ABFF Ventures LLC. has announced that the 24th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place online August 21-30, 2020 at their official website! The ABFF Online Edition will continue the tradition of the live festival, featuring the best of independent black cinema, studio premieres, conversations and panels, business of entertainment seminars, along with virtual networking events.
RELATED: First Wave of Virtual Fantasia International Film Festival Unveiled
The ABFF will also use its platform for social change in response to the scourge of racial injustice in our country, as well as educate and support its community in an effort to help in its recovery from the coronavirus. This year’s festival theme is “Community First!”
“While we will surely miss being with our ABFF community in Miami Beach this year and connecting in person, what truly binds us together is our shared commitment to ensure inclusion in Hollywood and sustaining a place of inspiration for diverse storytellers. We will persevere through this year and end up a stronger community on the other side of this crisis.” ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday said in a statement.
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) was conceived in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the Black entertainment community and provide a platform for emerging artists. It has become one of the leading film festivals in the world and a place of inspiration and community for many.
RELATED: Annecy Film Festival Includes Frozen II, Chicken Run Reunion & More!
The destination festival, which has typically attracted 7,000 to 10,000 attendees to Miami Beach, will open its virtual doors to a global audience, offering most of its programming free of charge. Previously announced, Iconic Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actress, producer and philanthropist Mary J. Blige serves as this years’ ambassador.
Sponsorsfor the festival to date include Warner Media, HBO, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Comcast NBCUniversal, Amazon Studios, Motion Picture Association, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Jeff Friday Media, UMC – Urban Movie Channel, Verizon Media, Accenture and Blackfilm.com.