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Major Media Organizations to Present Panel Discussions at 2002 American Black Film Festival in South Beach

HBO, AOLTW, ABC and Nielsen Media to Participate in Efforts to Develop and Encourage Black Filmmakers

New York – Executives from HBO, AOLTW, ABC and Nielsen Media will present panels designed to assist aspiring black filmmakers in bringing their talents to major studios and television networks during the American Black Film Festival (June 26-30, South Beach, Miami) it was announced today.

HBO’s panel, “Pitching to HBO,” will provide valuable information on the appropriate procedures for submitting scripts, developing sales strategies and creating the successful pitch. Moderated by Shelby Stone, producer of “Drop Squad” and HBO Films’ “Boycott,” the panel will include executives from various divisions of the network.

In addition, a second panel, made up of AOLTW companies including New Line Cinema, Turner Broadcasting, Warner Bros. as well as HBO, will focus on the art of pitching a completed film.

ABC Inc., will present insights into talent development with panelists Carmen Smith, VP ABC Entertainment Talent Development and Quin Taylor, VP ABC Movies and Miniseries.

“The Insiders,” will feature a panel of Hollywood decision-makers, agents and attorneys who will provide behind-the-scenes realities of the film business. Moderated by Eddie Arnold, Nielsen Media Communications Counsel, the panel will include: Oscar Turner, VP, Finance, Paramount Pictures; Jeanen Glover, agent, William Morris Agency and Zola Mashariki, Fox Searchlight Pictures.

The American Black Film Festival, formerly the Acapulco Black Film Festival, will be held in South Beach, Miami from June 26 – 30. Since its inception in 1997, ABFF has redefined, questioned, discovered and encouraged all aspects of independent black filmmaking. Attracting annual attendance of over 2500 participants, the Festival presents seminars, panel discussions, workshops in writing and acting and competitive film showcases, culminating with the awarding of the HBO Short Film Award and the Lincoln Filmmakers Trophy.

Jeff Friday, President of Film Life Inc. is the Executive Producer of the American Black Film Festival.

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Additional Sponsors Sign to Support American Black Film Festival

Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau Joins Home Box Office and Lincoln as Major Sponsor of Event

New York – The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, representatives of the host city of the American Black Film Festival, has joined founding sponsor, Home Box Office and platinum sponsor Lincoln in support of the event to encourage, discover and explore talent in the independent Black filmmaking community. The Bureau’s participation was announced today by ABFF founder, Byron Lewis Sr., Chairman and CEO of UniWorld Group, Inc. and the Festival’s Producer, Jeff Friday, President and CEO of Film Life, Inc.

“We wholeheartedly welcome our new partners, as well as those who have been with us in the past, and praise the encouragement their sponsorship demonstrates to the growing community of black writers, directors and producers,” Lewis Sr. and Friday said in their joint announcement.

The American Black Film Festival will be held June 26-June 30 in South Beach. The event was formerly known as the Acapulco Black Film Festival, and was relocated to Miami to provide better accessibility and state-of-the-art facilities to Festival attendees.

In addition, Blockbuster, American Airlines, Black Enterprise, BET and The Walt Disney Company/ ABC Inc. have agreed to provide sponsorship.

Home Box Office, the founding sponsor of ABFF, will again this year present the HBO Short Film Award. The submissions of five finalists will be screened during the Festival, and a jury of established filmmakers will select a grand prize winner, who will receive a $20,000 prize.

For the 3rd year since the award’s inception, Lincoln will present the prestigious Lincoln Filmmaker Trophy for Best Film, encompassing both U.S. and International submissions.

Other sponsors of the 2002 American Black Film Festival are: UniWorld Group, Inc., Film Life, Inc., Upscale, Regal Cinemas, Vibe, Enyce and Daily Blossom.

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6th Annual American Black Film Festival Moves to Miami

Event Formerly Held in Acapulco Relocates Domestically

New York – The 6th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will be held June 26 – 30 in South Beach, Miami, Florida, it was announced today by Byron Lewis Sr., Chairman and CEO of UniWorld Group Inc. and Jeff Friday, President and CEO of Film Life Inc. and ABFF Director. The highly acclaimed event supporting the independent Black filmmaking community has been held in Acapulco, Mexico for the past five years.

At the same time, ABFF announced a call for submissions. The deadline for entries is April 5 for Short Films and April 19 for Feature Length Films.

Founded in 1997 by Byron Lewis Sr., the American Black Film Festival is presented jointly by UniWorld Group Inc. and December Ventures.

Home Box Office is the founding sponsor of the event and presenter of the Short Film competition. Lincoln is again a platinum sponsor and will this year present the Lincoln Filmmaker Trophy for a Feature Length Film. Additional top-tier sponsors will be announced shortly.

“As we strive toward making the American Black Film Festival one of the premier industry events, we determined a domestic location would encourage greater participation, help us attract a multi-cultural audience, provide state-of-the-art facilities, and build stronger alliances with Hollywood film studios,” Friday said in his announcement.

With the mission of redefining, discovering and honoring artistic excellence in Black cinema, ABFF provides an unprecedented platform for Black filmmakers and now attracts an annual attendance of more than 1500 people. The five-day Festival includes competitive film showcases, in feature film and short film categories, workshops, and panel discussions. Participants and honorees in the past five years have included Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman. John Singleton, Pam Grier, Debbie Allen, Robert Townsend and Suzanne de Passe.