The 15th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), which took place in South Beach Miami July 6-9, honored Emmy Award-winning producer/director Keenen Ivory Wayans at the closing night ceremony, aka ABFF Honors, with the Entertainment Icon Award in recognition of his success in the film and television industry for nearly 25 years.
The festival also announced the complete list of ABFF Honors Awards:
HBO® Short Film Competition – FIG, written by Alex George Pickering and directed by Ryan Coogler.
Best Documentary, presented by CNN – BROWN BABIES, directed by Regina Griffin.
Grey Goose “Rising Icon” Award – Actress Naturi Naughton.
The Star Project Winners, presented by NBCUniversal – Sheaun McKinney of Los Angeles and Tiffany D. Hobbs of Dallas.
The gmc Television Network Screenplay Competition — David Martyn Conley for RAISING IZZIE.
Grand Jury Winners:
Best Screenplay presented by Team Sizzle Worldwide – BLACK GOLD, directed by Jeta Amata.
Best Actor, presented by Gold Peak Tea (tie) – Lonyo Engele for his role as David Brown in DAVID IS DYING and Persia White for her role as Trenyce in DYSFUNCTIONAL FRIENDS.
Best Director, presented by Cadillac – Stephen Lloyd Jackson for DAVID IS DYING.
Best Film, presented by Wells Fargo THE TESTED, directed by Russell Constanzo.