In 1997, a man by the name of Jeff Friday created a film festival to strengthen and promote the creation of black cinema and the filmmakers who bring such material to life. No stranger to the finer things in life, Jeff got a little extra with it and decided to locate this black film festival in Acapulco, Mexico. Since that time, what was formerly known as the Acapulco Black Film Festival found a home in South Beach, Miami, and became firmly established as the American Black Film Festival, or ABFF. Now, after a decade in the struggle of bringing "urban films" to the forefront of the American entertainment consciousness, the American Black Film Festival (of which VIBE is an official sponsor) set up shop in the promised land, the Mecca of movie-making - Hollywood!
This year's highlights included talkbacks with Tracey Edmonds (minus Eddie Murphy) and Common at the Lincoln Lounge. The opening film, This Christmas (in theatres Wednesday, November 21), was directed by Preston Whitmore and produced by Will Packer of GA's Rainforest Films and was extremely well received. Some of the cast - including Idris Elba, Regina King, Sharon Leal, and newcomers Columbus Short (Stomp the Yard), Lauren London (ATL) and David Banner - were in attendance for photo opps and promo. (No Chris Brown, though.) The afterparty was even sicker, with people like Cedric the Entertainer, F. Gary Gray, and John Singleton chillin' with folk in the commoner's area, despite the allure of the VIP's velvet rope.
Other notables in attendance were big screen newcomer Lamman Rucker of Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married? LisaRaye strolled elegantly as the new bride of Michael Misick, the Premier of Turks & Caiscos Islands. Yes! He's paid... a few times over. Kimberly Elise caught a few of the brothas off guard on the red carpet and Anthony Mackie (Haven, Freedomland) was probably the most interesting celeb of the whole festival when he blasted BET founder Bob Johnson for putting negative images of blacks and women on the screen, saying, "I bet his kids ain't watching BET in his house."
Busta Rhymes and ABFF founder Jeff Friday. Photo: Arnold Turner.
Directors John Singleton and F. Gary Gray. Photo: Arnold Turner.
The cast, producers and director of "This Christmas." Photo: Arnold Turner.
Toccara (America's Next Top Model) and Lamman Rucker. Photo: Arnold Turner.
ABFF founder Jeff Friday with Common. Photo: Arnold Turner.
Gabrielle Union. Photo: Arnold Turner.
Bill Bellamy. Photo: Arnold Turner.
Tracey Edmonds. Photo: Arnold Turner.
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