Nicole Friday Latest Celebrity News & Gossip

Taraji P. Henson, Jeffrey Wright, Garrett Morris and Mara Brock Akil are the honorees of the 6th American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors.

Angelique Jackson As the American Black Film Festival kicks off its 27th edition in Miami Beach, Fla. on Wednesday night, the company behind the fest, ABFF Ventures, is announcing a rebrand. The events entertainment company, led by founder and CEO Jeff Friday and president Nicole Friday, will now be called Nice Crowd, evoking the brand’s dedication to spotlighting BIPOC culture and achievements while emphasizing the power of gathering. In addition to the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and the annual ABFF Honors ceremony, Nice Crowd will expand its annual offerings to include comedy, health & wellness, food and fine art-focused events. The first new event under the Nice Crowd banner will be “Because They’re Funny” (BTF), a comedy festival showcasing comedic talent within BIPOC communities that will launch this October in Washington, D.C.

ABFF Ventures, the company behind the American Film Festival (ABFF), is rebranding as Nice Crowd.

Clayton Gutzmore Civil rights attorney Ben Crump commanded the attention of the audience inside the New World Center Performance Hall in Miami Beach for the kickoff to the 2022 American Black Film Festival on Wed. June 15, where he took the stage to introduce “Civil,” the upcoming Netflix documentary about his life and work.“I keep getting asked, ‘Why did I do this?’ Crump recounted.

Angelique Jackson In its 26th year, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is more star-studded than ever, with a robust lineup of Black film and television stars and creators.After two years of COVID-related pivots, the festival returns to South Beach in Miami for a five-day engagement full of special screenings, panel discussions and events celebrating the Black film and television community. Among the talent joining ABFF festival ambassador Issa Rae, who will debut her new HBO Max series “Rap Sh!t” at the festival are Chanté Adams, Yahya Abdul- Mateen II, Kenya Barris, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ben Crump, Michael Ealy, DeVon Franklin, Kasi Lemmons, Judge Greg Mathis, LisaRaye McCoy, Kyla Pratt, Trevante Rhodes, Kendrick Sampson, Robin Thede, Judge Lynn Toler, Susan Kelechi Watson and Salli Richardson Whitfield, among many others.

Angelique Jackson Issa Rae has been tapped to serve as the ambassador for the 2022 American Black Film Festival (ABFF), and she’s bringing a special treat to Miami Beach. Rae will screen her highly anticipated HBO Max series “Rap Sh*t” for the festival’s closing night.“I’m honored to be this year’s Festival Ambassador,” said Rae, announcing her participation.

ABFF Ventures LLC, producer of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF),  announced that its custom-built online platform, ABFF PLAY, has broadened the company’s global footprint offering studios the opportunity to reach beyond the annual film festival to showcase content targeted to Black audiences.

Chadwick Boseman will receive a special tribute during the virtual American Black Film Festival.The actor, who lost his battle with colon cancer at the age of 43 in August 2020, will be honored with a retrospective that includes his movies 42, Get On Up, and Marshall.“We truly appreciate WarnerBros, Universal Pictures, and Open Road Films for providing these three films in support of the Chadwick Boseman retrospective,” ABFF Ventures president Nicole Friday said in a statement.

The nonprofit organization founded by American Black Film Festival creators Jeff and Nicole Friday, Film Life Foundation, is launching a new fest with that the founders say will “will merge art and activism to drive today’s necessary conversations forward toward lasting social and political change.” The Social Justice Now festival, which will run Oct. 21-25, is being built with the help of Endeavor Content, Michael B.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterAs the world perspective shifts and a reckoning continues to pulsate through the country when it comes to the social and economic issues facing Black and Brown communities, American Black Film Festival creators Jeff and Nicole Friday are launching the very first Social Justice Now Film Festival through their non-profit The Film Life Foundation. The event is set to take place October 21-25 with actor and producer Michael B.

Janet W. Lee American Black Film Festival creators Jeff and Nicole Friday will launch Social Justice Now Film Festival, which will run from Oct.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerEXCLUSIVE: American Black Film Festival creators/producers Jeff and Nicole Friday have launched ABFF Play, streaming service and digital movie theater platform to showcase Black and Brown content, culture and creativity.