Highlights of the American Black Film Festival

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) captures the energy and dynamism of Black creators, making its 27th year especially meaningful. The presented films, TV shows, shorts and documentaries shed light on the contemporary Black experience. Attended by a worldwide audience, it helps to promote international understanding of the diaspora. Its founders Jeff and Nicole Friday are present amongst panelists and celebrated directors in the industry. Altogether, it’s revolutionary.

Over the course of its five-day duration, the festival showcased a wide variety of screenings, panels, receptions, and parties. The festival's commitment to providing a comprehensive experience was evident, with festivalgoers eager to take part in every moment. As a result of the diverse range of programs, participants had ample opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions and explore different aspects of Black cinema.

Friday

Amongst the noteworthy productions available for viewing was "The Perfect Find," a romantic comedy helmed by Numa Perrier and featuring Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers, and Gina Torres. I had the opportunity to interview Union during the premiere and she expressed astonishment at the liberty of expressing a range of emotions with her roles in romantic films: humor, drama, and vulnerability. The pair of producers, Elaine Oliver and Tommy Oliver (who are also husband and wife), were asked what it is like collaborating on a romance film together. Kisses exchanged followed Elaine's saying that it had been an adventure since they met in 2013. She concluded that releasing "The Perfect Find" felt as if giving birth to their child, something viewers can experience when the movie comes out June 23rd on Netflix - an event I highly recommend you don't miss this summer!

Saturday

The audience of "That's Our Business: A Conversation with Tabitha and Chance Brown" was transfixed by the scene of Black beauty that had gathered. Tabitha's career as an actor has experienced a surge during the pandemic thanks to her social media presence. The video blog she runs with her husband, "Fridays with Tab and Chance," connected with viewers across all corners of the web, eventually leading to its development into an official podcast. It's easy to see why their honest words, affection for one another, and steadfast support towards each other within the Hollywood industry stirred such admiration in everyone who witnessed it.

Sunday

On the final day of the festival, which also coincided with Father’s Day and Juneteenth weekend, Jeff Friday expressed pride in being a father and raising his children as his number one priority. Reflecting on the festival's success for over a quarter of a century, he noted its remarkable ability to champion people of color and advance their careers.

For the festival's final day, known as "Community Day," Issa Rae, Matthew Cherry ("Hair Love"), Syreeta Singleton ("Rap Sh!t") and Mark Davis ("Young Love") all made appearances. Through this powerful lineup of guests, the event demonstrated to attendees what a strong community looks like; specifically, Issa is featured in Chicago native Matthew Cherry's "Hair Love," which portrays the importance of Black hair care, and their ongoing partnership serves as an example of communal growth. During his remarks to the crowd, Matthew spoke about animation's crucial role in introducing kids to media: “Animation is one of the first mediums that children experience. Anything you can do in media that speaks to youth is an incredible power and opportunity," he said.

Mark and Matthew welcomed communal expression through their discussion of animation and urged Black people, particularly Black women, to get involved in the field of animation. They also provided their contact information.

The experience of attending ABFF was out of this world, as if I had been taken to a Black Heaven in beautiful Miami. The workshops, such as "Where Black is Infinite: Welcome Home" organized by Andscape, created a space for the community of people of color to feel appreciated and encouraged. It was a privilege to escape the rain and be present in this rare gathering that we all found so special. Participating in ABFF felt like a dream come true, however; I truly wish for it to stay on the international stage while also preserving its intimate vibe that makes it so coveted by us.