, Director and Producer; and Keesha Boyd, VP, Entertainment Products, Comcast and Executive Producer for the Black Experience on Xfinity. Enjoy a full episode screening and discussion centering on the creative process and collaborative work in bringing this 3-part stand-up comedy docuseries to life. Gain exclusive insights into the team’s process and goals to uplift emerging comedic talent and the partnership with Black Experience on Xfinity to further the mission of growing opportunities for Black storytellers and filmmakers.
“Best of ABFF Awards” Ceremony hosted by Dondré Whitfield
Join us for the announcement of the festival winners of this year’s competitions including: Best Narrative Feature, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Documentary Feature, Best Series, Black & Unlimited Fatherhood Project Director’s Showcase and HBO Short Film Award.
Uplifting Talent and Stories from Untapped Spaces: A Discussion with Universal Pictures & Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal
This panel will spotlight the partnership between Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions and their shared commitment to creating access and discovering new talent. This discussion will explore the various strategies championed by Universal Pictures and Monkeypaw Productions, both above and below-the-line, including: the Universal Filmmakers Project ‘NO DRAMA’, Universal Below-the-Line Traineeship and Universal Composers Initiative. Through this engaging discussion, we hope to inspire those in the audience as to how these programs are reshaping the industry’s talent, workforce and creative innovation.
Moderator: Candace Afia
Panelists: Keisha Senter, Emerlynn Lampitoc, K. Nicole Mills
A free boxed lunch will be available for panel attendees while supplies last, as well as great giveaways!
Official Selection Screenings
NBC’s “Found” Season 2 Sneak Peek Screening
Courtesy of Comcast NBCUniversal
Be the first to see the heart-pounding season two premiere of NBC’s hit crime drama series “Found.” Following will be an intimate conversation with co-showrunner/executive producer Sonay Hoffman and stars Arlen Escarpeta (“Zeke”) and Gabrielle Walsh (“Lacey”). PR specialist Gabi Mosley (Shanola Hampton) and her team are dedicated to finding missing people. But Gabi has a chilling secret – she’s locked up her childhood kidnapper Sir (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) in the basement to help her crack every case. Now Sir has escaped and is on the loose. And her biggest secret is now her biggest threat.
Moderator: Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29 Unbothered
Panelists: Sonay Hoffman, Gabrielle Walsh “Lacey”, Arlen Escarpeta “Zeke”
Beyond The Screen: Black Dads Off Set
Presented by Walmart Black & Unlimited
A blend of perspectives in both fatherhood and the TV and film industry; meaningful discussions on the joys and challenges of being a Black father in the entertainment world.
Moderator: DJ Vaughn
Panelists: Lance Gross, Carl Jones, LaRoyce Hawkins
Music For Media: Secrets of a Successful Collaboration
Presented by New World Symphony
Michael Abels is the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer of scores for the Jordan Peele films GET OUT, US and NOPE, and is the first black composer to score a scripted series for LucasFilm (“Star Wars: The Acolyte” on Disney+). In this session, Abels discusses his process, his journey through Hollywood, the relationship between composer and director/showrunner, and provides insights to achieving an evocative score for any size project.
Devil in a Blue Dress
Courtesy of Sony Pictures
It’s 1948 and Los Angeles is booming, but Easy Rawlins (Denzel Washington) has seen better days. He’s just been fired and he’s got house payments to make, so when Easy is offered a job locating the mysterious Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals), he doesn’t waste much time saying yes. Now be finds himself drawn into a web of murder, blackmail, brutal cops, and corrupt city politics. Devil In A Blue Dress also stars Tom Sizemore as DeWitt Albright, who hustles Easy into this dangerous game, and Don Cheadle as Mouse, Easy’s extremely volatile friend. Reminiscent of film noir, this stylish production is based on the acclaimed novel by mystery writer Walter Mosley.
ABFF Retrospective: Denzel Washington
Journey with Denzel Washington through the highlights of his illustrious career, as he talks Hollywood, his evolution as an actor, director, producer and his love for the work of August Wilson.
Moderator: Chaz Ebert
Closing Night: Yacht Gala – Separate Ticket Required
Join NICE CROWD and HOORAE for an unforgettable evening aboard the luxurious Seafair as we sail the Miami Bay. Admission includes DJ, live music, casino games, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and a premium open bar all night.
Music by DJ Don P
Attire: Miami Chic
The Industry Pass grants passholder Yacht admission.
Tickets: $350 – Tickets are non-refundable.
Please note: Boarding begins at 10 pm. All guests must arrive no later than 10:45 pm and the Yacht will not return to the dock until 1:30 am.
SOLD OUT
