The American Black Film Festival Opening Night Set for SUPERFLY

In celebration of the nationwide release of Superfly, in theaters June 13, the 2018 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will open with the festival's premiere screening of Sony Pictures' Superfly on that same night at the Fillmore Theater in Miami Beach, Florida. Directed by the acclaimed Director X, director of legendary music videos for such artists as Drake and Rihanna, and starring Trevor Jackson ("Grown-ish"), the film's original soundtrack has been curated and produced by Future, who also produces the film with Joel Silver (The Matrix trilogy, Die Hard).

The film also stars Jason Mitchell (Mudbound, Straight Outta Compton), Michael Kenneth Williams ("The Wire," "Boardwalk Empire"), Lex Scott Davis ("Training Day," the upcoming The First Purge), Jennifer Morrison ("Once Upon a Time," "House"), and Andrea Londo ("Narcos"). The film also features cameo appearances by Rick Ross and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. The screenplay is by Alex Tse.

"We are thrilled Superfly will be the opening night film at the 2018 ABFF. For many, the title resonates as a cultural touchstone, not only for the look and style of the film itself, but also for Curtis Mayfield's legendary soundtrack, and for its place in history - Superfly is one of the few films of its era that featured African-American characters with agency and power. In bringing Superfly to a new generation, Director X has transitioned a TIMELESS classic into a modern day, entertaining film that will be enjoyed by all," said Jeff Friday, CEO of ABFF VENTURES.

Director X added, "I am excited for ABFF's premiere of Superfly in Miami. The original Super Fly from 1972 is a classic and we all felt a responsibility to that legacy. I directed a film that builds on the special elements of the original and evolves them for 2018. The story, fashion, cars, hair and music all have added relevance for today with an extra twist of style. It's all Superfly. Thank you Jeff Friday for welcoming my movie to the 2018 fest."

To purchase passes, tickets for events, panels and screenings at the American Black Film Festival, log on to http://www.abff.com/festival-passes/.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF's multiple social media platforms:

Twitter: @ABFF

Facebook: American Black Film Festival

Instagram: @AmericanBlackFilmFestival

YouTube: American Black Film Festival

Hashtags: #ABFF2018; #WeAreABFF

Website: www.ABFF.com

Sponsors for the 2018 American Black Film Festival are HBO® (Founding and Presenting Sponsor); Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Host and Presenting Sponsor); TV One, Cadillac, Comcast NBCUniversal (Presenting Sponsors); BET, Prudential Financial, Turner (Premier Sponsors); AMC, American Airlines, Codeblack Films, The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), Sony Pictures, Verizon (Official Sponsors); ASPiRE, Facebook, Gentleman Jack, LOL Networks, Miami Beach VCA, Netflix, OWN, Streampix, truTV (Supporting Sponsors); and Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Google, SAGIndie, Warner Bros., Walter Kaitz Foundation (Industry Partners).

ABOUT ABFF:

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. The festival is committed to the belief that Black artists and content creators deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to promote diversity in the motion picture industry and strengthen the Black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development. For more than two decades, the ABFF has been the standard-bearer of excellence in independent Black cinema, having premiered the works and supported the careers of many of today's most successful artists, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Anthony Anderson (Blackish), Will Packer (Girls Trip), Issa Rae (Insecure), Omari Hardwick (Power) and Raoul Peck (I Am Not Your Negro). Today, it is the preeminent pipeline for Black artists, in front of and behind the camera, significantly expanding the range of talent in the entertainment industry at large. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content targeted to upscale African American audiences. The company is a joint venture between Film Life Inc. and Black Enterprise, two prominent media and event companies, each with legacies of showcasing the best of Black culture and achievement.

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