ABFF has been rising since it’s initial launch 24 years ago, bringing a spotlight to independent filmmakers nationwide, upholding its mission to – “bring together Black artists to share their work – while challenging, encouraging, appreciating, and uplifting one another.”
This year the festival is still ongoing, upholding the mission and commitment to Black indie filmmakers. With innovation – by bringing the festival online amidst COVID and the practice of social distancing. By establishing new faces in film, and inspiring upcoming filmmakers with premieres, conversations & panels, virtual parties, networking events, business webinars, and seminars.
ABFF is dedicated to uplift and showcase Black talent via film and TV. It further strengthens the narrative of support, community, constructive collaboration, endless resources, and a non-hostile, competitive, and non-competitive environment.
Blackfilm.com is a proud Media Sponsor for this year’s ABFF.
Some selections for this year’s festival are (from ABFF):
Tender
After an unexpected one-night stand, two women at very different stages of their lives share an even more intimate morning after.
Short Film: 15 min
Director: Felicia Pride
Screenwriter: Felicia Pride
Producer: Regina Hoyles
Cast: Trishshauna Clarke, Farelle Walker
Loving in America
Loving in America follows a young immigrant woman who delivers adult toys for a living. On her route, she encounters eccentric customers who give her headaches and provide her with valuable lessons as she struggles to keep a dysfunctional marriage a#oat to avoid deportation.
Short Film: 16 min
Director: Jason Gudasz
Screenwriter: Bianca Cristovao
Producer: Bianca Cristovao
Cast: Biniam Bizuneh, Monti Washington, Bianca Cristovao, Steve
Sisters
Two distant sisters reunite after the death of their mother
Short Film: 14 min
Director: Brittany Lyles, Steve Royall
Screenwriter: Brittany Lyles
Producers: Brittany Lyles, Dorcas Tejeda
Cast: Brittany Lyles, Dorcas Tejeda
“A noncompetitive showcase of films that represent queer culture and reflect the LGBTQIA experience in the United States.”- ABFF
F.A.M.
Inspired by a true story, “F.A.M.” covers the life of Trey who is trying to balance his relationship with three women: Traci – his ex and the mother of his child, Dara – his new wife, and Olivia – his 15-year-old daughter who is struggling with her sexuality.
Short Film: 29 min
Director: Kyle Romanek
Screenwriter: Anthony E. Williams
Producers: Sean Morse-Barry, Mallory Cunningham
Cast: Anthony E. Williams, Breana Cymone, Acacia Leigh, Candace West, Moses Jones
My Daughter, Tyler
Marie, a single, Caribbean-American mother, struggles when she discovers her teenage son is transgender. Their relationship is strained until an incident on the streets of Brooklyn forces her to choose what matters most – society’s expectations or a parent’s support.
Short Film: 13 min
Director: Andre Lambertson
Screenwriters: Michelle Montgomery, Roslyn Campbell
Producers: Lisa Koffler, Roslyn Campbell, Michelle Montgomery
Cast: Emmanuel Edwards, Desi Waters, Jennifer Estevez, N’Asia Williams-Paris, Andrew Anderson, Kareem Youngblood
Since 97′ Jeff Friday has continuously shared resources, the platform itself, enticing emerging artists and their work with the ABFF festival screenings. Some names we know that have been in association with ABFF in past years are Issa Rae, Spike Lee, Neicey Nash, Malcolm D. Lee, Sherri Shepherd, and Diallo Riddle – to name a select few.
For the upcoming festival, August 21-30, 2020, online-only on ABFF’s Site, they announced Mary J. Blige as an Ambassador this year for the festival.
A statement from ABFF’s site in response to COVID and the festival this year follows, 2020 ABFF ONLINE EDITION – “In response to the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on communities of color, the 2020 ABFF will be held as a virtual event. Continuing the tradition of the live festival, ABFF Online Edition will include screenings, celebrity conversations, panels and business of entertainment seminars, along with virtual networking events. The 24th annual festival, ABFF Online Edition, will take place from Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 30 and hosted on the abff.com website.”
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