American Black Film Festival Invites African Stories for Its 30th Anniversary Edition

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has announced its official call for entries in the “African Stories” category for the festival’s milestone 30th-anniversary edition, set to take place from May 27 to 31, 2026, in Miami Beach, Florida.

To qualify, films must be directed by a citizen or resident of an African country, have a minimum runtime of 25 minutes (including credits), and be in English or include English subtitles. Eligible projects must have completed post-production no earlier than January 1, 2025.

Founded in 1997 by Jeff Friday, ABFF has long served as a leading platform for celebrating Black filmmakers and creatives in film, television, and digital media. It is an Academy Award-qualifying festival for short films and has launched the careers of iconic industry figures, including Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, Academy Award winner Regina King, When They See Us director Ava DuVernay, and veteran filmmaker Spike Lee.

The submission deadline for the African Stories category is December 31, 2025.

The recently concluded 29th edition of ABFF, held from June 11 to 15, showcased a strong African presence with titles such as Ifeanyi Ezieme’s The Inconvenience Store and Chim Onyebilanma’s Treasure Hunt from Nigeria, alongside South African entries including Chris Djuma’s Rear View, Donna Sibande’s Love Through the Lens, and Kopedi Aphane’s Breaking Free.