CEO and Co-Founder of ABFF, Jeff Friday is all set to celebrate three decades of culture, creativity, and the legacy of Black filmmakers
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is getting ready for a major milestone. In 2026, the festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary with the theme “The Homecoming.” For CEO and Co-Founder Jeff Friday, this is a huge celebration of legacy, talent, and the community that helped create one of the most essential platforms for Black storytelling in the world.
A festival born from vision
Friday first dreamed up the idea for ABFF in 1997 after attending the Sundance Film Festival. He noticed a lack of diversity there and decided to do something about it. At the time, he was the president of UniWorld Group, a major multicultural advertising agency in New York. Inspired by what he saw at Sundance, he created a new space that would celebrate Black filmmakers and give them the platform they deserved.
Within just a few months, the first ABFF was launched in Acapulco, Mexico, with the support of the Mexican Ministry of Tourism, one of Friday’s clients. The debut drew some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Halle Berry, Morgan Freeman, Babyface, and Debbie Allen.
Despite all that star power, Friday remembers the first event as humbling. Only 90 people attended, but the emotional reaction from those who attended made it clear that ABFF was impactful and here to stay. “People were moved to tears,” he recalled.
Rising to a global platform
The following year, HBO joined as a sponsor, and Denzel Washington’s appearance brought national attention, which helped ABFF grow fast and reach a wider audience.
By 2001, while the festival was still in Mexico, Friday met David Whitaker, who invited him to bring ABFF to Miami Beach. The move turned out to be a perfect fit. Since 2002, Miami has been home to ABFF, and today the event draws nearly 10,000 attendees each year.
It is now a major cultural event that has helped launch the careers of countless artists, including Ryan Coogler (director of Black Panther) and Issa Rae (Insecure).
“The 2026 theme ‘The Homecoming’ is a tribute to our journey,” Friday said. “We celebrate community, history, and the people who’ve supported us since the very beginning.”
Empowering black creators
Over the years, Friday has watched the film industry evolve, and he says the real progress isn’t just more Black faces on screen, but greater ownership behind the scenes.
“There are probably about 25 Black production companies, including those led by Jordan Peele and Issa Rae,” he shared. “Change comes about when Black creators own the financing and intellectual property. That’s how we build lasting opportunities.”
Friday’s company, NICE CROWD, continues to lead with that mission. Though it’s a for-profit business, it’s driven by the purpose of creating platforms that portray Black and Brown talent around the world. “Everything we do blends creativity, business, and advocacy,” he said.
AI integration
With AI technology prevailing, ABFF has launched two new initiatives. An AI Film section that allows creators to submit works created with AI tools, and a masterclass series on AI and Immersive Storytelling.
The master classes are affordably priced, ranging from $25 to $40, and aim to educate filmmakers on how technology is reforming creativity. “We’re not making films ourselves,” Friday explained. “We’re educating people about what’s happening in the industry and how technology and entertainment are coming together.”
The future of ABFF and its lasting legacy
With ABFF approaching its 30th anniversary, Friday says the legacy is already evident. “After 30 years, you either have a legacy or you don’t,” he said with a smile.
He hopes the festival will always be remembered as a platform that gave Black and Brown creators opportunities they might not have had elsewhere. “We’ve helped so many deserving, talented people who just needed a shot,” he reflected.
What he’s most proud of is that ABFF has managed to sustain itself for three decades without deep corporate pockets or massive financial backing. “It’s been a challenging journey. Five years in Acapulco, then Miami, but we stayed committed to diversity, creativity, and opportunity,” he said.
Friday also expressed interest in future collaborations with Latinx storytellers, especially given Miami’s rich cultural mix. While no formal plans exist yet, he said ABFF welcomes partnerships that connect communities through storytelling.
From ad executive to cultural leader
When asked about his early career, Friday shared that he didn’t own the company he worked for when ABFF started. “I was president of UniWorld Group, the largest multicultural ad agency in the U.S.,” he said. “I worked under the CEO, but in 2002 I left, acquired the rights to the festival, and later founded NICE CROWD, which now oversees ABFF and other cultural events.”
Through NICE CROWD, Friday has continued to push boundaries in entertainment and produced events that highlight the intersection of culture, creativity, and business.
What’s next?
The 30th-anniversary “The Homecoming” edition of the ABFF in 2026, taking place from May 27 to 31, is a tribute to three decades of hard work, creativity, and cultural impact.
From its humble start in Acapulco to becoming one of the world’s most respected celebrations of Black cinema, ABFF remains an inspiration for underrepresented storytellers.
As Jeff Friday puts it, “We’re investing our time, our money, and our sponsors’ support into making sure Black and Brown voices continue to be heard. That’s the legacy we’re building.”
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