The 2026 American Black Film Festival Announces the HBO Short Film Award Showcase Finalists
LOS ANGELES, CA (April 23, 2026) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has officially unveiled the five finalists for the prestigious HBO Short Film Award Showcase, now in its 29th year, a cornerstone of the festival’s landmark 30th Anniversary “Homecoming” edition (May 27-31 in Miami Beach). This year’s lineup is led by the genre-bending Spilled Milk, produced by Oscar-winner Jordan Peele and starring J. Alphonse Nicholson (P-Valley) and Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi. Rounding out the high-wattage slate are world premieres featuring Arsema Thomas (Queen Charlotte), Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn (Small Axe), and Jeremy Villas, highlighting a compelling range of storytelling from psychological folklore to ballet- driven drama. Celebrating three decades of discovering cinematic talent, the HBO Short Film Award remains a vital pipeline for emerging filmmakers.
Winners will be announced during the “Best of ABFF Awards” on Saturday, May 30. The ceremony, hosted by author and three-time Emmy-nominated actor Dondré Whitfield, will culminate with the presentation of the HBO Short Film Award.
Past finalists and winners of ABFF’s prestigious HBO Short Film Award has helped launch the careers of some of the most successful filmmakers, such as:
- Ryan Coogler (2011 HBO Short Film Award Winner – Fig),
- Reinaldo Marcus Green – (2013 HBO Short Film Award Finalist – Stone Cars),
- Rashaad Ernesto Green – (2008 HBO Short Film Award Winner – Premature),
- Frank E. Flowers – (2003 HBO Short Film Award Winner – Swallow),
- Steven Caple, Jr.(2013 HBO Short Film Award Winner – A Different Tree)
“As we mark 30 years of the American Black Film Festival, we’re honored to continue our longstanding partnership with HBO in presenting the HBO Short Film Award Showcase,” said NICE CROWD Founder and CEO, Jeff Friday. “This program has been instrumental in launching the careers of groundbreaking filmmakers, and this year’s finalists carry that legacy forward with bold, compelling work. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and the continued impact of this collaboration.”
“ABFF’s 30th anniversary and our 29-year partnership highlight the power of investing in emerging storytellers,” says Dennis Williams, SVP, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Warner Bros. Discovery. “Storytellers like Steven Caple Jr., Reinaldo Marcus Green, and Christine Swanson, all past winners of this award, went on to remarkable careers. Most notably, HBO Short Film Award alum Ryan Coogler now holds record-setting Oscar nominations for a film created within our studio family. These journeys reflect the meaningful runway this award is intended to provide for bold new voices. Together, ABFF, WBD, and HBO continue to build a pipeline that opens doors, elevates talent, and expands the possibilities of storytelling.”
The full feature and documentary lineup as well as the HBO Short Film Award Showcase for the 2026 American Black Film Festival is listed below and at https://www.abff.com/miami/press-room/press-releases/.
HBO Short Film Award Showcase Finalists
Spilled Milk
What really happened to all those deadbeat dads who went to the store to get milk? A father’s innocent errand leads him to an encounter with an enigmatic figure called ‘The Milk Man,’ where things quickly go sour.
United States | 13m
Director: Jared Leaf
Writer: Jared Leaf
Producers: Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal M. Watson, Kesila Childers, Kacie Lehner, Dana Gills
Cast: J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jerry O’Connell, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Brandon Perea, Rodney Van Johnson, Bashir Taylor
Facade
A brilliant yet closed-off architect must learn to open up after confronting her past and the plot of land where her childhood home once stood.
United States | 13m
Director: Modupe Thompson
Writer: Modupe Thompson
Producers: Kristen Vaganos, Claire Gostin, Modupe Thompson
Cast: Arsema Thomas, Matthew Elam, Grace Amaku, Camryn Kim
The Truth About Space
A young man is released from prison and has to face up to the lie that his estranged daughter has been led to believe – that he was in space.
United Kingdom | 14m
Director: Jeremiah Towolawi
Writer: Jeremiah Towolawi
Producers: Emily Radakovic
Cast: Jordan Kouamé, Olivia-Rose Colliard, Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn
We Had Fun
On Christmas Eve in Bordeaux, two young children left unsupervised by their older brother discover snow for the first time, a wonder that quickly turns into danger.
France | 19m
Director: Linda Lô
Writer: Linda Lô
Producers: Didar Domehri
Cast: Bybianna Vimpi, Demba Diaw, Alseni Bathily
FLY
When a ballet company holds auditions for a competitive apprenticeship, a perfection-driven dancer has their world upended by a rival who rekindles their love for the craft.
United States | 14m
Director: Carlton Daniel Jr.
Writer: Carlton Daniel Jr.
Producers: Carlton Daniel Jr.
Cast: Jeremy Villas, Maxfield Haynes
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 (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 (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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