Hosted by KevonStage, Acclaimed Director Steven Caple Jr. Received the 2026 ABFF Alumni Award with a Special Performance from Grammy® Winner Anthony Hamilton
MIAMI BEACH, FL (May 31, 2026) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) today announced winners of the 2026 Best of the ABFF Awards, the premiere award ceremony honoring storytelling from the next generation of innovative filmmakers. Hosted by New York Times best-selling author and award–winning comedian, KevOnStage, the festival presented winners in the official film selection categories – narrative and documentary features, series, and the 29th HBO Short Film Award Showcase. The ceremony also honored acclaimed director Steven Caple Jr., who received the prestigious 2026 ABFF Alumni Award. The evening will also feature a special 30th anniversary musical performance by multi-platinum, Grammy® Award-winning recording artist and actor Anthony Hamilton. The 30th annual ABFF took place in Miami Beach May 27-31.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate this year’s Best of ABFF winners and honor the incredible trajectory of our alumni like Steven Caple Jr., whose bold storytelling reflects the absolute brilliance of our creative community,” said Nicole Friday, President of NICE CROWD. “As we celebrate our 30th anniversary milestone, these artists continue to push culture forward, redefine the cinematic landscape, and show us what is possible on screen. We extend our warmest congratulations to all of tonight’s honorees and deep gratitude to our incredible partners — Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO, Ally Financial, Walmart, Amazon MGM Studios — for their unwavering commitment to elevating inclusive and impactful storytelling.”
The 2026 Best of the ABFF Award winners are:
Grand Jury Prize – US Narrative Feature
Three Colors: Pan-African / U.S.A. (Directors: Elijah Davis, Allison A. Waite, Tyler Ocasio Holmes, Screenwriters: Madou Elijah Diarrassouba, Gillian Allou, JaQuay Collins, Elijah Davis, Dami Olatunji, Producers: Elijah Davis, Jack McMann, Dami Olatunji, Joseph B. Agboola, Chirsten Vanderbilt Ellis) — A triptych of Black stories that correlate with the colors of the Pan-African flag: RED (Liberation), A collegiate football star scrambles to save his career after a devastating injury fractures his sense of self-worth; BLACK (Unity), a Ghanaian single mother loses her job and faces deportation as an unlikely group of heroes rally around her; GREEN (Prosperity), the lead of a struggling Black sitcom questions the cost of success as the network forces the show into racist caricature to boost ratings. Cast: Loretta Devine, Bashir Salahuddin, Peyton Alex Smith, Sibongile Mlambo, Stephen Bishop, Kimrie Lewis.
Directing Award – U.S. Narrative Feature
Sponsored by Ally Financial
Armani Ortiz – Otra
Screenwriting Award – U.S. Narrative Feature
Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios
Solvan Slick Naim and Lane Williamson – Girl Dad
Performance Award – U.S. Narrative Feature
Tie
Marsai Martin for Girl Dad
Bashir Salahuddin for Three Colors: Pan-African
Grand Jury Prize – International Narrative Feature
Small Gods / U.K. (Director: Asher Rosen, Screenwriters: Asher Rosen, Luke Reilly, Cimpaye Florence Mariserena, Bizimana Hussain, Producers: Andreas Raold, Jack Pollington, Shema Faustin) — A landless single mother meets a charismatic street performer, discovering newfound hope for the future of her young son. Cast: Cimpaye Florence Mariserena, Bizimana Hussain, Turinayo Jotham. U.S. Premiere.
Grand Jury Prize – Episodic Series
The Comic Shop / U.S.A. (Creator and Writer: Cheyenne Ewulu, Director: Jalen Blot, Producers: Simone Kirlew, Victor Lord, Cheyenne Ewulu) — Under the regular threat of eviction and the looming competition of a big box store, a quirky group of friends strive to keep their comic store afloat by any ridiculous means necessary. Cast: Cheyenne Ewulu, Zeno Robinson, Grayson Niles, Shanae Cole, Hayley Law.
Grand Jury Prize – Documentary Feature
Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story / U.S.A., U.K. (Director: Yemi Bamiro, Producers: Joanna Boateng, Lizzie Gillett, Ian Bonhôte, Andrew Calof) — The story of Kwame Brathwaite, the virtually unknown Harlem photographer and activist who helped popularize the iconic “Black is Beautiful” movement across a 60-year, 500,000-photo career devoted to celebrating African American joy and beauty. Cast: Kwame Brathwaite, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz.
HBO Short Film Award Showcase
Sponsored by Warner Bros. Discovery/HBO
Spilled Milk / U.S.A. (Director and Writer: Jared Leaf, Producers: Jordan Peele, Win Rosenfeld, Jamal M. Watson, Kesila Childers, Kacie Lehner, Dana Gills) — What really happened to all those deadbeat dads who went to the store to get milk? A father’s innocent errand leads him to an encounter with an enigmatic figure called “The Milk Man,” where things quickly go sour. Cast: J. Alphonse Nicholson, Jerry O’Connell, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Brandon Perea, Rodney Van Johnson, Bashir Taylor.
Alumni Award
Steven Caple Jr.
ABFF sponsors and partners to date are Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO® (Founding), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) (Host), Ally Financial, Amazon MGM Studios, Comcast NBCUniversal, Walmart (Presenting), City of Miami Beach, American Airlines (Major), Netflix, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Eli Lilly and Company, Lexus (Official), CBS, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitor And Convention Authority, Hartbeat, AARP, L’Oréal Groupe, STARZ, ESPN, GLAAD (Supporting), Motion Picture Association, Uber, Bounce (Contributing), Nielsen, Fulton Films GA, The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) powered by AHF, William Morris Endeavor (Associate), Variety, LA Times, Getty Images (Media).
Additional details and programming announcements will be released in the coming weeks. For updates, visit www.nicecrowd.com and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook.
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About the American Black Film Festival (ABFF)
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is the premier annual event dedicated to empowering emerging talent and showcasing film and television content by and about people of African descent. Founded in 1997 by Jeff Friday, ABFF has evolved into a leading talent discovery platform, attracting a global community of creators, executives, and fans. Each June, the festival draws more than 7,000 attendees to Miami Beach for five days of screenings, panels, networking, and cultural experiences. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, ABFF continues to serve as both a launchpad for talent and a cultural hub amplifying the diverse intersections of culture and achievement.
About NICE CROWD
NICE CROWD is a pioneering live events company operating at the intersection of culture, entertainment, and tourism. Founded by Nicole and Jeff Friday, the company produces high-impact festivals, awards shows, and destination experiences in major U.S. cities and global markets. Guided by The Power of Gathering, NICE CROWD believes that when people come together, creativity flourishes, new voices are amplified, and meaningful connections are made. The company’s mission is to harness that energy to drive cultural relevance and deliver measurable economic impact for its partners. With expertise in event production, audience engagement, and strategic partnerships, NICE CROWD showcases groundbreaking artists and innovators creating experiences that resonate with audiences while enabling brands and media to shape a more connected, creative world. www.nicecrowd.com
More information about the American Black Film Festival (ABFF): https://www.abff.com/miami/
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