As reported by Variety, Issa Rae, serving as the creative director of the 28th edition of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), will moderate the inaugural “Creator Conversation” featuring special guests Ava DuVernay and Kenya Barris.
The exclusive live event is part of the new program “Creator Conversations,” aiming to provide attendees with insight into the creative processes and careers of Rae, DuVernay, and Barris. The event will delve into their recent projects, such as DuVernay’s latest film “Origin” and Barris’ hit “Black-ish” franchise and his directorial debut “You People.”
In a statement, Nice Crowd President Nicole Friday expressed excitement about the event: “We are truly delighted to get a rare glimpse into the minds of three trailblazers who are reshaping the landscape of film and television. Ava DuVernay, Kenya Barris, and Issa Rae are incredibly talented creators whose work and careers we admire tremendously.”
The special event will take place on Friday, June 14 at the New World Center in Miami Beach, FL. According to Friday, “This on-stage conversation will provide the audiences with in-person access to these iconic creatives, allowing them to engage and hear directly from these celebrated artists.”
DuVernay, an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy- and Peabody-award winning filmmaker, will discuss her latest project “Origin,” which is currently streaming on Hulu.
The film, an adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents,” delves into the global phenomenon of caste and its impact on society. Barris, known for creating the groundbreaking “Black-ish” franchise and producing hits such as “Diarra From Detroit” and “The Vince Staples Show,” will also share insights into his recent work. His production company, Khalabo Ink Society, celebrated Emmy nominations for “Entergalactic,” a first-of-its-kind adult animated music project featuring Grammy-winning artist Kid Cudi, and “Civil,” a documentary centered around groundbreaking civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
The festival will run from June 12th-16th, with a virtual segment taking place from June 17th-24th on ABFF PLAY. The event lineup includes the HBO Short Film Award Showcase, hosted by Sirius XM’s Bevy Smith, and world premieres of various films, including Kerry Washington’s series “UnPrisoned” and the documentary “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys.”
Moreover, the festival will feature narrative and documentary features such as Jussie Smollett’s return to acting in “The Lost Holliday,” Christine Swanson’s latest drama “Albany Road,” and the acclaimed Luther Vandross documentary “Never Too Much.” The winners of the film festival competition will be announced on June 15th during the “Best of ABFF Awards” hosted by Dondré Whitfield.