By Briasia Russ

The American Black Film Festival has announced this year’s lineup and is set to go live in Miami.  

Originating in 1997, ABFF is a widely known festival that promotes Black film and television. The festival has celebrated the talent of many artists over the years, from their very first ABFF Rising Star Award to Halle Berry in 1997 to the HBO Short Film Award to Ryan Coogler in 2011.  

The festival has provided a platform for emerging Black artist and successful actors, producers and stand-up comedians including Will Packer, Issa Rae and Kevin Hart. According to the ABFF website, 7,000 to 10,000 people have traveled to Miami Beach each year for the festival.  

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ABFF program was presented virtually in 2020.  It still drew a far-reaching audience, attracting online attendees from 90 countries around the world. In their dedication of showcasing emerging artists and content made by and about people of African descent, this year’s festival will be a mixture of live gatherings in Miami Beach and virtual events.  

Live events are set for November 3rd-7th  and virtual events begin November 8th -14th. 

For more information on the event, please visit https://www.abff.com/miami/