ABFF Global comes to London

The hugely influential American Black Film Festival (ABFF) makes a timely and historic entrance into the UK this month (September 27-29 2019) staging the first installment of its Global Film Series in London.

The event, sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). takes place at Picturehouse Central in London’s West End, and is an integral
part of an international screening series and extension of the American Black Film Festival, the leading event in the US showcasing black filmmakers.

The three-day event is in association with Screen Nation, the leading UK platform which has raised the profile of black British and
international film and television talent of African Caribbean heritage.

The well-documented recent success of black actors and filmmakers who have collectively reimagined the Hollywood landscape, especially at the box office, provides a suitable backdrop to the London launch. That Black British actors have been an integral part in shaping this exciting
new cinematic narrative underlines the importance of this event.

The weekend of screenings and panel discussions are aimed at encouraging collaboration and promotion between filmmakers
throughout the African Diaspora.

 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, Sept 27: Opening Night Film: Black and Blue, courtesy of Sony Pictures,
6:30 pm & 9:00 pm with Welcome Reception to follow.
Black and Blue, directed by Deon Taylor, is an action thriller about
a rookie cop (Naomie Harris) who inadvertently captures the
murder of a young drug dealer on her body cam. After realizing that
the murder was committed by corrupt cops, she teams up with the
one person from her community who is willing to help her (Tyrese
Gibson) as she tries to escape both the criminals out for revenge
and the police who are desperate to destroy the incriminating
footage.

Saturday, Sept 28: `
2:00 pm Jinn (92 min), directed by Nijla Mu’min (Q&A to follow)
Starring: Simone Missick, Zoe Renee and Ashlei Foushée
Summer is a carefree, black teenage girl whose world is turned
upside down when her mother abruptly converts to Islam and
becomes a different person. At first resistant to the faith, she begins
to reevaluate her identity after becoming attracted to a Muslim
classmate, crossing the thin line between physical desire and piety.

5:00 pm Jezebel (88 min), directed by Numa Perrier (Q&A to follow)
Starring: Tiffany Tenille, Numa Perrier, Stephen Barrington, Bobby
Field and Brett Gelman
In the last days of her mother’s life, 19-yearold Tiffany crashes with
five family members in a Las Vegas studio apartment. In order to
make ends meet, her older sister, a phone sex operator, introduces
her to the world of internet fetish cam girls.

7:30 pm Farming (107 min), directed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Q&A to
follow)
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Adewale AkinnuoyeAgbaje and Damson Idris
Based on the writer/director’s childhood, this is the story of a young
Nigerian boy ‘farmed out’ by his parents to a white British family in
the hope of a better future. Instead, he becomes the feared leader of
a white skinhead gang.

Sunday, Sept 29: `
12:00 pm 2019 ABFF HBO Short Films (70 min) (Q&A to follow)
Cap,*directed by Marshall Tyler
*The 2019 ABFF/HBO Short Film Competition Winner
15-year-old Manny Bennitt learns the hard way the price of being
cool.
Evelyn X Evelyn, directed by Eric Pumphrey
Grief can be overwhelming for just us to tackle alone.

The Fisherman, directed by Zoey Martinson
An aging fisherman goes out to sea one day and
returns with a talking fish.
Flight, directed by Kia Moses and Adrian McDonald
A Jamaican boy sets out on a dream, ten times his size,
to fly to the moon, despite his circumstances and
father’s opposition.
Wednesday, directed by Daniel Willis
Recently homeless and living in a car with her mother, a teenage
girl, desperate to rescue a vestige of their former life, commits a
reckless act.

3:00 pm Soleseekers (75 min Documentary), directed by Emil Collins
(Q&A to follow)
Trainers break gender, cultural and class backgrounds. Collectors,
Inspectors and respecters of sneakers, affectionately known as
“sneakerheads” can come from any background, race or religion, all
with one common purpose, the appreciation of trainer culture. With
the UK Sportswear Market worth Billions, this documentary will
chart the highs and lows of the culture in the UK.

6:00 pm If Not Now, When? (114 min), directed by Meagan Good
(Q&A to follow)
Starring: Meagan Good, Meagan Holder, Mekia Cox,
Tamara Bass, Valarie Pettiford
A story about love, forgiveness, sisterhood and second chances.
8:30 pm Closing Night Remarks by Jeff Friday (ABFF Founder),
Charles Thompson (Screen Nation Founder) and Sony Pictures.

.For more information head to: http://www.abff.com/.