The Best Man Holiday Panel among highlights of ABFF 2013 Day 1Posted by Wilson Morales
June 21, 2013
With Codeblack’s The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete as the festival opener the previous night, the17th Annual American Black Film Festival started Day 1 filled with classes, screenings, panels, and HBO Short Film Competition.
Bill Duke‘s annual Boot Camp Session was the first thing of business for many aspiring filmmakers and talent. During the session, Duke talks about success he’s had in Hollywood and the ways one can achieve it and sustain.
Throughout the day, festival goers were able to catch a ride in a Cadillac, courtesy of Cadillac, to the movie theaters where the screenings were being held.
The highlight of the day was the panel discussion for The Best Man Holiday in which director Malcolm D. Lee, Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, and Morris Chestnut came to the stage to talk about making the sequel nearly 14 years after the first film. Presented by Comcast/ Universal and moderated by Access Hollywood’s Shaun Robinson, the Main Hall at the Ritz-Carlton was jammed packed to the point where folks were turned away. That’s how many people showed up and wanted to see this. Not only were those inside treated to a 90 minute talkback, but the official trailer was shown that delighted many of the hardcore fans. The film hits theaters on Nov.15.
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Afterwards, the HBO Short Film Competition was held at the Colony, where films were prevented by A.J. Calloway and Bevy Smith. Interviews with the directors (Edson Jean, Kiandra Parks, Victoria Rose, Reinaldo M. Green, and Talibah Newman).
For those who didn’t attend the HBO shorts and were eager to catch Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the San Antonia Spurs and the Miami Heat, some folks went over the Shore Club where a party was hosted the Black and Single web series.
