American Black Film Festival Day 4: Winners Announced, Denzel Washington Career Retrospective, Black Fatherhood Discussed

The American Black Film Festival announced the winners of the 2024 festival at the “Best of ABFF Awards,” celebrated Denzel Washington and discussed fatherhood and impact.

The cast and showrunner of NBC’s Found, including Gabrielle Walsh, Arlen Escarpeta, and Sonay Hoffman, presented a sneak peek of the show’s second season to a packed room and received a rapturous round of applause.

The festival also included a panel on Black Fatherhood presented by Walmart entitled, “Beyond the Screen: Black Dads Off Set” which featured a conversation between Carl Jones, Devale Ellis, Lance Gross moderated by DJ Vaughn. 

The evening was closed out by a Washington career retrospective, ABFF’s first of its kind celebrating the careers of extraordinary Black artists.

Washington was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd, excited to celebrate the career of one of the most prolific Black actors.

He shared an exclusive first look at his upcoming Netflix film, The Piano Lesson with the audience. Following the clip, Washington joined Chaz Ebert on stage and the conversation celebrated his achievements on screen as well as his significant cultural impact off-screen as a director, producer, humanitarian, husband, and father.

BEST OF ABFF WINNERS:

• Best Narrative Feature (presented by Walmart, $2500 cash prize) – Peripheral (Directed by Sulayman Tahir, Written by Sulayman Tahir & Jordan Tortorello)
• Best Actor (presented by Ally Financial, $2500 cash prize) – Vince Washington (Young King)
• Best Director (presented by Cadillac, $5000 cash prize),– Coke Daniels (The Waterboyz)
• Best Documentary ($2500 cash prize) – Train: The Dick Night Tran Lane Story (Directed by Eric “Ptah” Herbert)
• Best Series (presented by Comcast NBCUniversal | Black Experience on Xfinity, $2500 cash prize). – Unsolicited (Written by: Barshae Lowery, Produced by: Barshae Lowery, Aysia Moore, Chazitear Martin)
• HBO Short Film Award Showcase Winner – (Presented by HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery, $10,000 cash prize) – Chocolate With Sprinkles (Written and Directed by Huriyyah Muhammad)

An online segment on this year’s American Black Film Festival will be held from June 17 – 24 on ABFF PLAY,