The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is moving out of its Miami Beach home after several years, heading to Los Angeles for its 31st edition and returning to the city for the first time in more than 15 years. The festival takes place May 20-23, 2027.
Where will ABFF 2027 take place?
The festival will convene across several Los Angeles venues, with AMC The Grove hosting screenings and SLS Beverly Hills serving as the hub for industry programming, including conversations, master classes and professional-development sessions. The Original Farmers Market will host activations and community experiences, with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures serving as a venue for marquee events. Complimentary daytime shuttle service will connect festival venues, with additional locations to be announced.
Jeff Friday, founder of ABFF and CEO of NICE CROWD, said, “For more than three decades, we’ve built ABFF with the belief that access can change the trajectory of a career and that creating space for new voices strengthens our entire industry. As we look to the future, our responsibility is to keep pushing forward, expanding what’s possible, and creating greater opportunities for the next generation of storytellers. That’s what this next chapter represents.”
Nicole Friday, president of NICE CROWD, said, “ABFF has always been defined by the people who come together and the sense of community we’ve built over the years. As we look ahead, we want to build on that foundation, creating new opportunities for filmmakers, audiences, industry leaders, and partners to connect while preserving the spirit and sense of belonging that have always made ABFF special.”
What’s new at ABFF 2027?
The festival introduces several new programs for 2027. ABFF First Look: The Studio Showcase will feature previews of upcoming projects from studios, independent distributors and streaming platforms, including exclusive footage, special announcements and appearances by filmmakers and talent. ABFF Sports will explore the intersection of sports, storytelling and culture through screenings and conversations featuring athletes, filmmakers and industry executives.
Crossroads, a new noncompetitive film section, will welcome filmmakers of all backgrounds whose narrative and documentary features explore intersections of culture, identity and community. HBO returns as a founding sponsor, marking the 30th year of the HBO Short Film Award Showcase.
How can filmmakers submit to ABFF 2027?
Submissions are now open across competitive and noncompetitive sections spanning narrative features, documentaries, episodic content and short-form storytelling. ABFF is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, with the winner of the HBO Short Film Award qualifying for the Academy Awards’ Live Action Short Film category. Categories include U.S. Narrative Feature, International Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Crossroads, the HBO Short Film Award, Episodic Series, Voices of Culture and the ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Project. Filmmakers can review eligibility guidelines and submit projects at FilmFreeway.
Festival passes go on sale Sept. 1 at ABFF.com.
Featured image photo credit: Photo: American Black Film Festival
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