The American Black Film Festival screens dynamic content by and about people of African descent from around the world, with a total of six competitive and non-competitive sections summarized below. Deadline for all submissions: June 1, 2021.
| CATEGORY All submission deadlines: June 1 |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA SUMMARY Go to FilmFreeway.com for full details |
AWARD |
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| Narrative Features Competition |
Films in this section must be a U.S. festival premiere. If your film is not eligible, please submit to the World Showcase section. Films must be a minimum of 72 minutes and have no TV, streaming or theatrical distribution. Writer, director or producer must be person of African descent, or the film content must have a multicultural perspective. Age 18 and over only. Competition is open to U.S. and international entries in the English language or containing English-language subtitles. Films must have completed principal photography on or after April 1, 2019. 
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Jury Award - Best Narrative Feature (Prize: $10,000) Jury Award - Best Director, Narrative Feature (Prize: $5,000) Jury Award - Best Screenplay, Narrative Feature (Prize: $2,500) If a filmmaker’s first feature film, eligible for the John Singleton Award for Best First Feature Film (Prize: $5,000) |
| Documentary Features Competition |
Films in this section must be a U.S. festival premiere. If your film is not eligible, please submit to the World Showcase section. Films must be a minimum of 60 minutes and have no TV, streaming or theatrical distribution. Writer, director or producer must be person of African descent, or the film content must have a multicultural perspective. Age 18 and over only. Competition is open to U.S. and international entries in the English language or containing English-language subtitles. Films must have completed principal photography on or after April 1, 2019.
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Jury Award - Best Documentary (Prize: $10,000) |
| HBO® Short Film Competition |
Films must have a 20-minute maximum runtime inclusive of credits, may not have been submitted previously and have no TV, streaming or theatrical distribution. Films must have been directed by a person of African descent, age 18 years or older. Competition is open to U.S. and international entries in the English language or containing English-language subtitles. Films must have completed principal photography on or after April 1, 2019.
| Download Competition Release Form |
HBO Short Film Award (Grand Prize $10,000) Runners up (Cash Prize $5,000 each) |
| Web Series |
Webisodes must have a 10-minute maximum runtime inclusive of credits. Webisodes must have been directed by a person of African descent, age 18 years or older. Competition is open to U.S. and international entries in the English language or containing English-language subtitles. Webisodes must have completed principal photography on or after April 1, 2019.
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Jury Award - Best Web Series (Prize: $2,500) |
| ABFF Pride |
Films must be up to 30 minutes and have no TV, streaming or theatrical distribution, and represent the LGBTQIA experience. Films must have been directed, and/or produced by a person of African descent, age 18 years or older. Films must be in the English language or containing English-language subtitles. Films must have completed principal photography on or after April 1, 2019.
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Non-competitive |
| World Showcase |
Films must be between 3 and 90 minutes and have no TV, streaming or theatrical distribution. Films must have been directed, written, and/or produced by a person of African descent, age 18 years or older. Films must be in the English language or containing English-language subtitles. Films must have completed principal photography on or after April 1, 2019.
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Non-competitive |