‘Next chapter’: American Black Film Festival to move to Los Angeles for 2027 edition
TheGrio...
The festival has moved from Mexico to Florida to California and back to Florida over its 30 years of existence. Now it’s once again setting up shop in Los Angeles.
After nearly 25 years in Miami, the American Black Film Festival is planting its flag in a new home. According to Variety, the festival will take place in Los Angeles next spring from May 20 through May 23.
The festival will mainly take place across the greater Los Angeles area, including stops at AMC’s Grove for film screenings and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures for marquee events. Those visiting L.A. for the festival will see the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills as its home base for industry programming and the Original Farmers Market will welcome activations and community experiences.
The move to California is not a new one for the festival. From 2007 through 2010, it was in Los Angeles before shifting back to Florida.
“For more than three decades, we’ve built ABFF with the belief that access can change the trajectory of a career and that creating space for new voices strengthens our entire industry,” Jeff Friday, founder of ABFF and CEO of festival coordinator NICE CROWD, said in a statement. “As we look to the future, our responsibility is to keep pushing forward, expanding what’s possible, and creating greater opportunities for the next generation of storytellers. That’s what this next chapter represents.”
Next year’s ABFF will also include new programming additions, including ABFF First Look: The Studio Showcase, ABFF Sports and Crossroads. The First Look will highlight studios, independent filmmakers, and streamers to showcase upcoming projects, while ABFF Sports will focus on the intersection of sports, media, and entertainment. Crossroads, the noncompetitive film section, will also take a firm stance on presenters and more.
For the 2027 festival, submissions are open for Documentary Feature, International Narrative Feature, Episodic Series, Voices of Culture, the HBO Short Film Award, and more.
Originally known as the Alcalpulco Black Film Festival, the ABFF was first held in Acapulco, Mexico from 1997 until 2001. After a leadership change, the festival was renamed the American Black Film Festival and has called South Beach home for almost a quarter century, highlighting the best in burgeoning Black talent in Hollywood, emerging filmmakers and more.