Wave Staff Report
LOS ANGELES — The American Black Film Festival will hold its 31st edition May 20–23 in Los Angeles, marking the beginning of the festival’s next chapter.
Following its milestone 30th anniversary in Miami Beach, the festival will enter its fourth decade as one of the industry’s most influential gatherings and a trusted platform for discovering talent, advancing careers and building lasting relationships.
“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,” said Jeff Friday, founder of ABFF and CEO of Nice Crowd. “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.”
ABFF 2027 will take place across several of the city’s leading cultural and entertainment venues, with additional locations to be announced.
AMC The Grove will host screenings, while SLS Beverly Hills will serve as the hub for industry programming, including conversations, master classes, and professional-development sessions. The Original Farmers Market will feature activations and community experiences, with the Aademy Museum of Motion Pictures serving as a venue for marquee events. Complimentary daytime shuttle service will connect the festival venues, providing attendees with convenient access to screenings, industry sessions, networking events, activations, and special presentations.
“ABFF has always been defined by the people who come together and the sense of community we’ve built over the years,” said Nicole Friday, president of Nice Crowd. “As we look ahead, we want to build on that foundation, creating new opportunities for filmmakers, audiences, industry leaders, and partners to connect while preserving the spirit and sense of belonging that have always made ABFF special.”
The festival will introduce new programming for its 31st edition, including ABFF First Look: The Studio Showcase, featuring previews of upcoming projects from studios, independent distributors and streaming platforms through exclusive footage, special announcements and appearances by filmmakers and talent.
ABFF Sports, a festival within the festival, will explore the intersection of sports, storytelling, entertainment, media, business, and culture. The program will include screenings, conversations, and special presentations featuring athletes, filmmakers, entertainment and sports executives, journalists and other influential voices.
Also new for 2027 is Crossroads, a noncompetitive film section welcoming filmmakers of all backgrounds whose narrative and documentary features explore the intersections of culture, identity and community through distinctive perspectives and shared human experiences.
HBO returns as a founding sponsor, marking the 30th year of the HBO Short Film Award Showcase, one of ABFF’s longest running and a cornerstone of the festival’s commitment to discovering emerging talent.
Submissions are now open for the 31st annual ABFF, with competitive and noncompetitive sections spanning narrative features, documentaries, episodic content, and short-film storytelling. ABFF is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, with the winner of the HBO Short Film Award qualifying for the Academy Awards Live Action Short Film category.
Filmmakers can review eligibility guidelines and submit their projects at https://filmfreeway.com/AmericanBlackFilmFestival.
