The American Black Film Festival is an annual event dedicated to empowering Black talent and showcasing film and television content 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.

Twenty-seven years later, the ABFF has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging Black artists – many of whom have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. It is widely considered the preeminent pipeline for Black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in the entertainment Industry.

As “the world’s largest community of Black film and TV enthusiasts”, the festival draws a live audience of 5,000+ persons to Miami Beach, as well as more than 35,000 virtual attendees on the ABFF PLAY platform. The live festival opens with a Hollywood release followed by a robust lineup of studio premieres, independent films, master classes, panels, talent showcases, and a variety of networking and hospitality events. The virtual segment follows the live festival featuring screenings and panels, reaching an audience spanning over 123 countries.