Named one of the coolest film festivals in the world, join us for another big splash on Miami Beach! Whether you love movies, make movies, or are looking for emerging new artists, there’s something for everyone. Connect with influencers in the film & TV industry; celebrate talented new artists; enjoy top-notch entertainment; educate and empower yourself through masterclasses, panel discussions, and our all-new Careers in Entertainment Center. It takes one opportunity to change the course of your future. Getaway to the ABFF, and discover what all the noise is about!
Beginning in 1997, the festival was held in Acapulco, and then in Miami, Los Angeles, New York City and returned to Miami again in 2016. Founder Jeff Friday envisioned the ABFF as a vehicle to promote diversity in the film and television industry. The festival is today recognized as the nation’s largest gathering of Black film and TV enthusiasts, with approximately 10,000 attendees. The premier festival of its kind showcasing emerging artists and content made by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education, and artistic collaboration
A Platform for Excellence
ABFF encourages and rewards artistic excellence, providing a platform for more than 1,000 narrative feature films, documentaries, shorts, and Web originals. Alumni success stories range from veteran producer Will Packer (Ride Along, Think Like A Man) to young auteur Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) – testimony to the festival’s mission to introduce and connect talented newcomers to the industry at large.
In addition to film screenings, each year the ABFF presents over 30 exciting events and networking activities designed to educate, nurture career development and inspire festival attendees. The festival traditionally opens with a Hollywood movie premiere, followed by independent film screenings, the ABFF Career Center with its masterclasses and industry information sessions, celebrity conversations, entertainment and talent discovery programs co-programmed with leading media companies (HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal, TV One). In 2015, the ABFF expanded its program to showcase more television-related content, in 2016, it was determined to find new ways to spotlight female filmmakers, and in 2017, the festival’s goal is to educate festival-goers on career opportunities within the business and innovations in entertainment technology.
Get your festival passes now for front row access to all things nurturing, showcasing, and uplifting diverse talent at ABFF.
