Unique stories, world premieres as American Black Film Festival opens in Miami Beach

"America's largest festival showcasing films by people of African descent returns this week for its 27th year — and it's being held right here in South Florida once again.

The American Black Film Festival, taking place over five days at various venues on Miami Beach, is the preeminent space for storytellers to bring visibility to untold Black stories, from feature and television premieres to panel discussions and talent discovery programs.

And for audiences, it’s a chance to be the among the first to see groundbreaking work from some of the hottest talent in the country — Black Panther director Ryan Coogler debuted his first film here. This year, ABFF will feature a number of movies before they become potential juggernauts on streaming channels, including the world premiere of Jamie Foxx’s new Netflix film.

Independent filmmakers say the festival is a chance to debut mixed-genre projects, Black narratives and stories that challenge conventional filmmaking.

For director and producer Kelley Kali, films at ABFF are “relatable by all people, not just Black people because we are human.""