The American Black Film Festival is headed to the west coast. Following its 30th anniversary earlier this year, ABFF will relocate to Los Angeles for its 2027 festival, taking place May 20 through May 23. The decision brings the annual gathering directly into Hollywood as it begins its fourth decade of championing Black filmmakers and creating opportunities for new talent. 

Founded in 1997, ABFF has become an important destination for Black creatives seeking greater access to the film and television business. Its 31st edition will use several locations throughout Los Angeles, including the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. AMC The Grove will serve as the festival’s screening location, while SLS Beverly Hills will house many of its industry events. Programming is also planned for the Original Farmers Market, with additional venues expected to be announced.

“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,” said Jeff Friday, Founder of ABFF and CEO of NICE CROWD. “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.”

The move comes with several additions to the festival itself. ABFF First Look: The Studio Showcase will give attendees an early look at forthcoming films and series from studios, streamers and independent distributors. Filmmakers and talent will participate in the program, with footage from upcoming projects also expected to be presented.

Sports will receive its own dedicated platform with the launch of ABFF Sports. The program will examine how athletics and entertainment intersect through screenings and discussions featuring people working within both industries.

Another addition, Crossroads, expands who can submit work for consideration. Unlike several ABFF categories created specifically for filmmakers of African descent, the noncompetitive section will be open to filmmakers of any background. Narrative features and documentaries exploring identity or community through American experiences will be eligible.

ABFF’s longstanding relationship with HBO will continue in Los Angeles. The HBO Short Film Award Showcase celebrates its 30th year in 2027, extending a program created to identify emerging filmmakers. Five finalists are selected to screen their work before a jury each year. ABFF is an Academy Award-qualifying festival, and the winner of the HBO Short Film Award can qualify for consideration in the Live Action Short Film category at the Academy Awards, provided Academy requirements are met. Entries for the short film competition will open separately at a later date.

Filmmakers can already submit work for several other sections of the 2027 festival. The U.S. Narrative Feature competition will recognize films written or directed by filmmakers of African descent working in the country, with selected titles eligible for prizes including directing and performance honors.

The International Narrative Feature category will bring films from the global Black diaspora into competition, while Documentary Feature will highlight nonfiction work directed by filmmakers of African descent. Episodic Series will return for creators working in serialized storytelling.

ABFF is also making room for formats developed specifically for mobile viewing. The ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Project will showcase vertical episodic series from creators of African descent. Voices of Culture, meanwhile, will feature selected short-form projects through invitation or internal curation.

Alongside the film program, attendees can expect conversations and professional-development sessions throughout the weekend. Complimentary daytime transportation will operate between festival locations.

The relocation represents a major change for an event closely associated with Miami Beach, which hosted ABFF for much of its history and served as the site of its 30th anniversary celebration in 2026. Los Angeles now becomes home for the festival’s next edition, placing participating filmmakers near many of the studios and companies they hope to work with.

“ABFF has always been defined by the people who come together and the sense of community we’ve built over the years,” said Nicole Friday, President of NICE CROWD. “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.”  

Submissions for eligible ABFF 2027 categories are now open through FilmFreeway. Festival passes go on sale September 1 through ABFF’s website, with passholders receiving advance reservation access to qualifying programming and events.

Author: Okla Jones

Read the original article on Essence.