(Photo: The Blackening Cast, Images Courtesy of American Black Film Festival)
The 27th American Black Film Festival kicked off its second day with a thrilling White Party that lasted well into the early morning hours. This legendary event set the stage for a day focused on honoring Black artists across various platforms. The festival brought together a diverse mix of social media influencers, actors, directors, filmmakers, musicians, and more. Among the highlights were spotlight screenings that shone a special light on independent and documentary filmmakers.
One of the standout moments of the day was The Lena Waithe Effect Panel. Renowned writer and producer Lena Waithe took the stage to discuss the importance of embracing one’s roots and staying true to their journey. “I am a descendant of Black cinema and Black television, and I take great pride in who I am. Like those who paved the way before me, it’s crucial for me to be a bridge that allows others to be seen,” Lena emphasized.
A lively and humorous conversation ensued following the screening of the new show, “Act Your Age,” featuring Yvette Nicole Brown, Kym Whitley, and Alyson Fouse. The audience was thrilled by their engaging dialogue.
The cast of Lionsgate’s highly anticipated film, “The Blackening,” graced the red carpet to commemorate a special advanced screening. Immediately after the screening, a Q&A session took place with the cast and filmmakers, expertly moderated by Terrence J. The group delved into the film’s creation during the challenging pandemic period and emphasized the significance of releasing it during the Juneteenth weekend. “Throughout the film, the themes of friendship, survival, and loyalty are prominent, which aligns perfectly with the spirit of Juneteenth. That’s why we felt it was essential to release it during this period,” expressed Antoinette Robertson, one of the film’s talented actors. Additionally, Jermaine Fowler, another cast member, called for support of Black horror films, stating, “Everyone should rally behind ‘The Blackening’ to celebrate the success of Black creatives in the horror genre.”
The festival saw the presence of numerous notable guests who added to its grandeur. Among those in attendance were Jeff Friday, Nicole Friday, Lena Waithe, Omarion, Romeo Miller, Terrence J, Yvette Nicole Brown, D-Nice, Kevin Liles, Lance Gross, Kym Whitley, Jay Pharoah, Mariah Robinson, Nathan Anderson, Gabriel Alexis, Baby Tate, George ‘Conscious’ Lee, Glen ‘BeLeaf Henry, Armani White, Bryan Wolfinger, Adeoye (Ade) Johnson, Angel N. Livas, Candace Rodney, Morgan Rhodes, Carolyn Owens, Brian Lockhart, Chantre Camack, Marsha Cooke, Marquis Daisy, Dewayne Perkins, Melvin Gregg, X Mayo, Antoinette Robertson, Lisa Jermaine Fowler, Clifton Sinqua Walls, Tim Story, Tracy Oliver, Tembi Locke, Attica Locke, Neema Barnette, Kevin Liles, and many more.
The day was filled with exceptional experiences for festival attendees. Notable events included “How Social Media Transformed Filmmaking,” presented by the Motion Pictures Association; the “WBD Access Music Supervisor Panel,” presented by Warner Bros. Discovery; “Let’s Get Candid with the Cast of Act Your Age,” presented by Bounce TV; the “YouTube Black Voices Festival Showcase,” courtesy of YouTube Black Voices; filmmaker red carpet media interviews for both documentary and narrative features; “We’re Not Just Sports,” presented by ESPN Films; “The Lena Waithe Effect”; “The Blackening,” courtesy of Lionsgate; “Donyale Luna: Supermodel,” courtesy of HBO Documentary Films; “Writers.
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