Posted by editor@vimooz.com on March 17, 2009 under American Black Film Festival (ABFF) | 
Home Box Office, Inc. announced it is now accepting entries for its 12th Annual HBO(R) Short Film Award, to be given out during Film Life’s 13th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) in Miami’s South Beach, June 24-27, 2009. The competition honors the writing and directing talents of Black filmmakers and has been presented as part of the ABFF’s competitive film showcase since it was established by HBO in 1998.
The HBO Short Film Award is open to U.S. and international filmmakers of African descent, 18 years of age or older, who have directed and/or written a short film of 20 minutes or less. All films must have been produced after January 1, 2008 in English or contain English subtitles. Deadline for entries is April 7, 2009, and all entries must arrive at the ABFF office postmarked by that date.
All entries must qualify as a festival premiere with no previous festival screenings through the scheduled ABFF screening date of June 26, 2009.
Submissions will be accepted on DVD only, accompanied by official HBO/ABFF entry form, $40.00 submission fee and other pertinent materials. The mailing address is ABFF, c/o Film Life, P.O. Box 1975, New York, N.Y. 10113. For entry forms and rules and regulations, visit www.abff.com.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on March 5, 2009 under American Black Film Festival (ABFF), Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival |
Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, March 6-8, 2009
Motherland
The Sebastopol Center for the Arts in Sebastopol, California, presents the second Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, March 6-8, 2009. The festival boasts an outstanding lineup of films, 26 features and 18 shorts that were selected from nearly 300 submissions from around the world.
Films will screen at five venues: Sebastopol Center for the Arts, Sebastopol Cinemas, French Garden, Viva Culinary Institute, and Hopmonk Tavern.
The Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival also announced the recipients of this year’s festival awards:
- Jury Award for Best Feature: Motherland, by Jennifer Steinman
- Jury Award for Best Short: Bob’s Knee, by Michael Attie
- Film Critics Award: School Play, by Eddie Rosenstein & Rick Velleu
American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Returns to Miami Beach
Film Life’s the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the premier destination event celebrating and awarding independent films by and about people of color, will be held June 24th-27th, 2009 on South Beach in Miami. Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO) is the festival’s Founding and Premier Sponsor.
“We began 13 years ago as an annual film retreat to showcase and celebrate the best and brightest filmmakers of African descent. We are returning to that model this year in Miami and will restore the tropical intimacy the ABFF has always been known for,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life, Inc. and Founder of ABFF.
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on August 27, 2008 under American Black Film Festival (ABFF) |
Film Life wrapped up its 12th American Black Film Festival (ABFF) at the ABFF Awards Presentation that was held Sunday, August 10, 2008, at the WGA Theater in Los Angeles, CA. The festival hosted a week of independent film screenings, workshops, symposiums and exclusive networking events. Among Hollywood’s celebrity movers and shakers in attendance were: Halle Berry, Evan Ross, Lauren London, Tatiana Ali, Anthony Mackie(ABFF Ambassador), Holly Robinson Peete, Nate Parker, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine, Mos Def, Rockmond Dunbar, Michael Ealy, John Singleton, Sanaa Lathan, Malik Yoba, Tina Andrews, Salli Richardson and Dennis Haysbert(ABFF Jury President).
The show was hosted by Niecy Nash of Comedy Central’s “Reno 911″ and the Style Network’s home makeover series “Clean House,” who kept the audience energized with her quirky and off-beat brand of comedy. Actors Richard T. Jones (Why Did I Get Married? “Judging Amy”) and Denise Boutte (Why Did I Get Married?) were also in attendance to present awards.
“The American Black Film Festival’s Awards continue to celebrate and honor independent films and filmmakers, as well as help fulfill our vision to provide new opportunities for emerging talent and introduce their work to a broad audience,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF Founder and President, and CEO, Film Life, Inc.
With the support of major U.S. corporations, the festival awards cash and other prizes. The 2008 award winners are as follows: Read more of this article »
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on August 9, 2008 under American Black Film Festival (ABFF) |
Actress Halle Berry addresses guests at the Opening Night Gala of the 12th American Black Film Festival at the WGA Theater on August 7, 2008 in Beverly Hills, California.
Pictures of Halle Berry at the 12th American Black Film Festival
Posted by editor@vimooz.com on July 11, 2008 under American Black Film Festival (ABFF) |
Film Life’s 12th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place August 7-10, 2008, in Los Angeles, CA, with Exploring Black Romance and Sexuality in American Cinema as its theme. “The majority of American films, from PG to R have romance and sexuality either prominently featured or as the subtext. Black romance and sexuality are rarely part of the storyline in these films and realistic portrayals of how and whom we love are few and far between. We intend to explore the question ‘is Black romance taboo or too hot to handle?’” said Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life, Inc. and founder and producer of the American Black Film Festival. “When you look at the leading actors or actresses in those films you will discover a disturbing fact, the story line rarely involves people of color. An internet search on IMDB found that of the roughly 350 films earning more than $100 million at the box office 50 of them had love scenes but not one of those scenes involved a person of color,” added Friday.
The ABFF is the premier international marketplace for films that showcase the best new work by and about people of African descent. The mission of the festival is to encourage collaboration and support between Hollywood and the independent film community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. “The ABFF takes its role as the voice of Black independent cinema very seriously,” said actor Anthony Mackie, who serves as the 2008 ABFF Ambassador. “If we are afraid to initiate the dialog, ask the questions and demand the answers, who do we expect will do it?” he continued. Read more of this article »
Tags: American Black Film Festival, Anthony Mackie, Film Life, Jeff Friday, Rob Hardy, Roger M. Bobb, Stomp the Yard, Sylvain White, This Christmas, Tyler Perry, Why Did I Get Married, Will Packer
