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The 29th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has announced its lineup of narrative and documentary features, along with the opening night HBO Short Film Award Showcase. This year’s festival will take place live in Miami Beach June 11-15, followed by an online segment June 16-24 on ABFF PLAY, and spotlights incredible emerging creatives in the filmmaking space. 

In past years, the 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 ), and more. 

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) continues to serve as a vital force in Hollywood, spotlighting bold storytelling and fresh creative voices for a global audience. The 2025 festival will feature a compelling lineup of narrative and documentary films from the United States, Canada, Jamaica, Ghana, South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia, United Kingdom, Democratic Republic of Congo and other nations. Audiences can anticipate a powerful selection of narrative features, spanning genres like psychological thriller, romance, and comedy, and delving into culturally resonant issues including grief, friendship, fatherhood, resilience, self-identity vs. collectivism,  desperation vs. maintaining artistic integrity, gang violence, and envy & greed.

Hosted by three-time Emmy-nominated actor and author Dondré Whitfield on Saturday, June 14, winners of the films in competition will be announced during the “Best of ABFF Awards” which will include the festival’s hallmark award, the John Singleton Award for Best Debut Feature presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“We are thrilled to bring the American Black Film Festival back to Miami Beach in 2025, continuing our tradition of showcasing bold, original voices and engaging storytelling,” said NICE CROWD President Nicole Friday. “This year’s festival promises an even more expansive lineup of films that reflect the richness of lived experiences and the creativity shaping today’s cinematic landscape. We look forward to an inspiring week that celebrates emerging talent and connects audiences through compelling stories from around the world.”

“The American Black Film Festival has been a cherished longstanding partnership for Miami Beach — culturally, creatively, and economically,” said Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner. “ABFF reinforces Miami Beach’s reputation as a global hub for film and art. We welcome the leading voices in Black film and entertainment to our city.”

The full feature and documentary lineup as well as the HBO Short Film Award Showcase for the 2025 American Black Film Festival is listed below:

Narrative Features (U.S. & International)

A competitive section for feature-length films directed by, or written and produced by, persons of African descent. Films selected for this section will compete for Jury Awards, including Best Narrative Feature with a cash prize of $2,500 sponsored by Walmart, and Best Director with a cash prize of $2,500 sponsored by Ally Financial. Additionally, if a person of African descent directs a film accepted to this section and it is their first feature film, they will be eligible to compete for the John Singleton Award for Best Debut Feature Film, presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment. The following films represent the 2025 official selections in the Narrative Features category:

Can You Stand The Rain *World Premiere 

Logline: A group of lifelong friends reunite after the sudden death of their childhood anchor, only to confront buried dreams, hidden tensions, long-held regrets — and the truth about who they’ve become… and who they still might be.

USA | 90m 

Director: Eden Marryshow

Writer: Eden Marryshow

Producer: Eden Marryshow

Cast: John Bermudez, Steve H. Broadnax III, Jaben Early, Devin Haaq, Eden Marryshow, Stephen Conrad Moore, Adesola Osakalumi, Cesa Pledger, Celestine Rae, Jaime Lincoln Smith, Brandhyze Stanley, Analisa Velez, Jasmin Walker

Deadly Visitor *World Premiere 

Logline: A woman’s quiet home turns into a deadly standoff when assassins come hunting a stranger and stolen diamonds.

USA | 84m 

Director: Aaron L. Williams

Writer: Aaron L. Williams

Producers: Aaron L. Williams, Orlando Eric Street, John Sonny Louis, Allysa Carson

Cast: Danielle Laroach, Maurice P. Kerry, Rodney Perry

Trailer: https://youtu.be/0y4u-xNFPDk 

Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green

Logline: Freight: The Five Incarnations of Abel Green operates on the premise that a person’s spirit, or soul, comes to the world because there is something the soul needs to learn. If the soul does not learn it, then it comes back to the world again and again until it’s successful. 

USA | 90m

Director: J. Alphonse Nicholson 

Writer: Howard L. Craft 

Producers: J. Alphonse Nicholson, Tabitha Brown, Nafeesha Nicholson, Stephen “Doc” Love, Juel Taylor, Joseph Megel 

Cast: J. Alphonse Nicholson  

Trailer: https://youtu.be/WFg_rzMfXRs?si=R2qBE35dwVeeJj_7 

HOORAH 99! *World Premiere 

Logline: A down-on-his-luck father, in the midst of a foreclosure and other financial woes, convinces his three high-school teenage sons that their only option is to rob a bank.

USA | 122m 

Director: Ash Innovator

Writer: Ashley Smith

Producers: Ci Esta

Cast: Travis Johnson, Jeff ‘Ja Rule’ Atkins, Kevin Barbara, Marqi Morgan, Zy’Air Carter, Thashley Ulysses, KiKi the First Lady

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/user197373387/HOORAH99trailer 

It Comes In Waves *World Premiere 

Logline: A family of four escapes the genocide in Rwanda and lands in Ottawa. They quickly learn that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

Canada | 105m 

Director: Fitch Jean

Writer: Sammy Mohamed

Producers: Amir Zargara

Cast: Adrian Walters, Nendia Lewars

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1064496934/4aba711359

Love, Brooklyn 

Logline: Three longtime Brooklynites navigate careers, love, loss, and friendship against the rapidly changing landscape of their beloved city.

USA | 97m 

Director: Rachael Abigail Holder

Writer: Paul Zimmerman

Producers: André Holland, Kate Sharp, Liza Zusman, Maurice Anderson, Patrick Wengler

Cast: André Holland, Nicole Beharie, DeWanda Wise, Roy Wood Jr.

Love Offside

Logline: When an undervalued physical therapist secretly takes on a famous rugby player’s recovery using a bold mix of Jamaican herbal remedies and modern therapy, she risks her career—and her heart—in a fight to prove her worth.

Jamaica | 105m 

Director: Dale S. Lewis 

Writer: Daneil Campbell, Jeanette Milio

Producers: Kimala Bennett, Melissa Llewellyn, Lorisa Bates, Tashara Lee Johnson, Judi Johnson, Victoria Rowell, Mike Merrill 

Cast: Judi Johnson, Mike Merrill, Victoria Rowell, Sundra Oakley, Carli McIntrye, Tosh Alexander 

Meta Take One 

Logline:  An obsessive young director & his crew plunge into a frantic night long odyssey of desperation to finish his film no matter the cost.

USA | 96m 

Director: John Dierre, Ryan Dutter

Writer: Ryan Dutter and John Dierre

Producers: Ryan Dutter, John Dierre, Cabral Clements, L.M. Davis

Cast: Ej Ezuruo, Emmanuel Peeples, Aminah Williams, James Choi, John Romanski, Laura Poindexter, Kountry Slimm, Kevin Williams

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1064898743

Outdoor School *World Premiere 

Logline: In 1994, drugs and gangs surge north up the Interstate 5 corridor, destabilizing Portland, Oregon. Amidst this urban chaos, 12-year-old Vin, homeless in the heart of the city, embarks on a week-long wilderness journey, experiencing Portland’s transformative rite of passage: Outdoor School.

USA | 84m 

Director: Ime N. Etuk

Writer: Ime N. Etuk, Kamafi Adio Byrd

Producers: Ime N. Etuk, Ifanyi Bell, Vin Shambry

Cast: Kendrick Cross, Cycerli Ash, Jahi Diallo Winston, Eric Edelstein

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1055111306/6c36465819

The Fisherman 

Logline: In Zoey Martinson’s Venice Film Festival-winning feast of magical realist comedy— aging Ghanaian Atta Oko sets his sights on finally having his own boat and becoming the envy of his village, he’ll just need help from a talking dead fish first.

Ghana | 106m 

Director: Zoey Martinson

Writer: Zoey Martinson

Producers: Kofi Owusu  Afriyie, Korey Jackson, Yvonne Orji

Cast: Ricky Adelayitar, Endurance Grand, William  Lamptey, Kiki Romi, Adwoa Akoto, Dulo Harris

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1001394859

The Late Night Creep *World Premiere 

Logline: For a married man, date night without the wife can be hell.

USA | 95m 

Director: Jamal Dedeaux

Writer: Jamal Dedeaux

Producers: Rebecca T. Haze, Kris Simms

Cast: Jake Choi, Tosin Morohunfola, Karen Obilom, Siddiq Sanderson, Ali Gallo, Lori Laing, Jason Mitchell, Leslie Jones

The Reject 

Logline: Against all odds, a young man labeled as “mentally handicapped” fights against systemic barriers, personal demons, and society’s expectations to rise from the projects and become an influential attorney and politician who challenges the very system designed to hold him back.

USA | 93m 

Director: Blademil Grullon

Writer: Yonel Aris, Percy Romeo Miller, Logan Burdick, Kionne Mcghee

Producers: Marco Molinet, Percy Romeo Miller, Brandon Dumlao, Kionne Mcghee

Cast: Percy Romeo Miller, Kamal Ani-Bello, Tsachai “Sky” Aris

Trailer: https://youtu.be/Q5DA8M0xguo 

The ReWrite. *World Premiere 

Logline: A struggling screenwriter revisits the characters in his script in real life to do a rewrite of his latest draft in order to save his dying career.  

USA | 94m 

Director: Terry Dawson

Writer: Terry Dawson

Producers: Julie Bersani, Bill Benenson, Laurie Benenson, Terry Dawson

Cast: Stephen Barrington, Freddy D. Ramsey Jr., Elijah R. Reed, Anthony Riggins Jr., Taylor Leigh Edwards, Holly Hyman, Don Wallace, Felice Heather Monteith, Jhey Castles, Jordan Murphy 

The Secret Between Us *US Premiere 

Logline: Some secrets break us; others can bind us. 

USA | 114m 

Director: Tamera Hill

Writer: Tamera Hill

Producers: Tamera Hill, Michael Jai White, Reggie Currelley, Suzanne Lyons

Cast: Michael Jai White, Lisa Arrindell, Victoria Rowell, Tre Ryan

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1080045987 

TREASURE HUNT *World Premiere 

Logline: A desperately poor ex-con man returns lost expensive jewelry only to discover that a gang of criminals are bent on using him to get the jewelry for themselves.

South Africa | 97m 

Director: Chim Onyebilanma 

Writer: Chim Onyebilanma 

Producers: Chim Onyebilanma, Happiness Mpase

Cast: Moopi Mothibeli, Melissa Mkhize, Thabiso Mokhethi, Patrick Kenny, Crystal Tryon-Smith 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/c2mNIRJvhoo

Narrative  Features (Out of Competition)

Fight Like A Girl 

Logline: A young Congolese woman forced to work in an illegal mineral mine, escapes her captors and finds a new life for herself after joining a renowned all-women boxing club in the border city of Goma. Based on a True Story.

Democratic Republic of Congo | 118m

Director: Matthew Leutwyler

Writer: Matthew Leutwyler

Producers: Anton Laines, Yvette Gayle, Innocent Munyeshuri, Serge Ibaka

Cast: Ama Qamata, Hakeem Kae Kazim, Clarck Ntambwe, Malaika Uwamahoro, Arthur Nkusi, Bahali Ruth, Kennedy Mazimpaka

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/869303140?share=copy  

Trouble Man *World Premiere

Logline: An ex-cop turned fixer is hired to find his superstar and rumored ex-girlfriend. With a blend of brains, bullets and Kung Fu, Jaxen must fight through a maze of street thugs, slicksters and Chinese mobsters before his or the diva’s time runs out.  

USA | 92m

Director: Michael Jai White

Writer: Michael Stradford

Producers: Craig Baumgarten, Michael Jai White, Ron Robinson 

Cast: Michael Jai White, Method Man, Mike Epps, Gillian White, Orlando Jones, Lala Anthony

Documentary Features

A competitive section for non-fiction feature-length films directed by or about persons of African descent. Films selected for this section compete for the Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature with a cash prize of $2,500. The following films represent the 2025 official selections in the Documentary Features category:

Black Women and Sex *World Premiere

Logline: Black Women and Sex explores the tension between black women and the politics of sex in Africa. 

South Africa, Nigeria, Zambia | 90m 

Director: Godisamang Khunou

Writer: Godisamang Khunou 

Producers: Godisamang Khunou, Calvin Sefala, Adelaide Joshua-Hill, Yolanda Ncokotwana, Refiloe Hlabioa, Iris Kaingu, Nthabeleng Phora, Kgomotso Zebediela

Cast: Iris Kaingu, Glow Makatsi, Olawumi Oloye 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/ltdv7BbZiao

Carnival: They Can’t Steal Our Joy *US Premiere

Logline: Caribbean Carnival is not just any event. It is liberation, a voice of freedom, people in action, a cultural movement that was born out of a place of righteous defiance to become a paradise of colorful street parade.

Canada | 75m 

Director: Ian Mark Kimanje

Writer: Allen Booth and Ian Mark Kimanje

Producers: Ian Mark Kimanje

Cast: Candace Dixon, Fiona Compton, and Ian Mark Kimanje 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/o_RPfSkrxsM

Fatherless No More 

Logline: Fatherless No More chronicles the remarkable journey of an Orlando-based pastor and former Super Bowl Champion who was driven by a divine calling to move into an RV at a place often deemed hell on earth, Rikers Island.

USA | 86m 

Director: Kayla Johnson, Co-director Ashly Robinson 

Producers: Cole Anthony, Cece Winans, Ashly Robinson, Kayla Johnson, Michelle Duffie 

Cast: Tim Johnson, Malik Bacchus, Jayden Mayo, and Tristian Williams 

Good Shot *World Premiere

Logline: In the heart of Watts, a beloved neighborhood legend named Maxwell seeks redemption as a father after a lifetime of using basketball to mask his pain.

USA | 81m 

Director: Joris Debeij

Writer: Walter Thompson-Hernández

Producers: Jean Mougin, Joris Debeij, Aron Phillips, Stephen Curry, Erick Peyton, Steve Wood

Cast: Maxwell Henderson

Love, Joy & Power: Tools For Liberation *World Premiere

Logline: Love, Joy & Power: Tools for Liberation is a feature length documentary about the co-founders of the Black Voters Matter Fund, Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown, the work they do to empower African American communities especially in the rural south, and the crucial role they played in flipping Georgia from red to blue in the 2020 Presidential election and the 2021 Georgia Senate Runoffs and the numerous threats they faced to do the work.

USA | 96m 

Director: Daresha Kyi

Producers: Trevite Willis, Daresha Kyi

Cast: LaTosha Brown, Cliff Albright, April England Albright

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/929955295?from=outro-local 

Moses 

Logline: In San Francisco, a man enduring homelessness for two decades connects with passersby to be seen among the invisible—a skill he learned from a promising music career cut short in the ’70s, and one that will ultimately transform his life.

USA/SPAIN | 127m 

Director: Fran Guijarro

Writer: Fran Guijarro

Producers: Fran Guijarro, Diya Guha & Juli López

Cast: Moses 

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/freerangepuppies/mosestrailer

SPADURA *World Premiere

Logline: Framed as an off-kilter baby shower, SPADURA unapologetically takes on the emotional and financial cost of IVF, grief, aging, as well as the unique fertility obstacles faced by Black women in America — all through a funny and gripping solo show.

USA | 60m 

Director: Allison Caviness

Writer: Dahéli Hall

Producers: Elizabeth Yng-Wong

Cast: Dahéli Hall

Wait Until Tomorrow *World Premiere

Logline: An intimate, urgent portrait of race, wealth, and opportunity in America, told through the eyes of Black families striving for more in cities across the nation.

USA | 70m

Director: Osato Dixon

Writer: Osato Dixon, Kara Murphy

Producers: Kelley Robins Hicks, Jamund Washington

Cast: Shelley Stewart III, Sara Prince, Tiffany Burns, JP Julien, Avis E., Crystal F.,  Antonio G., Kandice J., Armond J. 

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1083669581?share=copy 

Series 

A competitive section for short-form episodic series directed by, or written and produced by, persons of African descent. Series selected for this section compete for the Jury Award for Best Series with a cash prize of $2,500 sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal. The following are the 2025 official selections in the Series category:

Ainsi va Manu – Hogtown Episode 203 *US Premiere

Logline: Forced to leave her hometown temporarily, Manuela finds it difficult to adapt to her new surroundings. She has only one thing on her mind: moving back to Toronto. However, an unexpected encounter turns Manuela’s life upside down, calling into question everything she’s known up to now.

Canada | 21m

Director: Josiane Blanc

Writer: Josiane Blanc

Producers: Josiane Blanc, Ania Jamila

Cast: Cindy Charles, Sandra Dorélas, Jamaal Mansaray, Laurence Barrette, Ted Pluviose, Madani Tall, Maïka Ferron, Nam Nguyen

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/920086803 

I Hate My Love Life 

Logline: After years of bickering, a well-seasoned married couple decide to go on dates with other people to see if the grass is really greener on the other side; only to find out they are not prepared for the woes of new-age dating.

USA | 15m

Director: Tiffany Jackman

Writer: Tiffany Jackman

Producers: Tiffany Jackman, Orion Phillips II, Nia Watenza, Paula Spencer

Cast: Reggie Hayes, Terri J. Vaughn, Daphnique Springs, Orion Phillips II, Meghan Falcone, Roy Wood Jr.

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1046554296 

IntelliGent 

Logline: Regent, an autistic genius in fourth grade is lured by a bully’s promise of popularity, setting off a race against time to unveil the truth and avoid a year of humiliation and disaster.

USA | 28m

Director: Kinnik Sky

Writer: Kinnik Sky

Producers: Kinnik Sky

Cast: Josiah Howard-Tobia, Ernest Thomas, Kinnik Sky, Nia Johnson, Harper Bree, Rhaja Leigh, Dylan Taylor, Jaeden White  

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N1x7MLAfGE 

OFFBEAT *World Premiere

Logline: A quirky yet classy late 20s woman struggles to hide her true self as she leads an entertaining double life.

USA | 29m

Director: Jasmine Ogunjimi

Writer: Paige Carroll

Producer: Paige Carroll

Cast: Breayre Tender, Robert Daniels, G’ionna Bowman, Craig Amar Johnson, April Rock, Dominick Johnson, Ahmenah Richardson

Trailer: https://youtu.be/naNioRtshd0 

Sideline Story *World Premiere

Logline: Hezi and Parker are two ex-basketball phenoms who find themselves in a similar predicament of financial struggles, soon to realize that ball might be the solution to both of their problems.

USA | 24m 

Directors: Deantè Gray, Sam Buckner, III

Writer: Sam Buckner, III

Producers: Sam Buckner, III, Ski-ter Jones

Cast: Ezekiel Ajeigbe, Shan Moreno, David Reivers, Sophina DeJesus, King Martin 

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXoDUXq0Vu8 

The Hype

Logline: A young Black couple battles the sleazy sea of L.A. materialistic culture at a party in the Hollywood Hills.

USA | 18m

Director: Justin Casselle

Writers: Maya Cryor,  Joel Boyd

Producers: Ramone Hulet, Christopher McQueen, Maya Cryor, Joel Boyd

Cast: Maya Cryor, Joel Boyd, Ezekiel Ajeigbe, Alexis Brown, Fana Tesfagiorgis, Eliza Skinner, Randall Harr

HBO Short Film Award Showcase

A competitive section for narrative shorts directed by, or written and produced by, persons of African descent. Now in its 28th year, the HBO® Short Film Award is regarded as one of the most prestigious short film showcases in the country. Five filmmakers are selected as finalists and receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the festival. The Grand Prize winner receives a $10,000 cash award, while each of the four runner-up finalists receives $5,000. The ABFF is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for the Short Film category. The following films represent the finalists for the 2025 HBO Short Film Award.

ManBooBs *World Premiere 

Logline: At a pool party for his crush, an overweight Black teenager wrestles with shame and self-worth, risking heartbreak and humiliation to finally tell her how he feels.

USA | 14m

Director: Luke Harris

Writer: Luke Harris

Producers: Luke Harris, Jeremy Blum

Cast: Bryant Tardy, Bethany Livers, Camden Collier, Dwight Nelson, Milan Fields

Trailer: https://youtu.be/rfyvcXP_hLs 

A Beauty Supply in Queens *World Premiere 

Logline: In Queens, NY, Nigerian mother Ms. Aji and her daughter Tobi fight to keep their beauty supply store afloat amid ruthless competition and sabotage from rival shops.

USA | 19m

Directors: Oluseyi Olatujoye, Princess Adenike

Writer: Princess Adenike

Producers: Princess Adenike, Caroline Chikezie, Oluseyi Olatujoye, Queensly Ajibola, Shalom C. Obiago

Cast: Caroline Chikezie, Clem Cheung, Princess Adenike, Paul Wang, Angella Katherine, Angela Chew, Queensly Ajibola, Keisha T. Fraser, Andrew Hsu, Natividad Alemany, Ayaan Diop, Alaia Diop, Ase Diop, Celia Au, Khoa Nguyen

ADO 

Logline: Ms. Hopkins is rehearsing Much Ado About Nothing with her middle school theatre class when it is interrupted by a school shooter.

USA | 16m 

Director: Sam Henderson

Writer: Sam Henderson, Ryan Romine

Producer: Rachel Jobin

Cast: Jenifer Lewis, Zachary Lane, Karis Henderson

In Good Hands 

Logline: Minutes before the end of her shift, a Black ER Doctor is forced to take on two of the most challenging patient circumstances of her career in a tense Western, PA hospital.

USA | 14m

Director: Nick Buchheit

Writer: Yasmine Crawley

Producers: Carl Kurlander, Janet Smith

Cast: Channel Jones-Harris, Malcolm Thompson 

Trailer: https://youtu.be/xvyBLrIOPRk 

Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s 

Logline: After blowing through her cash inheritance, an aimless and apathetic art school grad must come up with five months of back rent or she risks eviction from her rent-controlled apartment in a gentrifying Brooklyn. 

USA | 15m

Director: DeeDee Casimir

Writer: DeeDee Casimir

Producers: DeeDee Casimir, Kim Coleman, Jordan Shanks

Cast: Armani Greer, Cecelia Friday, BeeBe Smith, Thomas Copeland Jr., Chaine “CJ Fly” Downer

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb9uc1044jk 

Voices Of Culture

A non-competitive showcase of short films directed by persons of African descent. This section is by invitation only, with films submitted to but not accepted as finalists for the HBO Short Film Award automatically considered for inclusion.  The following films represent the 2025 official selections in this category:

333 

Logline: Mona is grappling with her past choice to have an abortion but upon learning women’s choices are taken away builds a bomb planning an attack on a local Supreme Court Justice motivated by the Roe v. Wade overturning.

USA | 21m45s 

Director: Naturi Naughton-Lewis

Writer: Naturi Naughton-Lewis, Korstiaan Vandiver

Producers: Two Lewis, Naturi Naughton-Lewis, Curshion Jones

Cast: Birgundi Baker, Naturi Naughton-Lewis, Vanessa Bell Calloway, John Clarence Stewart, Samuel Smith, Isley Key Brison

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1056658648 

all the love i could handle

Logline: all the love i could handle is a re-imagining of the filmmaker’s mother’s young diary, unraveling the raw complexities of Black motherhood, artistic ambition, and the enduring sacrifices women have to make as mothers and artists. Based on the true family story of pioneer filmmaker Kathleen Collins (Losing Ground, 1982).

USA | 14m

Director: Ruby Rose Collins

Writer: Ruby Rose Collins

Producer: Ruby Rose Collins

Cast: Breanna Williams, Yasir LaFond

Always, Most Of The Time *World Premiere 

Logline: A remorseful woman discovers a magical stone that allows her to travel back in time, giving her the chance to mend her broken relationship and confront the personal traumas that have plagued her life. 

USA | 39m56s

Director: Victor V. Hogan II

Writer: R. Alan Brooks

Producers: Michael Quigley, Kyle Vaughn, Victor V. Hogan II, Benton Aladin, R. Alan Brooks, Patti Kim Gill

Cast: Brittany S. Hall, Patrick Walker

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1070187988?share=copy 

BALACLAVA *World Premiere 

Logline: In a village overshadowed by an abusive priest father, Maya longs for freedom and expression. 

South Africa | 8m

Director: Kagiso Samuel Leburu

Writer: Kagiso Samuel Leburu

Producers: Mapitso Ralephata, Bonolo Bogopane

Cast: Lethabo Mekoa, Collen Modisa, Mannini Mokhuthu

Trailer: https://youtu.be/JByGygecjSs 

Blown Chances *World Premiere 

Logline: A young woman tries to get a letter of recommendation from her job at the corner store, she is given one chance to prove herself but things get out of hand leading to an explosive intrusion.

USA | 10m45s

Director: India Bey

Writer: India Bey

Producers: Samiyah Wardlaw, Camille Chambers, Briuana Draper, India Bey

Cast: Jean Marie Landham, Deon Rodd 

Demons 

Logline: A London cop returns to Lagos, risking everything to avenge his lover’s death, battling corruption and confronting his own demons in a heart-wrenching quest for justice.

Nigeria, United Kingdom | 20m37s

Director: Emmanuel Imani

Writer: Emmanuel Imani

Producers: Emmanuel Imani, Byron McNally

Cast: Emmanuel Imani, Fela Lufadeju, Ronke Adekoluejo, Abayomi Aka, Chris Jarman

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/956746445 

Don’t Hang Up 

Logline: In rural Hayti, Missouri a pint-drinking churchgoer confronts her past when an unexpected call from her former student disrupts her Sunday routine. Together they navigate their harsh, shared history, igniting a journey of reconciliation and redemption to save a life.

USA | 10m

Director: Diamond Batiste

Writer: Ron McCants

Producers: Ron McCants, Ramfis Myrthil, Alain Fleury, Diamond Batiste, L.T. Hines II

Cast: Paula Jai Parker, LT Hines II

Duende *World Premiere

Logline: Having haters is not a new thing, Genius has always been met with envy, just ask Mozart… or Tupac.

USA | 20m 

Directors: Kevin Kittle, Petey McGee

Writers: Petey McGee, Robert Patricio

Producers: Petey McGee, Lazarus Simmons, Maxim Jean, Robert Patricio,  Walker Clermont

Cast: Petey McGee, Robert Patricio, Maxim Jean, Walker Clermont, Lazarus Simmons

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBww4lNen9g 

elle/elle *World Premiere 

Logline: After hosting a disastrous dinner party, a long term couple fights for their marriage and identities triggered by Elle’s recent coming out as a trans woman to her gay husband, Fritz. 

USA | 20m

Director: Kelley Kali

Writer: Shonnie Jackson

Producers: Kelley Kali, Jenna Cavelle, Brittani Ward, la georgea

Cast: la georgea, Dan Bucatinsky, L’lerrét Jazelle

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1081181778?share=copy#t=0

Fufu and Soup *World Premiere 

Logline: Panicked by her lack of sexual experience, a woman schemes to lose her virginity on the night of her 29th birthday party.

USA | 15m

Director: Marjan Mona Koffa

Writer: Marjan Mona Koffa

Producers: Oona Wuolijoki, Marjan Mona Koffa

Cast: Adriyan Rae, Patrick Cage II, Chaize Macklin, Kyra Weeks, Dan Cathcart

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1081661232?share=copy 

Graduation Day *World Premiere 

Logline: “Graduation Day” is an edgy coming-of-age dramedy following high school senior Cheech as he navigates his identity, a love triangle with his best friend Sparkes, longtime crush Jayla, and the bittersweet chaos of growing up in NYC—all while rocking a red sparkly suit and surviving a party bus ride that takes his big day in some unexpected directions.

USA | 15m

Director: Jordan Aaron Hall

Writer: Jordan Aaron Hall

Producers: Jordan Aaron Hall, Kevaughn Reid

Cast: Jordan Aaron Hall, Nathaniel Logan Mcintyre, Kaci Walfall, Narci Regina, KJ Aikens

Trailer: https://youtu.be/tAZUv0XW_1A?si=wCtBoyzXkIQqIR1P

HARLEM FRAGMENTS 

Logline: An Afro-futurist scrapbook storytelling of a Harlem Black family’s beautiful destruction during the 2008 recession. Based on true events.

USA | 17m

Director: Cameron Tyler Carr

Writers: Cameron Tyler Carr, Danielle Therese Dougé, Wes Andre Goodrich

Producers: Harlem Renaissance Productions, Keep or Destroy Productions, Black Man Films LLC, Trujulo Productions, Flor De Oro Tejada, Salma Qarnain, Fanshen Cox

Cast: Kyle Keyes, Stella Coviello, Roderick Lawrence, Clarissa Thibeaux, Christina Clements-Thompson, Jaleeca Yancy

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/818842637 

Hatchlings *World Premiere 

Logline: A resentful teenager is forced to babysit her turtle-obsessed half-brother; meanwhile, he dives into a vivid fantasy world where he is a sea turtle and she is a tortoise.

USA | 15m

Director: Jahmil Eady

Writer: Jahmil Eady

Producers: Tara Austin

Cast: Demi Singleton, Christian Robinson, Dominic Stephens,  and Angela Lewis

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1052473738

Many Thousands Lost *World Premiere 

Logline: After believing him to be at work, an inquisitive young girl must come to terms with losig her father once she learns he has been sentenced to death.

USA | 16m

Director: Jehan Patterson

Writer: Jehan Patterson

Producers: Chirsten Vanderbilt-Ellis, Amirah Adem, Marlana Dunn

Cast: Celeste Clark, Sheldon Frett, Tristina Lee, Kris Sidberry 

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1081722949?share=copy#t=0 

Moving Mountains

Logline: A young, Black man from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tre’lan seeks a new life and travels to a remote island of Hawaii, where he finds peace for the first time, through connection to nature, and finds meaning, through a newfound love of the ocean and big wave surfing.

USA | 21m

Director: Jessa Williams

Producers: EP: Jessa Williams, Peter Goetz, Backroads Pictures | Producer: Tre’lan Michael

Cast: Tre’lan Michael

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/954035631

Nothin’ Good & 12th Street *World Premiere 

Logline: Over the course of one night, two teenagers, two crooks, and one hitman all try to get their hands on a bag of stolen cash.

USA | 15m43s

Director: Tone Foster

Writer: Tone Foster

Producers: Yonel Cohen, Tone Foster

Cast: T.K. Richardson, Christian Carter, Thomas Avona, Jerimiyah Dunbar, Tjader France, Oscar Jordan, Jon Doss

Ree’s Destiny *World Premiere 

Logline: On the day of her debut, Ree, a 43-year-old aspiring rapper, is sabotaged by her defiant daughter Destiny.

USA | 15m35s 

Director: Steven Mosley

Writer: Steven Mosley

Producers: Steven Mosley, Jenna Mahmoud Bosco, Sherry Thompson, Adam Taylor, Jay Thames

Cast: Jessica “Jess Mahogany” Mitchell, Cia Jaye

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1081008098?share=copy 

Rehash *World Premiere 

Logline: A coder beta tests a groundbreaking program after a breakup.

USA | 17m31s

Director: Kevin Giles

Writer: Kevin Giles

Producer: Samiyah Wardlaw

Cast: Niguel Quinn, Mister Fitzgerald, Nia Nichole, Emily Dale White

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1046035320 

Sadness of Men *World Premiere 

Logline: When a rancher learns he’s going to be a father, he must confront the trauma of his abusive past to break the cycle and build a future rooted in love and truth. 

USA | 11m34s

Director: Eli Moss 

Writer: Eli Moss

Producers: Otis Moss III, Kelly Pope, Judson Brown

Cast: Joshua Griffin, Daion Hubbard, Jade Bryant, Farris Langley, Luke Steward

Trailer: https://youtu.be/wUw37P4KE8M?feature=shared 

Sugar Dumplin 

Logline: A young woman desires to reconnect with her estranged father who is struggling with dementia by creating food from his Caribbean childhood.

Canada | 20m

Director: Tristan Barrocks

Writer: Tristan Barrocks

Producers: Natanya Barrocks, Chantel Riley, Donisha Prendergast

Cast: Oliver Samuels, Chantel Riley, Nancy Kenny, Crystal C. Rose, Jacqueline Greer Graham

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1004731619 

The Black Bart of Taco King #17 *World Premiere 

Logline: A suave larcenist searches for a new partner at a dive bar and finds the perfect Bonnie to his Clyde. He takes her to dinner to put her to the test, yet she has all the answers… and more.

USA | 12m40s

Director: Rickey Larke

Writer: Rickey Larke

Producers: Lorelle Lynch, Lo Howard, Lyandre Pierre, Julian Park, Charles Taylor Goubeaud

Cast: Jasmine Mathews, Christopher Dietrick & Derrick A. King

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1041792905 

The Inconvenience Store *World Premiere 

Logline: When five unlikely strangers get stuck in a gas station during an alien invasion, they must put their differences aside and work together to survive.

USA | 13m

Director: Ifeanyi Ezieme

Writer: Nzinga Kadalie Kemp

Producers: Fabiola Rodriguez

Cast: Hidekun Hah, Artrece Johnson, Allison Ohara, Joey Herman, Christian Ramirez Loya

Zeke *World Premiere 

Logline: Zeke is a dark satire about a trusted barbershop owner who betrays a loyal client, forcing him to confront the culture of silence that pervades their Brooklyn community.

USA | 20m

Director: Kerry Coddett

Writer: Kerry Coddett

Producer: Krystal Payne

Cast: Hassan Johnson, Stephen Cofield, Sam Jay, Kerry Coddett 

Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1060195619/65648c1250 



The post Star Power Shines as 2025 American Black Film Festival Unveils Official Lineup appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

https://nerdist.com/article/the-last-of-us-season-2-episode-6-recap-revelations-and-questions/

The Last of Us season two, episode six brings us an unusual episode. As the showrunners promised earlier in the season, we get to see a bottle episode of sorts, except this time, it’s Joel and Ellie who are at the center of it. The Last of Us season two’s sixth episode is comprised entirely of flashbacks that help us fill in the time between seasons one and two. These scenes let us track the dissolution of Joel and Ellie’s relationship, but also bring us new insights into the time they spent with one another. And yes, these flashbacks matter greatly for how we view season two. So, let’s dive into our recap of The Last of Us season two, episode six, and all the answers it brought us.

New Revelations From The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6

The Secret Between Joel and Ellie Tore Them Apart

The Last of Us season two, episode six takes us back in time to different points in Joel and Ellie’s relationship, allowing us to see how it evolved between season one and season two. We see flashbacks to their relationship five years back, four years back, two years back, and one that leads us exactly to episode one of The Last of Us season two. Through this montage of scenes, we come to understand how exactly Joel and Ellie became so estranged.

Although initially their relationship was loving and strong, the suspicion of Joel’s lie juxtaposed with new lies he told her eventually came between them. In the five years between The Last of Us season one and two, Joel and Ellie went from a loving father and daughter to arguing to having a huge gulf between them. It was a painful journey to experience.

Joel Killed Eugene and Broke His Word to Ellie in The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6

The most harrowing flashback occurs in the two years back flashback. Joel finally agrees to take Ellie on patrol, but nothing good greets them. They find their fellow townsperson Eugene in the woods, and he’s been bitten by an Infected. Eugene pleads to say goodbye to his wife, Gail, in a safe way, claiming he has time, and Ellie wants to allow him the chance.

Joel promises Ellie he’s onboard to let Eugene and Gail say goodbye and sends her away. But he breaks his word, leading Eugene to clearing with a pretty view and shooting him in the back. Although this was arguably protocol, the action horrifies Ellie, bringing to mind the way Joel promised her he’d help her create a cure and then lied about the actions that followed.

Ellie reveals all this to Gail when they return to Jackson and yells at Joel, “You swore.” But she’s clearly talking about more than just Joel’s word that he would let Eugene say his goodbyes.

Joel and Ellie Spoke One Last Time Before He Died

The Last of Us season two, episode one, and other episodes that followed, made us believe that Joel and Ellie never got to say a real goodbye. And that honestly felt to us like a very poignant statement about how loss works. It just strikes you suddenly in some cases.

But episode six reveals that Joel and Ellie actually DID get to speak after the New Year’s altercation we see in episode on and Joel’s death in episode two. Ellie comes to stand by him where he’s waiting on the balcony and they have a final emotional conversation.

Ellie Has Known What Happened in Salt Lake City with the Fireflies for the Entirety of The Last of Us Season 2

The Last of Us season two, episode six delivers the conversation between Joel and Ellie that they’ve both needed to have since season one. “You lied to me,” Ellie accuses Joel, noting that she thinks she’s known Joel has lied to her the whole time, that he had the same look, the same face, when he lied to her about Salt Lake City as when he lied about Eugene. She cautions that if he lies to her again, they’ll be done and then demands that he tell her what happened with the Fireflies in Salt Lake City.

“Were there other immune people?” No, Joel shakes his head. “Were there raiders?” No, again. “Could they have made a cure?” Yes, Joel nods, though, I feel like that one is a hard MAYBE. “Did you—” Ellie asks, the implied question being “Kill all the Fireflies,” “And Marlene?” Joel confesses everything.

“Making a cure would have killed you.” Joel sobs, but for Ellie, dying for a cure would have been worth it, would have helped her fulfill her purpose. But not for Joel. He confesses, “I did it because I love you.” And reveals that he would do the exact same thing again.

At the end of the conversation, a part from a flashback with Joel and his dad from earlier in the episode comes back into play. Joel tells her, maybe in a bit of foreshadowing. “I love you in a way you can’t understand, maybe you never will, but if that day should come, if you should ever have one of your own, I hope you do a little better than me.” It’s a truly intense conversation.

Ellie Was Ready to Forgive Joel Before His Death

Perhaps the most important and heartbreaking revelation that The Last of Us season two, episode six brings us is that Ellie was ready to forgive Joel on the night before he died. She tells him after this exchange, “I don’t think I can forgive you for this, but I would like to try.” We’re glad the pair found absolution with one another, but the idea of what could have been remains painful.

Joel Appears Again in the Opening Credits Scene

After Joel’s death, he no longer appeared in the final moments of the opening credits scene. Instead, Ellie’s silhouette rose out of the ground on her own. This made for a tragic change. But with Joel back in The Last of Us season two, episode six, he and Ellie get to rise together again. Perhaps for one last time.

New Questions From The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 6

Will We See Pedro Pascal’s Joel Again on The Last of Us Series After Season 2, Episode 6?

Pedro Pascal’s Joel Miller returned to us for one episode, and we were so happy to see him. But is that it for Pascal’s Joel on The Last of Us? We can’t begin to say, but we certainly hope not. Seeing him on The Last of Us season two, episode six reminded us just how great Joel and Ellie are together. We’d love to have more time with them as a duo.

The Last of Us airs Sundays at 9 pm on Max and HBO. There’s only one episode left this season, so it’s the perfect time to catch up.

Previous recaps: Episode One, Episode Two, Episode Three, Episode Four, Episode Five

The post THE LAST OF US Season 2, Episode 6 Recap: New Revelations and Questions appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blacknerdproblems.com/screaming-without-shackles-the-rise-of-black-horror-beyond-trauma/

There’s something brewing in the genre that makes my horror-loving, gore-snacking, final-girl-rooting heart swell with joy. And it’s not another possession story or jump scare-laden ghost flick. It’s the rise of Black-led, Black-written, and Black-produced horror that isn’t solely rooted in Black trauma. And baby, it’s about time.

We’ve seen a steady shift in horror where Black folks are no longer just the first to die or the spiritual side character offering cryptic warnings. Instead, we’re surviving. We’re the leads. We’re the ones driving the narrative, not being driven by the generational trauma of racism, slavery, or segregation (in most cases). And I love it here.

From Jordan Peele’s Nope flipping the alien invasion trope on its head, to The Blackening dragging every horror cliché across the floor with a wink, a knife, and some hot sauce in its bag, we’re watching a renaissance unfold. Brandy’s return to horror in The Front Room? Iconic. Halle Berry anchoring Never Let Go? Tether me to that psychological chaos, please. And while I won’t touch on Jonathan Major’s situations, Lovecraft Country was absolutely everything and then some. Don’t even get me started on Sinners, a Southern Gothic vampire horror set in 1930s Mississippi. The culture is thriving.

While it’s important to acknowledge that some recent projects like Lovecraft Country and Sinners do weave elements of racism and segregation, those themes are not the sole heartbeat of the story. They exist as part of the world these characters navigate, but they don’t define the characters’ entire existence or drive every plot point. In Lovecraft Country, monsters both human and supernatural threaten survival, and in Sinners, vampirism and folklore take center stage over historical pain. These stories let Black characters exist fully -fighting, loving, scheming, surviving- without being reduced to just victims of history. It’s horror where Blackness is present but not boxed in.

This shift matters. While art has the power to reflect struggle, it also has the right to offer escape. Black horror doesn’t have to mean rehashing the pain our ancestors carried. It can be about haunted mirrors, unexplainable creatures, cursed vinyl records, or that one demon that shouldn’t have picked a Black household to haunt. It’s all terrifying. And the best part? It gives us space to be fully human in fear, in fight, and in flight.

Let’s be real. Culturally, Black folks don’t play with supernatural nonsense. We hear a whisper in the attic and move out before the opening credits finish. We see a possessed doll? That thing’s getting burned and blessed not brought home. So when we do stick around in a horror story, you know it’s got to be some truly next-level type of energy. That’s what makes our presence in horror so rich. It forces the genre to level up.

This isn’t just a trend. It’s a movement, and I hope we keep it going. I want more Black witches, Black werewolves, Black haunted house hunters, and Black alien abductions that don’t need to teach us a history lesson first or rehash our pain. I want screams, laughs and that one cousin yelling, “Nuh uh, not today Satan!” as they sprint out the frame.

To all the Black creators out here penning creepy scripts, building sinister scores, and producing spine-tingling scenes, thank you. You’re not just diversifying the genre. You’re giving horror a soul. As long as y’all keep making them, I’ll keep showing up with popcorn, snacks, and holy water—just in case.

Cover image via Bloody Disgusting

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The post Screaming Without Shackles: The Rise of Black Horror Beyond Trauma appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/smoke-and-stacks-ties-to-al-capone-in-sinners-were-more-than-possible/

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, a recently released vampire horror movie set in the 1930s, is absolutely killing it at the box office. Having earned more than $300 million worldwide at the time of writing, Sinners is now ranked the #6 horror movie in the past five years, and the highest-ranking horror movie this year, at least thus far. Sinners follows two twins, Smoke and Stack (masterfully portrayed by Michael B. Jordan), who return to Clarksdale, Mississippi, after eight years in Chicago, with the intention of opening their own juke joint.

Beyond its vampires, which account for the horror element of the film, Sinners is actually steeped in the 1920s and 1930s American history. Because of that, the film also depicts the brothers’ troubles with systemic racism plaguing the entire country, while also referencing a few real historical figures. These include the father of the Delta Blues Charlie Patton and the iconic Chicago gangster Al Capone. The mention of the latter heavily implies that Smoke and Stack were, or at least set out to become, associated with the notorious Chicago Outfit.

The first half of the movie is largely dedicated to Smoke and Stack buying a sawmill from the racist landowner Hogwood to open their own juke joint for the local Black community. The movie then follows the two as they make arrangements for the opening night of their new business. One of Clarksdale’s residents recognizes Smoke and asks why he isn’t in Chicago working for Capone. This is a brief mention that’s easy to miss, but it implies that Smoke and Stack’s success resulted from gang affiliations and association with Capone’s criminal empire.  

Al Capone, the infamous gangster, led the Chicago Outfit, a powerful Italian American crime syndicate, alongside Johnny Torrio in the 1920s, until his imprisonment in 1931. At its peak, the syndicate was involved in a wide array of criminal enterprises, including bootlegging, illegal gambling, prostitution, loansharking, extortion, political corruption, and drug trafficking. While its leadership was mostly Italian American, the broader operation was far more diverse than pop culture often suggests.

The truth is that Al Capone regularly employed people and groups of many backgrounds, including Black, Polish, Jewish, and other ethnicities, as trusted associates and essential cogs of his crime machinery. This inclusivity didn’t stem from political correctness or any sense of moral enlightenment. Instead, it was rooted in pure pragmatism, as Capone’s vast bootlegging, gambling, and racketeering empire needed a wide network to keep the operation running smoothly and profitably.

Furthermore, Scarface (Capone survived a knife to the face) was known for working with just about anyone who could help expand his power and profits while leading the Chicago Outfit. So, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Smoke and Stack were associated with the mob during their time in Chicago. The mere mention of Al Capone adds a ton to Smoke and Stack’s backstory and signals that the twins’ time in Chicago involved direct contact with the city’s underworld, likely as associates of Capone’s Outfit.

Sadly, the movie never actually reveals whether or not it was true Smoke and Stack worked with Capone during their time in Chicago. Given that the narrative is set in 1932, one year after Capone was convicted for tax evasion, it’s entirely possible that they returned home following Capone’s downfall as the head of the Chicago Outfit. However, it’s also possible that the resident who engaged Smoke simply assumed that the brothers, who had gained a reputation even before they went to Chicago, were, at least at one point, associated with the criminal organization.

We also have to take the fact that the brothers returned to Clarksdale with plenty of cash and a truckload of Irish beer and Italian wine, which further implies that the twins had gang ties in Chicago. Now, just how they got their hands on that liquor remains a mystery. It’s entirely possible that they took the opportunity in the midst of Al Capone’s arrest to derail a shipment of alcohol their way.

One thing the film doesn’t fail to specify is the brothers’ good business sense (Smoke especially), but given their ties to a world of vice, it becomes quite obvious that they didn’t come by the money and booze to open the juke joint through any honest means. And opening the joint fast and getting rid of the alcohol by serving it to patrons could just be another way of dealing with the evidence of their crimes. Whatever the case may be, the opening night eventually comes, and everyone’s having fun while Sammie, an aspiring guitarist, plays his music.

The music ends up attracting the attention of the Irish-immigrant vampire Remmick and his minions, and from there on, the night turns into pure supernatural chaos. But perhaps the most damning (pun fully intended) bit of evidence suggesting Smoke and Stacks connection to Chicago’s most famous gangster would be Stack’s use of the Tommy Gun towards the end of the movie. As this weapon was nearly synonymous with Chicago gangsterism back then, it’s quite possible that this smoking gun (pun not intended here) is what makes the final connection to the gangland itself.

In the end, Sinners is a beautifully detailed movie; it’s a blend of several genres ultimately bathed in blood and horror. While its historical context and the mention of a few historical figures are integral to the film’s plot, its crime drama, historical realism, and horror teach us that the true terror lies not in fantasy monsters but in human cruelty and white devilry, as we’ve previously discussed.

The post Smoke and Stack’s Ties to Al Capone in ‘Sinners’ Were More Than Possible appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.