#ABFFGlobal Film Series in association with Screen Nation

SEPT 27 - 29 PICTUREHOUSE CENTRAL, SHAFTESBURY AVE

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF), the premier event in the United States showcasing the work of content creators of African descent has linked up with Screen Nation the leading UK brand promoting black British screen talent to bring you their ABFF Global Film Series: LONDON. Sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment the series mission is to promote the universal appeal of films by and about people of color and encourage collaboration between content creators throughout the African Diaspora, with the objective of expanding distribution opportunities for black content on an international scale.

The London program in association with Screen Nation boasts an impressive line-up with the Gala European Premiere screening of action thriller Black and Blue starring movie star Naomie Harris alongside *Tyrese Gibson (*highly likely to attend, pending work commitments). The line-up also features popular US actress Meagan Good’s directorial debut feature (with Tamara Bass) of her crowd-funded sisterhood indie film, If Not Now, When? The added bonus for UK audiences is Good (Think Like A Man, Think Like A Man Too, Shazam) will be attending the film’s UK premiere. There is also a preview screening of award-winning British feature Farming, Hollywood star Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje’s much-anticipated autobiographical directorial debut, starring Damson Idris, Kate Beckinsale, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRI SEPT 27

6:30 pm Opening Night Film: Gala European Premiere BLACK AND BLUE (followed by Q&A with the stars pending work commitments)

9:00 pm INVITE ONLY Welcome Reception to follow courtesy of Sony Pictures

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.

Tickets: RESERVE LIMITED INVITES ASAP! https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalBlackandBlueTKT

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SAT SEPT 28

12:00 pm Festivals & Producers creating Blue Oceans: Building bridges to Hollywood. The value black filmmakers can gain from black fests and awards, working with other producers. Moderator: Sabrina Clarke-Okwubanego, Co-Founder Niche on Demand

To drive forward one of the key themes of the ABFF Global Series an industry Panel made up of top black British and international filmmakers, festivals and awards directors will discuss the contribution that black film festivals and award shows provide by building platforms to showcase and support black filmmaker journeys.

Planelists: JEFF FRIDAY, ABFF FOUNDER; CHARLES THOMPSON MBE, SCREEN NATION FOUNDER & CEO; MARSHALL TYLER, US SHORT FILMMAKER; JULIUS AMEDUME, UK AWARD WINNING DIR/PROD

TICKETS: https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalPanelTICKET

Thank you to the BFI NETWORK for supporting our Industry Panel. They've got a lot of great funding opportunities for filmmakers so check them out here: https://network.bfi.org.uk/funding-finder

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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.

TICKETS: https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalJinnTICKETS

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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-year old 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.

TICKETS: https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalJezebelTICKETS

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7:30 pm FARMING (107 min), directed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Q&A to follow)

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, 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.

TICKETS: https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalFarmingTICKETS

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SUN SEPT 29

12:00 pm European Premieres 2019 ABFF HBO SHORT FILMS (70 min) (Q&A with the winner to follow)

TICKETS: https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalShortsTICKETS

Cap,*directed by Marshall Tyler *2019 ABFF/HBO Short Film Competition Winner

15-year-old Manny Bennitt learns the hard way the price of being cool.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su4m1O8G96I INTVW

Evelyn X Evelyn, directed by Eric Pumphrey

Grief can be overwhelming for just us to tackle alone.

The Fisherman, directed by Zoey Martinson

An ageing 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.

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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.

TICKETS: https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalSoleSeekersTKTS

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6:00 pm European Premiere IF NOT NOW, WHEN? (114 min), directed by Meagan Good and Tamara Bass (Q&A to follow with Meagan Good)

Starring: Meagan Good, Meagan Holder, Mekia Cox, Tamara Bass, Valarie Pettiford

A story about love, forgiveness, sisterhood and second chances.

TICKETS: https://tiny.cc/ABFFGlobalIfNotNowWhenTKT

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8:30 pm Closing Night Remarks by Jeff Friday (ABFF Founder), Charles Thompson MBE (Screen Nation Founder) and Sony Pictures.