U.S. Narrative Features

Submissions Closed

A competitive category showcasing feature-length U.S. films directed by or written and produced by persons of African descent. Selected films compete for Jury Awards, including Best U.S. Narrative Feature and Best Director. First-time directors of African descent are also eligible for the John Singleton Award for Best Debut Feature, presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Directed by, or written and produced by, persons of African descent.
  2. Primarily produced, financed, creatively led, and developed in the United States.
  3. Entrants must be 18 years of age or older.
  4. Minimum runtime of 72 minutes.
  5. In English or with English subtitles.
  6. Completed post-production on or after January 1, 2025.
  7. Must not have been previously exhibited or licensed for broadcast, cable, or online exhibition prior to ABFF (May 27-31, 2026).