American Black Film Festival (ABFF) 2018 Awards WinnersPosted by Wilson Morales
June 17, 2018
The 22nd Anniversary of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced the winners of their independent film awards in the New World Center in South Beach, Miami on June 16, 2018.
Blackfilm.com would like to thank The ABFF and The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) for hosting us at this year’s American Black Film Festival. Having us stay at the Hyatt Centric South Beach Miami provided us the opportunity to not only be within walking distance to festival, but enjoy the comforts of the pool, bar, and working atmosphere.
Hosted by comedian Chris Spencer, the festival was opened up by Nicole Friday.
Presented by Keesha Boyd, Executive Director of Multicultural Consumer Services for Comcast Xfinity, the winner of the ABFF Web Originals was KELOID U.S.A, written, produced, and directed by Huriyyah Muhammad.
The story revolves around know-it all teenager Keloid, who is born with super abilities he neither wants nor is able to control and his strong-willed, overprotective mother, Marielle. Together they must find a way to survive Keloid’s adolescence, while maintaining secrets that keep them safe, and hiding from mistakes in their past that haunt them.
The cast includes David Nixon, Aba Woodruff, Frederic Jean, Reynaldo Piniella, Jessica Fontaine, & Kenna Jackson.
Presented by Melanie Sharee, Team Leader, Programming & Industry Relations for ABFF, the winner for Best Documentary was awarded to NOT IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD, directed by Kurt Orderson.
As cities around the world catapult themselves into ‘World Class’, Global City status, we have to ask ourselves, “at what cost”? Not in my Neigbourhood gives the account of citizens on the frontline of the struggle against the intersectional nature of Gentrification from three seemingly World Class Cities: Cape Town, Sāo Paulo, and New York.
The film explores the effects of various forms of spatial violence on the spirit and social-psyche of citizens. It follows their daily struggles, trials and triumphant moments, as they try to shape the cities they live in, from the bottom up! Portraying our characters as active citizens, fighting for their right to the city, the film acts as a portrait of stories telling the history of spatial violence within the background of Architectural Apartheid to Gentrification.
Presented by Olivia Morris, TBS Manager, Original Programming and Maura Feerick, TNT Manager,
the winners of the 2018 ABFF & Turner TV Pilot Writing Contest were Terrence L. Moore & Craig T. Williams. The writing contest is part of a three-year partnership between Turner and ABFF to promote greater diversity and inclusion within the film industry.
Moore won for his dramatic script “Uptown,” a story of how a former show girl becomes the most powerful crime leader in 1920s Harlem.
Williams was selected as the winner for his comedic script “Allergic,” a half hour comedy about a dethroned socialite who after a debilitating divorce launches her own allergy free catering company, which brings her back to the same high class circles she once ruled, but now she’s the help.
As part of their prize packages, both winners will receive a cash prize and the opportunity to meet with TBS and TNT programming executives.
In the TV One Screenplay Competition, the winner was Rashim Cannad for his romantic comedy screenplay entitled, ‘Connected.’ The $5000 Grand Prize award was presented by Michelle Rice, General Manager of TV One. The grand prize winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and an opportunity to have their screenplay produced into an original, made-for-TV movie, which will debut in 2019 on TV One and at the 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival.
In today’s world, where people text before the talk, and where one’s Internet persona rarely resembles their real-life self, a beautiful online personality and a brilliant app developer must find a way to stay connected.
The HBO Short Film Award was given to ‘MOTHS & BUTTERFLIES,’ which was written and directed by Alfonso Johnson. The $10,000 grand prize award was presented by Dennis Williams, Vice President, Cultural and Social Responsibility of HBO.
“Moths” follows Lenny, a socially awkward, schizoaffective man & Cherisse, a high energy boundless soul, as they try to accept themselves in this New York tale about mental illness, love, and the longing to be understood.
Presented by Diahann Billings-Burford, Executive Director, Cultural Investments for TimeWarner Foundation, the Grand Jury Award for Best Screenplay was given to Nijla Mumin for ‘Jinn.’
Starring Renee, Simone Missick, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Hisham Tawfiq, Kelly Jenrette, Ashlei Foushee, Damien Smith, Maya Morales
Summer (Zoe Renee) is a carefree, black teenage Instagram celebrity whose world turns upside down when her mother Jade (Missick) abruptly converts to Islam and becomes a different person. At first resistant to the faith, she begins to reevaluate her identity after becoming attracted to a Muslim classmate (Harrison, Jr.), crossing the thin line between physical desire and piety. The film is a timely, fresh look at identity, Islam, and first love in contemporary Los Angeles.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Director went to Storm Saulter for ‘Sprinter.’ Saulter will receives film stock valued at $25,000.
The story follows Akeem, a 17-year-old Rastafarian teenager and track athlete. Burdened by an unstable father and an unruly older brother, his goal is to qualify for the national youth team and go to the World Youth Championships in Philadelphia. There, Akeem hopes reunite with his mother, who’s been living in Philly illegally for 10 years. But once he gets there, he realizes that dream isn’t necessarily shared.
The film was produced by Robert Maylor, Clarence Hammond, & Jamal Watson, with Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Richard Jefferson serving as executive producers.
The cast includes Dale Elliott, Kadeem Wilson, Shantol Jackson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Lorraine Toussaint, & David Alan Grier.
Kamie Crawford & Winston Marshall were congratulated on being selected from the ABFF NBC Hosting Workshop to cover Red Carpets at numerous events during the festival.
The Grand Jury Prize for Best Performance by an Actor was given to Zoe Renee for her performance in ‘Jinn,’ written and directed by Nijla Mumin. The award was picked by producer Avril Z. Speaks on Renee’s behalf.
Summer (Zoe Renee) is a carefree, black teenage Instagram celebrity whose world turns upside down when her mother Jade (Missick) abruptly converts to Islam and becomes a different person. At first resistant to the faith, she begins to reevaluate her identity after becoming attracted to a Muslim classmate (Harrison, Jr.), crossing the thin line between physical desire and piety. The film is a timely, fresh look at identity, Islam, and first love in contemporary Los Angeles.
Presented by Maurice Kuykendoll of Prudential, The Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature went to ‘Sprinter,’ which was directed by Storm Saulter.
The film stars Dale Elliott, Kadeem Wilson, Shantol Jackson, Bryshere Y. Gray, Lorraine Toussaint, David Alan Grier
The story follows Akeem, a 17-year-old Rastafarian teenager and track athlete. Burdened by an unstable father and an unruly older brother, his goal is to qualify for the national youth team and go to the World Youth Championships in Philadelphia. There, Akeem hopes reunite with his mother, who’s been living in Philly illegally for 10 years. But once he gets there, he realizes that dream isn’t necessarily shared
The Audience Award, presented by Connie Orlando of BET, for Best Film was given to Sprinter.
