American Black Film Festival Honors 2024 Celebrates the Finest in Black Hollywood
ABFF Honors acknowledged Taraji P. Henson, Mara Brock Akil, and others for their significant contributions to the culture. We discuss it here!
Taraji P. Henson poses on the carpet for the 2024 American Black Film Festival.
Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images
The sixth annual American Black Film Festival Honors recognized (Mar. 3rd) actress Taraji P. Henson, screenwriter Mara Brock Ali, and others for their on-screen excellence and importance to Black culture. A week before the Oscars, the intimate, invitation-only event was held in Los Angeles and hosted key festival stakeholders and celebrated artists.
One of Black Hollywood’s most prestigious events, was hosted by comedic legend Tommy Davidson and executively produced by ABFF founders Nicole and Jeff Friday.
Actors Taraji P. Henson and Jeffrey Wright received the Excellence in the Arts Award for their distinguished career achievements. Garrett Morris was presented with the Hollywood Legacy Award, which is presented to a trailblazing artist whose work has inspired generations and made an enduring contribution to film and television.
American actor Kelvin Harrison Jr. took home the honor of this year’s Rising Star Award, while industry veteran Mara Brock Ali received the Industry Visionary Award for her outstanding work and commitment to championing diversity and equity in the film and television industry.
Cord Jefferson, the writer and director of “American Fiction”, was presented with the Movie of the Year Award. A category filled with stiff competition, other nominees included A.V. Rockwell’s “A Thousand And One”, Ava DuVernay’s “Origin”, Blitz Bazawule’s “The Color Purple”, Juel Taylor’s “They Cloned Tyrone” and Antoine Fuqua’s “The Equalizer 3”.
Presenters included Tyrese, Wendell Pierce, Lamorne Morris, Leslie Jones, Issa Rae, Gina Prince-Bythewood and David Oyelowo.
“For decades, these esteemed ABFF Honorees have elevated their projects, and brought joy to audiences across the world. It is our honor to recognize Garrett, Taraji, Jeffrey, Mara [and Kelvin] for all their contributions to culture and the industry throughout their remarkable careers.”
The ABFF Honors started in 2016 and is apart of the American Black Film Festival which was founded by Jeff Friday in 1997. Since its inception, ABFF has been one of the leaders in spotlighting Black storytelling. This year’s festival will take place June 12th through the 16th.
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Issa Rae Named Creative Director for 2024 ABFF
The 2024 American Black Film Festival just got a dose of Issa Rae's magic as she will now serve as the festival's creative director. We discuss it here!
By: Joshua Martin
Get ready to mark your calendars because the 2024 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) just got a dose of Issa Rae's magic! That's right, the brilliant mind behind the Emmy-nominated hit series "Insecure" is taking center stage as the festival's creative director, and it's going to be a lituation.
In this newly created role, Issa Rae, the queen of creativity, is teaming up with ABFF co-founders Nicole and Jeff Friday to craft a lineup that will leave you on the edge of your seats. This isn't Issa's first dance with ABFF – she served as the festival's ambassador in 2022 and gave us a sneak peek of her sensational Max series, "Rap Sh!t." And guess what? Its second season is dropping this fall, after a delay due to the ongoing writer's strike.
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JUNE 12: Issa Rae attends the 2019 Women In Film Annual Gala Presented by Max Mara with additional support from partners Delta Air Lines and Lexus at The Beverly Hilton on June 12, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California.
Photo Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Women In Film
“Throughout the course of her career, Issa Rae has made an indelible impact within the entertainment ecosystem ranging from her wide array of roles – in front of and behind the camera – to her fierce advocacy for equitable representation and opportunities for Black creatives. We couldn’t think of a better partner to help us continue to embody the ABFF mission of showcasing Black talent — and discovering and amplifying new voices.
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Issa Rae is no stranger to making waves. She's the genius behind the New York Times best-seller The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and the mastermind who brought us the captivating world of Insecure, a show that had us hooked for five entire seasons. In 2020, she shook things up again by founding Hoorae, a media powerhouse that covers film, TV, and digital.
“There’s no other festival highlighting us in this way, highlighting our film, highlighting our television shows, and it’s in an elegant way. That’s what I admire so much about this particular festival - it’s so intentional. Even thinking about the awards that they do later, ABFF as a brand is so solid, and I feel proud of having my work showcased here.”
So, mark your calendars for June 12th to the 16th because the 2024 American Black Film Festival is hitting Miami Beach, Florida, and with Issa Rae calling the shots, you know it's going to be an unforgettable cinematic journey. Don't miss out on this epic celebration of Black talent and storytelling!
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