The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has announced the 2016 ABFF Honors’ television and film nominees. ABFF Honors is an annual gala saluting excellence in motion pictures and television. Its mission is to celebrate Black culture by recognizing individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment, as well as those who are proponents of championing diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.
“I have always believed that the Black artists in Hollywood would be more empowered if they were more committed to supporting one another, attending celebrations of their culture and relied less on mainstream validation of their work. I hope that the success of ABFF Honors will change things,” said Jeff Friday, President and CEO, ABFF Ventures and Creator of ABFF Honors, maybe speaking directly to the #OscarsSoWhite protests.
Mike Epps will host this year’s ceremony on February 21 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
The winners of both the television and film categories will be determined by the 2016 ABFF Honors Awards Jury, a blue ribbon panel of actors, filmmakers, film critics and entertainment diversity executives.
To qualify for nominations, a film must feature a lead actor of African descent and have had a U.S. theatrical release in 2015.
Television nominees must feature a lead actor of African descent or be created by a person of African descent. The show must also have had a U.S. season premiere in 2015.
The nominees for “Film of the Year” are:
– “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
– “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios, Roadside Attractions)
– “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
– “Creed” (Warner Bros. Entertainment)
– “Dope” (Open Road Films)
– “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
And the nominees for “Television Show of the Year” are:
– “Being Mary Jane” (BET)
– “black-ish” (ABC)
– “Empire” (FOX)
– “How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC)
– “Power” (STARZ)
In addition to recognizing the top television shows and films of the year, ABFF Honors will also pay tribute to film legends, along with today’s creative forces, who together inspire the filmmakers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Honorees this year include Diahann Carroll, who will be presented with the Hollywood Legacy Award, and producer Will Packer will receive the Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award. The Excellence in the Arts Award and Rising Star Award honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.
ABFF Honors is produced by ABFF Ventures (a partnership between Film Life and Black Enterprise) in association with de Passe Jones Entertainment.
