American Black Film Festival Announces First Cohort of ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Project Showcase Selections
Eight standout vertical microdrama series to premiere on CODEBLACK during the 2026 festival
LOS ANGELES, CA (May 4, 2026) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) today announced the first cohort of official selections for the ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Project Showcase, a new digital-first initiative designed to identify, showcase, and amplify outstanding vertical microdrama series. A second cohort of selections will be announced this fall.
The ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Project Showcase serves as the Festival’s official platform for discovering and elevating emerging voices in vertical storytelling. Through curated selection and digital-first exhibition, the initiative connects creators with global audiences and meaningful industry visibility, positioning them at the forefront of the rapidly expanding vertical content ecosystem.
This inaugural cohort, powered by Hartbeat, will premiere on the CODEBLACK app during the 2026 American Black Film Festival, offering the festival audience exclusive access to a dynamic slate of short-form, mobile-first series.
“We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how stories are being created and consumed, and vertical microdrama sits right at the center of that evolution,” said Jeff Friday, Cofounder & CEO of NICE CROWD and Founder of ABFF. “What’s exciting about this cohort is not just the creativity, but the intentionality, these are filmmakers who understand pacing, audience behavior, and the intimacy of the mobile screen. This initiative is about meeting that moment, giving these creators a global stage, and ensuring that as this format scales, creators of color are not just participating, but leading.”
The first cohort of official selections includes:
False Profit$
Logline: When America’s youngest Black CEO is framed and sentenced to 19 years for a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme he didn’t orchestrate, Malik Shepard transforms his prison time into a masterclass in financial forensics and systemic corruption — then wages a surgical war to dismantle the powerful faith-based empire that destroyed him.
United States | 11m
Director: Jai Harris
Writer: Jai Harris
Producers: Serene Samuel, Darion Taylor, Michael Sanders, Charles Smith, Ephren Taylor, Socorro Grandville, Pat Taylor
Cast: Malik Taylor
Trailer: https://youtu.be/MJSlsNbxDhs?si=ZukAKKHqnV87tRl7
The King, The Affair and The Son Heir
Logline: King Jonga’s celebrated heir carries a secret that could destroy a kingdom — written in blood, hidden in plain sight, and closing in with every stolen glance between his wife and his most trusted advisor.
South Africa | 9m
Director: Star Kganki Maphahlele
Writer: Anathi Rubela & Mamello Makhetha
Producers: Flavia Motsisi
Cast: Othembele Nomgca, Khanyi Nokwe, Lebogang Mphahlele, Phathiswa Tonono, Wamke Cele, Gcina Mdikane
Faceplant
Logline: A desperate couple facing foreclosure discovers a mask that lets them hijack other people’s bodies, but each reckless use pulls them deeper into a dangerous game with consequences they can’t control.
United States | 13m
Director: Jean-Pierre Chapoteau
Writer: Jean-Pierre Chapoteau
Producers: Jean-Pierre Chapoteau, Jennifer Pessima, La’Shay Painter
Cast: Kennie Nicole, Bren Suttle
Blacked Out
Logline: After a blackout night she can’t remember, Jordan wakes up in an interrogation to learn her boyfriend is missing, forcing her to piece together the truth before she becomes the prime suspect.
United States | 13m
Director: Caleb Davis
Writer: Roni Davis
Producers: Jade Martin
Cast: Verina Banks, Daniel Augustin
Trailer: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWWvIMPEvwk/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
Thick & Uninterrupted
Logline: A bold, curvy woman unapologetically embraces her confidence, desire, and power while navigating love and modern relationships in a world that constantly expects her to shrink.
United States, Nigeria | 12m
Director: Dominic Aikabeli
Writer: Dominic Aikabeli, Tajé Prest
Producers: Tajé Prest
Cast: Tajé Prest, Maxwell Nwokoye, Godfrey Okorafor, Kolawole Agboola, Frederick Honest
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCvIa7Lw_qM&list=PLb98sxlWomZOI3-tspB4eByvtLGPGmmwQ
Mechanical Pencil
Logline: A group of detention regulars turns their punishment into a creative playground, where desk beats, chaos, and imagination evolve into something bigger than themselves.
United States | 11m
Directors: Palmer Williams III, Amari K. Jones
Writers: Amari K. Jones, Myracle Sims, Justen Ross, JonAvery Worrell, Hurrikane, Dasan Frazier, Michael Bahsil, Destiny Knox, Kaylan Mary
Producers: Amari K. Jones
Cast: Justen Ross, Destiny Knox, Brandon Grimes, Dasan Frazier, JonAvery Worrell, Amari K. Jones, Michael Bahsil, Hurrikane, C Squared, Myracle Sims, Kaylan Mary, Skootah Pollock
Crimson Mirage
Logline: When a supernatural drug harvests human energy for an ancient operation, a detective searching for his missing sister and the scientist who unknowingly built the machine must join forces to dismantle the network before it swallows the city whole.
United States | 11m
Director: Courtney Arlett
Writer: Courtney Arlett
Producers: Courtney Arlett, Yolanda Haskett, Mario Haskett, Marc Thevenin, Ron Toussaint, Phedra Syndelle, Jasmine Sargent, Dï Thomas
Cast: Jason Louder; Katrina Riveria; Chantal Maurice; Zeus Luby; Karon Joseph Riley; Phedra Syndelle
A DIFFERENT KIND OF FOREVER
Logline: In LA’s interconnected dating scene, situationships, near misses, and messy sparks collide… proving there are a million ways this can go, and almost none of them are forever.
United States | 20m
Director: Alexis Rivera
Writer: Alexis Rivera
Producers: Alexis Rivera, Jamal Averett & Justin Jemerson
Cast: Akilah Walker, Maurice Hardwick, Juliah Cheree Taylor, Charles Grant-DeBose, Renae Anderson, Prince Odimegwu, Shakira Ja’nai Paye, Jemar Michael, Zimzon Zion, Justin Williams, Danika Edwards, Marqi Morgan, Alexis Rivera, POPE.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1099316920?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
ABFF sponsors and partners to date are Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO® (Founding), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) (Host), Ally Financial, Amazon MGM Studios, Comcast NBCUniversal, Walmart (Presenting), City of Miami Beach, American Airlines (Major), Netflix, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (Official), CBS, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitor And Convention Authority, Hartbeat, AARP, L’Oréal Groupe, STARZ, ESPN (Supporting), Motion Picture Association, Uber (Contributing), Nielsen, Fulton Films GA, The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) powered by AHF, William Morris Endeavor (Associate), Variety, LA Times, Getty Images (Media).
Additional details and programming announcements will be released in the coming weeks. For updates, visit www.nicecrowd.com and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook.
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About the American Black Film Festival (ABFF)
Founded in 1997 by Jeff Friday, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is a premier destination for film and television storytelling. Widely regarded as a key pipeline for emerging talent, ABFF has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of many of today’s most acclaimed filmmakers, actors, and creative voices. Each year, the festival brings together artists, industry leaders, and audiences from around the world for a five-day program of screenings, panels, masterclasses, and networking opportunities. The festival’s 30th anniversary edition will take place May 27–31, 2026, in Miami Beach.
About NICE CROWD
NICE CROWD is a pioneering live events company operating at the intersection of culture, entertainment, and tourism. Founded by Nicole and Jeff Friday, the company produces high-impact festivals, awards shows, and destination experiences in major U.S. cities and global markets. Guided by its philosophy, The Power of Gathering, NICE CROWD believes that when people come together, creativity flourishes, new voices are amplified, and meaningful connections are made. The company harnesses that energy to deliver culturally relevant experiences while generating measurable economic impact for its partners. Through expertise in event production, audience engagement, and strategic partnerships, NICE CROWD creates platforms that celebrate groundbreaking artists and innovators while connecting brands, media, and audiences in meaningful ways. www.nicecrowd.com
More information about the American Black Film Festival (ABFF): https://www.abff.com/miami/
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