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2007 American Black Film Festival Announces Festival Award Winners

Two Co-hosts to Grace Oscar’s Red Carpet Show

Beverly Hills, CA – Regis Philbin, who will host the official 30-minute red carpet arrivals show preceding the 80th Academy Awards® presentation, will be joined by co-hosts Samantha Harris and Shaun Robinson, executive producer Gil Cates and producer Dennis Doty announced today.

This will be Harris’s first time working on Oscar’s Red Carpet Show and Robinson’s fourth time hailing the stars on Oscar’s behalf.

Harris is best known for her daily reporting for E! Entertainment Television’s “E! News” and co-hosting duties on “Dancing with the Stars.” A two-time Emmy nominee, she also serves as a special correspondent for “Good Morning America” and as an occasional guest co-host on “The View.” Prior to joining E!, Harris served as the weekend co-host for the nationally syndicated entertainment news magazine “Extra.”

Robinson is the weekend co-host and correspondent for the syndicated entertainment news show “Access Hollywood.” She is an Emmy® Award-winning journalist who has served as a guest co-host on “The View” and contributed reports for “The Today Show,” MSNBC, CNN and “NBC Nightly News.” Prior to joining the world of entertainment, Robinson was an anchor and reporter for WSVN-TV in Miami, Florida.

Philbin, who has hosted numerous morning shows throughout his career and is known for his enthusiastic manner and his ad-libs, began hosting red carpet shows in the 1970s and is a pioneer interviewer of arriving stars.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2007 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PT. The Oscar® presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

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Tickets and Passes for 11th Annual American Black Film Festival On Sale Now!

FESTIVAL OPENS OCTOBER 25TH IN LOS ANGELES

New York, NY, September 25, 2007 – Film Life’s 11th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will kick-off Thursday October 25th in Los Angeles with the special screening of the upcoming Sony/Screen Gems film This Christmas, starring Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Divine, Mekhi Phifer and Regina King. Festival passes and tickets for the ABFF are on sale now at ticket web (www.ticketweb.com) or by visiting www.abff.com. “We are excited to be kicking off this year’s festival with this highly anticipated film, produced by ABFF alumni Will packer and Preston A. Whitmore II,” said Jeff Friday, founder/CEO of Film Life, Inc. and the ABFF.

In addition to the opening night screening of This Christmas, Bill Duke’s acclaimed Actors Boot Camp will be held for three days as will the popular Filmmakers Workshop, which will feature instruction from F. Gary Gray and John Singleton. Producer Tracey Edmonds and Writer/Directors Kasi Lemmons and Reggie Rock Bythewood as well as writer, Norman Vance, Jr., will be on hand at Lincoln’s “Off the Red Carpet” program. In addition, celebrities such as Boris Kodjoe, Julie Dash, and Gabrielle Union will participate in panel discussions and screenings. Actor Anthony Anderson is the 2007 ABFF Ambassador and Director Antoine Fuqua will serve as the President of the 2007 ABFF Grand Jury.

Founded in 1997, the mission of the festival is to strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Since its inception, over 500 independent films have been screened, seventy percent of which have gone on to secure theatrical or DVD distribution.

Festival alumni include director Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard), producers Rob Hardy and Will Packer (Stomp the Yard), producer Roger M. Bobb (Daddy’s Little Girls) and writer/director Frank E. Flowers (Haven). The ABFF was born out of the need to generate distribution opportunities for independent Black films and promote cultural diversity within the motion picture industry. It is widely considered the premier Black film market. Festival attendance is expected to exceed 5,000 people.

“The support of our corporate partners, led by founding and title sponsor HBO, Lincoln, Allstate®, and BET J, allows the festival to continue to grow and nurture artists in a variety of disciplines offering workshops, symposiums, exclusive parties, high-level networking and signature events including: ABFF Feature Panel Discussion, A Conversation With…, and the HBO Short Film Competition,” added Friday.

Other 2007 Festival sponsors include: Blockbuster, Nokia, Paper Denim & Cloth, Heineken, Kodak, Fox Entertainment Group, Nielsen Media Research, Inta Juice, Nickelodeon, The Word Network, Golden Street Entertainment, Codeblack Entertainment, First Look Studios, Sofitel LA, One Village Entertainment, MTV Networks, Target, IFP, SAG Indie, Black Enterprise, heart & soul, Uptown, Upscale, DV Republic, Black Noir, NV magazine, and VIBE. V100-FM is the official radio partner.

The ABFF’s four film sections – Shorts, U.S. Features, International Features and Documentaries – will provide increased visibility to the films that will be screened this year. Filmmakers will be recognized and rewarded with cash and other prizes at the ABFF’s Independent Film Awards Presentation on October 28th at the WGA. Festival ticket prices are as follows: Festival Passes $675, Actors Boot Camp Passes $350, Filmmaker Workshop Passes $350, Symposium Passes $30, and Movie Screening Tickets $12. To purchase passes or tickets visit www.abff.com or www.ticketweb.com

The ABFF, co-founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services — HBO and Cinemax-to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally, HBO’s branded television networks, along with the subscription video on demand products HBO on Demand and HBO Mobile, bring HBO services to over 50 countries.

Festival and registration information is available online www.abff.com, via phone 212.966.2411, ext. 400, or by e-mail: [email protected].

Contact:
Ghana Odet Wilson, ABFF Publicity
212-966-2411 ext 411
[email protected]

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2007 American Black Film Festival Announces Sponsors

SPONSORSHIPS DRIVE FESTIVAL GROWTH AND UNDERSCORES CORPORATE COMMITMENT TO DIVERSE FILMMAKING

Allstate, BET J, Target, MTV and Nokia are among the new sponsors scheduled to bring innovative programs to 11 year old fest

New York, NY, September 25, 2007 – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) today announced the sponsors for the 2007 Festival, which includes the addition of marquee brands Allstate, Nokia, Target, BET-J, as well as the continued support of numerous returning sponsors, including HBO, the ABFF’s Founding and Title Sponsor. The Festival, now in its eleventh year, will take place October 25 – October 29, 2007 in its new home, Los Angeles.

Many of the Festival’s sponsors have gone beyond the traditional boundaries of marketing partnerships by taking an active role in content integration and the creation of new programs and events that will enhance the Festival experience for filmmakers, artists, members of the film industry, and the festival attendees.

“This is a record year for new sponsors and each sponsor is an important component of the Festival brand,” said Jeff Friday, co-founder and executive producer of the ABFF. “Not only are our sponsors an integral part of supporting the infrastructure and rapid growth of the Festival, but they also bring a shared passion for and an understanding of our core values. For the past 11 years, our sponsors have enabled us to bring the ABFF to a broad audience in a very substantive way,” Friday added.

HBO is the Founding and Title Sponsor of the ABFF and this year will celebrate a decade of support of the event. Since 1998, HBO has worked in a variety of ways to enhance the festival through innovative programs like the HBO Short Film Competition and the Filmmaker Reception.

At this year’s festival, HBO will be sponsoring A Conversation With… a festival signature event, in addition to the Short Film Competition. “HBO continues to be very proud of its affiliation as Founding and Title sponsor of ABFF,” said Olivia Smashum, executive vice-president of Affiliate Marketing for HBO. “We’re especially excited about HBO’s role as patron of the 10th Annual HBO Short Film Award. As a company, HBO is committed to finding and developing the widest possible diversity in talent. The ABFF is a particularly important opportunity for us to help bring to light the creative genius of black filmmakers and to infuse the entire film industry with new ideas, perspectives and energy,” Smashum added.

The following new Premier Sponsors: Allstate and BET J; Official Sponsors: Nokia, Heineken, Kodak and Paper Cloth & Denim; and Supporting Sponsors Target, MTV Networks, Inta Juice, First Look Studios, Fox Entertainment Group, The Word Network, Sofitel LA, One Village Entertainment and Golden Street Entertainment; join longtime festival supporters: Lincoln, Blockbuster, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Vibe, Black Enterprise, Upscale, Code Black Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Nielsen Media Research, Uptown, Black Noir, Heart and Soul, DV Republic, IFP, SAG Indie and NV Magazine in continuing the tradition of honoring excellence in independent filmmaking.

Luxury automaker Lincoln returns, for the eighth consecutive year, as a leading sponsor of ABFF. Along with bringing back festival favorites, the Lincoln Lounge and the custom Lincoln shuttle service, Lincoln will join ABFF this year to debut Off the Red Carpet, intimate discussions with industry insiders influencing present-day filmmaking. “Lincoln has had a long and proud history of partnership with the film industry, said Marc Perry, multicultural marketing manager of Lincoln. “Our alliance with ABFF and Film Life is particularly special to us as it reinforces our commitment to the spirit of independent filmmaking and allows us to be part of a team that is passionate about bringing diverse voices to a broader audience,” Perry concluded.

“We are pleased to join the other marquee companies in support of the mission of the ABFF to showcase the best and brightest in contemporary Black cinema,” said Steven White, senior manager of multi-cultural marketing at Allstate. “We are equally pleased with the response to the Allstate Beyond February “Be Reel” contest-from the entries we’re clear we’ve created something that can grow with each passing year,” White added.

The ABFF, co-founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour premium television services — HBO and Cinemax-to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally, HBO’s branded television networks, along with the subscription video on demand products HBO on Demand and HBO Mobile, bring HBO services to over 50 countries.

Festival information, including eligibility requirements, registration and the 2007 schedule of events, is available online at www.abff.com, via phone 212.966.2411, ext. 400, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Contact:
Ghana Odet Wilson, ABFF Publicity
212.966.2411, ext. 411
[email protected]

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Anthony Anderson is Named Ambassador of the 2007 American Black Film Festival

New York, NY, August 27, 2007 – Today, actor Anthony Anderson was named ambassador for the 2007 American Black Film Festival (ABFF). The ABFF is the premier international marketplace for films that showcase the best new work by and about people of African descent. The role of the ABFF ambassador is to broaden public awareness of the festival and its mission to strengthen Black filmmaking through collaboration and support between Hollywood and the independent film community. The 2007 ABFF is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from October 25-29.

Anderson, who received the festival’s Rising Star Award in 2000, is ABFF’s first ambassador. In this role, he will serve as the media spokesperson for the festival and serve as an adviser for the festival’s philanthropic endeavors.

“I am so pleased to be able to serve as the 2007 ABFF ambassador and increase awareness of this great festival that champions creative expression, as well as recognizes and rewards emerging talent–filmmakers and artists–who might otherwise remain undiscovered,” Anderson said.

Born and raised in California, Anderson, 36, is a graduate of the Hollywood High School Performing Arts Center and Howard University. He has amassed nearly 50 film and television credits. His most recent credits include The Transformers, the summer blockbuster directed by Michael Bay, and The Departed (2006), director Martin Scorsese’s Oscar®-winning film. Anderson can also be seen in the upcoming FOX TV series K-Ville (2007), as Marlin Boulet, a cop in New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina.

“Anthony personifies the mission of the ABFF, to recognize, showcase and celebrate emerging African-American talent,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life and co-founder of ABFF. “A dynamic performer with a huge screen presence, Anderson has been an almost ubiquitous feature player beginning in 1999, and his career has continued along unabated, making him the perfect person to champion the ABFF,” Friday added.

The 2007 ABFF will mark its 10th year of support from HBO®, the festival’s founding and title sponsor. This year’s premier sponsors will include Lincoln, Allstate and BET J. Official sponsors will include Blockbuster, Nokia, Paper Denim & Cloth, VIBE, Black Enterprise and Upscale, and supporting sponsors will include Nielsen Media Research, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Codeblack Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Golden Street Entertainment, The Word Network, UrbanWorks Entertainment, Heineken, Uptown, Black Noir, Heart & Soul, and the Sofitel LA.

Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services–HBO and Cinemax–to more than 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally, HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, along with branded joint ventures, bring HBO services to more than 50 countries. HBO programming is sold in more than 150 countries.

The ABFF, co-founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Film submissions to the 2007 ABFF are being accepted now through August 15. For eligibility criteria, submission forms and general registration information, visit www.abff.com; call 212.966.2411, ext. 400; or e-mail the festival at [email protected].

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2007 American Black Film Festival Announces Film Sections, Competitions & Awards

New York, NY, July 26, 2007 – Film Life’s 11th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) today announced its film sections, competitions and festival awards. The ABFF is the premier international marketplace for films that showcase the best new work by and about people of African descent. The festival will run from October 25 to 29 in Los Angeles. HBO® is the festival’s founding and title sponsor.

ABFF’s competitions reward excellence in independent Black cinema. The HBO Short Film Competition is now going into its tenth year. With the support of major U.S. corporations, the festival awards cash and other prizes valued in the six figures. The competition categories are comprised of four film sections: Short Films, U.S. Features, International Features and Documentaries. There are seven festival awards:

HBO Short Film Award
Jury Prize for Best Screenplay, sponsored by Allstate
Jury Prize for Best Director
Jury Prize for Best Actor
Jury Prize for Best Picture, sponsored by Kodak
Audience Award for Best U.S. Feature, sponsored by Blockbuster
Best Documentary

In addition, ABFF has recently launched an exciting national consumer contest The 2007 Allstate® Beyond February “Be Reel” Contest. To enter you must create a 5-90 second commercial/film answering either or both of the following questions: 1) Why is it important to be involved in the community year round? and/or 2) What are you doing or would you do to strengthen the growth and success of the community? Each entrant enters for the chance to win a trip to the 2007 ABFF and a grand prize of $5,000.

“The ABFF’s monetary awards are unsurpassed on the film festival circuit. The festival gives independent filmmakers exactly what they need, 1) a forum to showcase their films to an appreciative audience and 2) money… says former ABFF multiaward winner Roger Bobb (Producer: House of Payne, Daddy’s Little Girls and Madea’s Family Reunion). The relationships that I have made as an ABFF award winner are directly responsible for the success that I have had as a filmmaker.”

Melanie Sharee, the festival’s director, added, “We are particularly proud of new talent discovered through our competitions and continue to work to assist those and other filmmakers to generate exposure. ABFF provides a much needed launch pad for Black filmmakers’ careers.”

This year’s award winners will be announced at a press conference on the closing day of the festival, Monday, October 29, at the WGA Theater.

Film submissions for consideration for the 11th annual ABFF are being accepted now through August 15 2007. For detailed information on competitions, eligibility criteria, deadlines, awards and downloadable submission forms visit www.abff.com.

Sponsors on board for the 2007 ABFF include HBO (Founding & Title), Lincoln, Allstate and BET J (Premier), Blockbuster, Nokia, Paper Denim & Cloth, VIBE, Black Enterprise and Upscale (Official), Nielsen Media Research, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Codeblack Entertainment, Nickelodeon, Golden Street Entertainment, The Word Network, UrbanWorks Entertainment, Heineken, Inta Juice, Uptown, Black Noir, heart&soul, and the Sofitel LA (Supporting).

Home Box Office, Inc., is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services – HBO and Cinemax – to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally, the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, along with branded joint ventures, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

The ABFF, cofounded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Festival submission and registration information is available online www.abff.com, via phone 212.966.2411, ext. 400, or by e-mail: [email protected].

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Home Box Office Opens 10th Annual HBO Short Film Award Call For Entry

Five finalists to be chosen to compete for $20,000 grand prize at Film Life’s 2007 American Black Film Festival in Los Angeles this October 25-29

New York, NY, May 17, 2007 – Home Box Office announced it is now accepting entries for its 10th Annual HBO Short Film Award at Film Life’s 2007 American Black Film Festival (ABFF). The competition honors the writing and directing talents of Black filmmakers. A grand prize of $20,000 will be presented by HBO at the ABFF, taking place in Los Angeles, October 25-29.

The HBO Short Film Award has been presented as part of the ABFF’s competitive film showcase since its inception in 1998. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of HBO as founding and title sponsor of the festival.

“HBO has long had a reputation of embracing Black stories and Black filmmakers,” said Olivia Smashum, executive vice president, Affiliate Marketing at HBO. “We are extremely proud of our role at the ABFF and the opportunity that the festival continues to give us to nurture new talent.”

Five films will be chosen by a panel of industry professionals based on artistic excellence, with the finalists participating in a special screening and final round of competition at the festival. The grand prize of $20,000 will be awarded to one filmmaker by HBO at the ABFF’s awards press conference. A prize of $5,000 will also be given to each of the four runners-up.

“Over the years HBO has provided an unprecedented platform for many African Americans in film; in front of and behind the camera,” said Jeff Friday, ABFF Co-Founder. “The HBO Short Film Award is just another example of their commitment to artistic diversity. The competition is the cornerstone of the ABFF film program and has unveiled some truly talented artists.”

The HBO Short Film Award competition is open to U.S. and international filmmakers of African descent, 18 years of age or older, who have directed and/or written a short film of 20 minutes or less. All films must have been produced after January 1, 2006 in English or contain English subtitles. Deadline for entries is Wednesday, July 11 and all entries must arrive at the ABFF office postmarked by that date.

Additionally, all entries must qualify as a festival premiere, with no festival screenings planned through the scheduled ABFF screening dates of October 25-29. Short films that have won awards at other festivals or those that have previously been submitted to the HBO Short Film Award competition, under its current or any former title, are not eligible. Films must also not have had previous cable broadcast screenings.

Submissions will be accepted on DVD only, accompanied by official HBO/ABFF entry form, $40.00 submission fee and other pertinent materials. For entry forms and rules and regulations, visit www.abff.com.

The 2006 HBO Short Film Award grand prize of $20,000 was presented to writer/director Moon Molson for his film “Pop Foul,” a coming-of-age story about a boy who must choose between staying loyal or being honest after witnessing his father’s beating by a local thug.

The ABFF, founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services – HBO and Cinemax – to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, along with branded joint ventures, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

Contact: Jodie Hauptmann, 212-512-5431

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2007 American Black Film Festival Announces Dates and Calls for Submissions

Festival Relocates to Los Angeles

New York, NY, April 19, 2007 – Film Life’s 11th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced its 2007 dates: October 25-29. The festival, which had been held for the past five years in South Beach, Miami, has relocated to the West Coast with festival activities centered in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. HBO& is the festival’s founding and title sponsor. 2007 marks HBO’s tenth year of support.

Film submissions for consideration for the 2007 ABFF are being accepted from now through July. Submission forms, deadlines and eligibility criteria are available online at www.abff.com.

Founded in 1997, the mission of the festival is to strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. Since its inception, over 400 independent films have been screened, seventy per cent of which have gone on to secure theatrical or DVD distribution. Festival alumni include director Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard) and producers Rob Hardy and Will Packer (Stomp the Yard), producer Roger M. Bobb (Daddy’s Little Girls) and writer/director Frank E. Flowers (Haven). The ABFF was born out of the need to generate distribution opportunities for independent Black films and promote cultural diversity within the motion picture industry. It is widely considered the premier Black film market. Festival attendance is expected to exceed 5,000 people.

“The move to Los Angeles is an important part of the festival’s evolution. We intend to work more closely with the studios and create a more potent marketplace for buyers and producers of independent Black cinema. With the support of our corporate partners, led by HBO, Lincoln and Allstate&, we will continue to facilitate distribution opportunities for these films,” said Jeff Friday, Founder/CEO of Film Life, Inc.

In addition to its cinematic showcases, the ABFF nurtures artists in a variety of disciplines offering workshops, a symposium and talk series (Access ABFF), exclusive parties, high-level networking and signature events including: ABFF Feature Panel Discussion, A Conversation With…, and the HBO Short Film Competition.

“For the past ten years, HBO has proudly collaborated with the ABFF to bring the best emerging Black filmmakers to the forefront,” said Olivia Smashum, executive vice president, Affiliate Marketing at HBO. “In turn, with the financial support, industry recognition and respect they receive at the festival, these talented filmmakers have emerged further inspired to continue practicing their craft.”

The ABFF’s four film sections – Shorts, U. S. Features, International Features and Documentaries – have been created to provide visibility to new films. Filmmakers are recognized at the ABFF’s Independent Film Awards (Oct. 29) and rewarded with cash and other prizes. Through the support of Film Life and a wide variety of corporate partners, the American Black Film Festival continues with its mission to fortify the Black filmmaking community, and make films by and about people of color more accessible to mainstream audiences.

Sponsors aboard the 2007 ABFF include HBO (Founding & Title), Lincoln and Allstate (Premier), Nokia, Blockbuster, Paper Denim & Cloth, VIBE, Black Enterprise and Upscale (Official), Codeblack Entertainment, Nickelodeon, UrbanWorks Entertainment, Uptown, Black Noir and the Sofitel LA (Supporting).

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., providing two 24-hour pay television services – HBO and Cinemax – to over 40 million U.S. subscribers. The services offer the most popular subscription video on demand products, HBO On Demand and Cinemax On Demand, as well as multiplex channels and HD feeds. Internationally the subscription video on demand products HBO On Demand and HBO Mobile, along with branded joint ventures, bring HBO services to over 50 countries. HBO programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.

The ABFF, cofounded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Its mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s key properties include the American Black Film Festival (abff.com); The Black Movie Awards on TNT (blackmovieawards.com); and the ABFF DVD Series (thefilmlife.com), a partnership with Warner Home Video.

Festival and registration information is available online www.abff.com, via phone 212.966.2411, ext. 400, or by e-mail: [email protected].

Contact:
Jana Elise Taylor
212.966.2411, ext. 406
[email protected]