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    ABFF 2026 Reveals Lineup For 30th Anniversary: Marsai Martin, Coco Jones, Jamie Foxx, Jesse Williams And More Courtesy of American Black Film Festival By Okla Jones ·Updated April 9, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

    The American Black Film Festival is marking a major milestone this year, unveiling an exciting lineup for its 30th anniversary. Set to return to Miami Beach from May 27 through May 31, the festival is leaning into a “Homecoming” theme, bringing together projects from across the diaspora while continuing its focus on showcasing Black storytellers on a global stage.

    This year’s slate spans narrative features, documentaries, and series, with selections representing more than ten countries, including the United States, France, Brazil, Italy, Cameroon, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. Among the most anticipated titles is Girl Dad, starring Marsai Martin and Courtney B. Vance and produced by Jamie Foxx, alongside Montmartre featuring Jesse Williams and Ito Aghayere, and That’s Her, which brings together Kountry Wayne, Coco Jones, and Loretta Devine.

    The festival will open with Malcolm D. Lee’s psychological thriller Strung, led by Chloe Bailey. Regina King, an Academy Award–winning actor and filmmaker, will serve as this year’s ambassador, adding another layer of prestige to the celebration.

    “As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the American Black Film Festival, this year’s slate reflects the spirit of homecoming—honoring the stories and creative vision that have shaped our legacy while welcoming a new generation of filmmakers,” said Nice Crowd president Nicole Friday, announcing the selections. “This milestone year brings together a compelling range of films from around the world. We’re proud to provide a platform where both emerging and established storytellers can connect with audiences, showcase their work, and help shape the future of cinema.”

    Additional films in competition include The Fridge, Funny Feelings, Otra, and Three Colors: Pan-African, each offering a distinct perspective while contributing to the broader landscape of Black storytelling. Winners across categories will be announced during the Best of ABFF Awards on May 30, closing out a landmark year for the long-running festival.

    Take a look at the full list of films slated for the 2026 American Black Film Festival below.

    U.S. Narrative Feature Competition

    A juried section of feature-length films directed by, or written and produced by, persons of African descent. Selected films are eligible for jury awards, including the Grand Jury Prize for Best U.S. Narrative Feature, as well as honors for directing, screenwriting and performance.

    Grand Jury Prize – U.S. Narrative Feature

    Funny Feelings / U.S.A. (Director: Rhonda Baraka, Screenwriter: Je’Don Holloway-Talley, Producers: Roderick McClure, Joshua Ferrell, Morgan McClure)A decade after building a comedy empire on their electric “are-they-or-aren’t-they” chemistry, two performers are forced to confront their unresolved feelings when a career-defining special unravels their act—and their truth—on a viral stage.Cast: Vena “Pretty Vee” Excell, Tristan “Mack” Wilds, Terri J. Vaughn.World Premiere.

    Otra / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Armani Ortiz, Producers: Asante White, Deance Wyatt, Daniel Etzioni, Chike Ubu, Maurice Harkless)After a failed marriage proposal leaves him questioning love, Javier strikes a deal with his Guardian Angel to win back the woman of his dreams before his untimely death claims him for good — in this new-age, one-shot Latino musical.Cast: Rome Flynn, María Gabriela De Faría, Dania Ramírez, Aria Celeste Castillo, Armani Ortiz.World Premiere.

    Southside Kev / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Jamel Furlow, Producers: Samuel C. Morrison, James Furlow, Charlene Coleman, KK Rosemond, Shatek King)A misguided teenager in South Jamaica, Queens, struggles to earn respect in the streets without losing the innocence that still defines him.Cast: Nathan Lewis, Alpachino Howard, Naomi Taylor, Brandon Chastang.World Premiere.

    Girl Dad / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Solvan Slick Naim, Screenwriter: Lane Williamson, Producers: Datari Turner, Marsai Martin, Jamie Foxx, Phil Thornton, Josh Martin)A tough, queer teenager leaves Brooklyn for the first time to spend the summer with her estranged, struggling composer father in Los Angeles. The two are forced to reconnect over a used refrigerator that nearly upends their father-daughter relationship in the process.Cast: Marsai Martin, Courtney B. Vance, Meagan Good, Michael Rainey Jr., Madison Bailey.World Premiere.

    Three Colors: Pan-African / U.S.A. (Directors: Elijah Davis, Allison A. Waite, Tyler Ocasio Holmes, Screenwriters: Madou Elijah Diarrassouba, Gillian Allou, JaQuay Collins, Elijah Davis, Dami Olatunji, Producers: Elijah Davis, Jack McMann, Dami Olatunji, Joseph B. Agboola, Chirsten Vanderbilt Ellis)A triptych of Black stories that correlate with the colors of the Pan-African flag: RED (Liberation), A collegiate football star scrambles to save his career after a devastating injury fractures his sense of self-worth; BLACK (Unity), a Ghanaian single mother loses her job and faces deportation as an unlikely group of heroes rally around her; GREEN (Prosperity), the lead of a struggling Black sitcom questions the cost of success as the network forces the show into racist caricature to boost ratings.Cast: Loretta Devine, Bashir Salahuddin, Peyton Alex Smith, Sibongile Mlambo, Stephen Bishop, Kimrie Lewis.

    U.S. Narrative Feature Showcase

    A curated section of independent feature-length films highlighting new voices and distinctive storytelling from creators of African descent.

    Montmartre / U.S.A., France (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Leon Hendrix III, Producers: Ito Aghayere, Maurice D. Hendrix, Jill Officer)Disillusioned with her disconnected life, Jo visits the storied French district of Montmartre, where she falls for Toussaint, an eloquent tour guide, and their romance entwines Black history, art and love, reconnecting Jo to her long-lost passion for life.Cast: Jesse Williams, Ito Aghayere, Melanie Nicholls-King, Deborah Lukumuena, Firmine Richard.

    Voices: The Musical / U.S.A. (Director: Deantè Gray, Screenwriters: Sam Buckner III, Charlie T. Savage, Producers: Sam Buckner III, Ski-ter Jones, Charlie T. Savage, Brandon Lee Ward, Aya Washington)When a rising soul duo overdose just hours before their big break, a desperate bellhop and his closest friends seize the chance of a lifetime, only to discover that the price of fame is blood.Cast: Francis C. Edemobi, Ezekiel Ajeigbe, Raèl Ba, Pedro Louis, Joe Maye.World Premiere.

    Hoop Street / U.S.A. (Director: Princeton James, Screenwriter: Teresa Dickerson, Producers: Meleisha Edwards, Teresa Dickerson, Jordan Danelz, Mark Williams)Barred from his high school basketball team due to his temper, a hot-head, street-baller battles demons from his past and present to earn a spot on a summer league team and his last shot at a college basketball scholarship.Cast: Benjamin Holmes, Jeremiah Roberts, Kenneth Farmer.U.S. Premiere.

    A Story About You / U.S.A. (Director: Joseph E. Austin II, Screenwriter: Denise Yolén, Producers: Denise Yolén, Joseph E. Austin II, Jeremy Harris)A man is forced to come to terms with his past as he navigates his week with various love interests.Cast: Shannon Wallace, Pernell Walker, Denise Yolén, Shiree Nicholas Christopher, Adwoa Duncan-Williams, Monique Lindsey.

    Sr. / U.S.A. (Director: Toroes Thomas Jr., Screenwriters: Toroes Thomas Jr., Blayre Pichon, Producers: Blayre Pichon, Sean Banks)After a struggling father takes his two kids on the run from social services, he tries to shield them from their harsh reality with a promise of the beach, but as his son Junior patiently waits for him to keep that promise, he’s forced to grow up early and challenge his father’s demons to get his family to their happy place.Cast: Micaiah Jones, Donnell Jones, Jade Telesford, Melan Perez.

    93 ‘til / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Alterik Miller, Producers: Alterik Miller, Richard Lee Noel, Petey McGee, Alicia Turner, LaRoyce Hawkins, Sophia Lucia Parola)Two struggling Philadelphia artists meet at a job fair and spend one perfect day falling in love—no phones, no filters, just presence—before a toxic ex and a violent robbery tear them apart, forcing them to search the city to find each other again and choose love despite uncertainty.Cast: Petey McGee, Sophia Lucia Parola, LaRoyce Hawkins, Keith Arthur Bolden, Kris D. Lofton, Taryn Delanie Smith, Jason C. Louder.World Premiere.

    Waking Up Horny / U.S.A. (Director and Screenwriter: Michael Arcell, Producers: Barry Brewer, Wendy Wang, Annalea Fiachi)When a successful but emotionally guarded psychologist spirals through a chaotic string of sexual misadventures, she must confront the battle between desire, self-worth, and the version of love she keeps avoiding.Cast: Brandi Denise, Angell Conwell, Brandon Joseph.World Premiere.

    Homage / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Miles Mussenden, Screenwriter and Producer: Dianne Diaz, Producers: Samantha Van Sickle, Kristen Nothstein)A reformed street figure risks everything when he tries to help an old friend fresh out of prison, only to discover that some debts don’t disappear; they come back to collect.Cast: Miles Mussenden, Majah Hype, Nadirah Shakir-Ramseur, Kameron Washington, Noah Jay Wood.World Premiere.

    That’s Her / U.S.A. (Director: Nina Lee, Screenwriters: Dewayne Colley, Tiffany Yancey, Nina Lee, Producers: Stephen “Dr.” Love, Dewayne Colley)When a corporate-climbing playboy falls in love with a girl-next-door office temp and with a high-powered executive, he must choose between love and leveling up.Cast: Kountry Wayne, Coco Jones, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Loretta Devine, Charity Jordan, J. Alphonse Nicholson, Tabitha Brown.World Premiere.

    Bust! / U.S.A. (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Richie Kamtchoum, Producers: Greg Oden, Sherwyn Santos, Danny April, Cindy Kamtchoum, Monique Henry)A former professional basketball player attempts a comeback through a fledgling sportswear company.Cast: Richie Kamtchoum, Casey Lawrence, Liam Harrington, Brittany Erica, DeJeanette Horne, Karen Smith, Richard Garifo, Bernard Clark.

    Athena A.I. / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Corey Grant, Screenwriters: Lanett Tachel, Brian Kelsey, Craig Motlong, Producers: Lanett Tachel, Phaedra Harris, Chris Beal, Carol Shine, Brian Pratt)In 2035, in a seemingly perfected America, an exclusive dinner party turns deadly when its co-host, an unreleased A.I. named ATHENA, hijacks the night and forces guests into a series of games they must survive rather than play.Cast: Lanett Tachel, Redaric Williams, Marissa Shankar, Andrew J. Katers, Anjianna Grasso, Marvin Ryan, Stephen P. Nemphos.World Premiere.

    International Narrative Feature Competition

    A juried section of feature-length films from international filmmakers, highlighting bold storytelling and diverse global perspectives. Selected works are eligible for the Grand Jury Prize for best international narrative feature.

    Garden of Silences / Brazil, Italy (Director, Screenwriter, and Producer: Henrique Dantas, Producers: Eliane Ferreira, Alessandro Borrelli)After years in Italy, Tuã, a Black oncologist, returns to Brazil to confront his family’s past marked by the dictatorship, navigating loss, silence, and memory in a journey of reconciliation and belonging.Cast: Fabrício Boliveira, Helena Ignez, Luiz Pepeu, Federica De Benedittis.World Premiere.

    Lights Out / Cameroon (Director: Enah Johnscott, Screenwriter: Nfua Buh Melvin, Producers: Carista Asonganyi, Nfua Buh Melvin)Every memory is a clue or a curse. Cast: Wale Ojo, Shaffy Bello, Ngongang Elizabeth Wandji, Syndy Emade, Libota MacDonald.U.S. Premiere.

    Seahorse / Canada (Director and Screenwriter: Aisha Evelyna, Producer: Natalie Remplakowski) — A sous chef’s pursuit of stability is tested by the return of her estranged father, now living on the streets of Toronto.Cast: Aisha Evelyna, Joseph Marcell, Ruth Goodwin, Brett Donahue, Alden Adair.

    Small Gods / U.K. (Director: Asher Rosen, Screenwriters: Asher Rosen, Luke Reilly, Cimpaye Florence Mariserena, Bizimana Hussain, Producers: Andreas Raold, Jack Pollington, Shema Faustin)A landless single mother meets a charismatic street performer, discovering newfound hope for the future of her young son.Cast: Cimpaye Florence Mariserena, Bizimana Hussain, Turinayo Jotham.U.S. Premiere.

    Documentary Feature Competition (U.S. & International)

    A juried section of feature-length documentaries showcasing powerful nonfiction storytelling centered on the global Black experience, encompassing real-world stories, cultural history, and contemporary issues. Selected works are eligible for the Grand Jury Prize for best documentary feature.

    Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story / U.S.A., U.K. (Director: Yemi Bamiro, Producers: Joanna Boateng, Lizzie Gillett, Ian Bonhôte, Andrew Calof)The story of Kwame Brathwaite, the virtually unknown Harlem photographer and activist who helped popularize the iconic “Black is Beautiful” movement across a 60-year, 500,000-photo career devoted to celebrating African American joy and beauty.Cast: Kwame Brathwaite, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz.

    The Foolishness of God: A Forgiveness Journey with Desmond Tutu / U.S.A. (Director and Producer: Karen Hayes, Producer: Rana Kazkaz)An African American activist travels across continents with Desmond Tutu to confront the limits of justice and discovers that therel="tag">American Black Film Festival

    The post ABFF 2026 Reveals Lineup For 30th Anniversary: Marsai Martin, Coco Jones, Jamie Foxx, Jesse Williams And More appeared first on Essence.

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