Some of the best and brightest in Hollywood are in South Florida for the 22nd annual American Black Film Festival. The festival kicked off in Miami Beach on Wednesday and runs through Sunday.
The event celebrates African-Americans onscreen and behind the scenes. It’s also become a breeding ground for the stars of tomorrow, and that includes Miami director, producer and writer Nicanson Guerrier.
His film “The Flea” is one of the featured films at this year’s festival. Guerrier is competing in the short film competition which boasts “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler as a previous winner. Guerrier hopes to take home the $10,000 cash prize with his comedy that details a day in the life of a flea market manager. The film is set at the USA Flea Market in Northwest Miami-Dade.
“There’s a kind of rule in filmmaking that you write about what you know. I know all of South Florida, so I want to continue to be that Miami filmmaker and tell Miami stories that haven’t been told before,” Guerrier said.
Other spotlight screenings at ABFF include the remake of the 70s film “Superfly,” “The First Purge,” “Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story,” and the documentary feature “Whitney.”
Director Coogler along with big box office names like filmmaker Ava DuVernay and actor Jessie Williams are participating in master classes and celebrity conversations.
Organizers said they expect up to 10,000 attendees at this year’s festival. For tickets, go to ABFF.com.
