SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

This screenwriting master class offers practical guidance on the fundamentals of screenwriting and the creative process. Participants will explore how to develop compelling story ideas, build memorable characters, structure a screenplay, and translate their creative vision to the page. The session will provide participants with valuable insights, tools, and techniques to take their craft to the next level. Featuring NYFA instructor Randall Dottin.

Celebrate the enduring legacy of Brown Sugar, the beloved romantic comedy that explores friendship, ambition, and love through a shared passion for hip-hop. Starring Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan, the film follows lifelong friends Dre and Sidney as they navigate careers, relationships, and the possibility that the love they have been searching for has been there all along.

Following the screening, Taye Diggs joins us for a special conversation reflecting on the making of the film, its cultural impact, and why Brown Sugar continues to resonate with audiences more than two decades later.

World premiere screening of the highly anticipated third and final season of STARZ’s P-VALLEY. Be one of the first to see the season premiere episode followed by a conversation with creator, showrunner, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Katori Hall and NAACP Award-winning series star Nicco Annan.

The 2026 HBO Short Film Showcase spotlights five finalists from the 30th American Black Film Festival, selected from thousands of submissions. Together, these films reflect the vitality, humor, and complexity of contemporary Black storytelling.

The program features Spilled Milk, written and directed by Jared Leaf; We Had Fun, written and directed by Linda Lô; Facade, written and directed by Modupe Thompson; The Truth About Space, written and directed by Jeremiah Towolawi; and FLY, written and directed by Carlton Daniel Jr.

Following the screening, join Modupe Thompson for a conversation about her work and creative journey.

Winner of the 2026 ABFF Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature, this powerful anthology draws inspiration from Krzysztof Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy and reimagines its framework through the colors of the Pan-African flag. Weaving together three compelling stories centered on liberation, unity, and prosperity, the film presents a moving portrait of identity, resilience, and the many dimensions of contemporary Black life. Following the screening, join Elijah Davis for a conversation about his work and creative journey.

The acclaimed ensemble cast includes Loretta Devine, Bashir Salahuddin, Peyton Alex Smith, Sibongile Mlambo, Stephen Bishop, and Kimrie Lewis.

Directors: Elijah Davis, Allison A. Waite, and Tyler Ocasio Holmes

ABFF 2026 Awards: Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature; Performance Award, U.S. Narrative Feature, Bashir Salahuddin

Your money story doesn’t start with a portfolio – it starts with what you’ve seen, what you’ve survived, and what you refused to accept. This conversation explores how the moves you make with your money today become the foundation you leave for everyone who comes after you. From the rise of Unrivaled – the women’s 3-on-3 league rewriting what’s possible for athletes on and off the court – to ABFF’s 30 years of betting on Black storytelling before the industry caught up, to Ally’s mission to close the wealth gap for good. Real talk about building wealth on your own terms, creating opportunity for the next generation, and making sure your legacy hits different.

Winner of the Directing Award at the 2026 American Black Film Festival, Otra is a visually arresting Latino musical told in a single continuous shot. Blending romance, fantasy, and music, the film follows Javier, a heartbroken man who strikes a bargain with his guardian angel for one final chance to rewrite his love story before time runs out.

Starring Rome Flynn, María Gabriela de Faría, Dania Ramirez, and Armani Ortiz, Otra unfolds through soaring musical performances and unexpected emotional turns, offering an inventive and moving meditation on love, hope, and second chances.

Following the screening, director Armani Ortiz joins us for a conversation about the film’s ambitious creative vision and the making of this singular cinematic achievement.

A sharp and engaging romantic comedy, Funny Feelings explores what happens when the chemistry behind a successful partnership becomes impossible to contain. Vena “Pretty Vee” Excell and Tristan “Mack” Wilds star as longtime performers whose irresistible “are-they-or-aren’t-they” dynamic has fueled a decade-long comedy empire.

When a career-defining special places their partnership, and the feelings they have never fully confronted, before a viral audience, the boundary between performance and reality begins to dissolve. Also starring Terri J. Vaughn, Funny Feelings balances wit, warmth, and emotional insight in a contemporary exploration of love, friendship, ambition, and the risks of finally telling the truth. Following the screening, the filmmakers will join us for a conversation about the film’s themes, insights, and the film’s creative vision.

ABFF 2026 Nominee: Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature; Directing Award for Best Narrative Feature