The lineup for the 28th edition of the American Black Film Festival continues to get more star studded with the world premiere of the second season of Kerry Washington’s Hulu series “UnPrisoned.”
Washington will attend the Miami Beach-based festival to celebrate the premiere and sit for a fireside chat with fellow executive producer Tracy McMillan, who created the series based on her life.
The Special Screenings lineup also features world premieres of documentaries “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” about the Wu-Tang Clan founding member, and “Down in the Valley,” inspired the world of the hit Starz series “P-Valley,” plus a screening of the classic “Devil in a Blue Dress,” as part of the Denzel Washington Retrospective.
The HBO Short Film Award Showcase will kick off the film festival program on June 12, hosted by Sirius Xm’s Bevy Smith (“Bevelations”). Five filmmakers are selected as finalists, and...
Washington will attend the Miami Beach-based festival to celebrate the premiere and sit for a fireside chat with fellow executive producer Tracy McMillan, who created the series based on her life.
The Special Screenings lineup also features world premieres of documentaries “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys,” about the Wu-Tang Clan founding member, and “Down in the Valley,” inspired the world of the hit Starz series “P-Valley,” plus a screening of the classic “Devil in a Blue Dress,” as part of the Denzel Washington Retrospective.
The HBO Short Film Award Showcase will kick off the film festival program on June 12, hosted by Sirius Xm’s Bevy Smith (“Bevelations”). Five filmmakers are selected as finalists, and...
- 5/15/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Love Birds, a development project directed by Angel Morris and Elliott Kennerson, has been selected as the grant recipient of the Original Voices Fellowship from NBCU Academy and NBC News Studios.
The filmmakers will receive a $100,000 investment from NBCU Academy and a commission deal from NBC News Studios, having competed against five other finalists. Each of the teams received a $6,000 grant for their documentary projects.
Love Birds is the story of George Hunt and Molly Warner, whose 1972 discovery of homosexuality in seagulls had an impact on scientific research and the LGBTQ+ movement. Morris and Kennerson worked alongside archival producer Katy Garrity on the project.
The Original Voices Fellowship held an open call for short documentaries addressing social issues, with a panel of judges then hearing pitches from the filmmakers. The judges included Sarah Amos of Conde Nast; Keesha Boyd of Comcast; Robert Chang of Pov; Alexandra Garcia of The New York Times Op-Docs; Molly O’Brien,...
The filmmakers will receive a $100,000 investment from NBCU Academy and a commission deal from NBC News Studios, having competed against five other finalists. Each of the teams received a $6,000 grant for their documentary projects.
Love Birds is the story of George Hunt and Molly Warner, whose 1972 discovery of homosexuality in seagulls had an impact on scientific research and the LGBTQ+ movement. Morris and Kennerson worked alongside archival producer Katy Garrity on the project.
The Original Voices Fellowship held an open call for short documentaries addressing social issues, with a panel of judges then hearing pitches from the filmmakers. The judges included Sarah Amos of Conde Nast; Keesha Boyd of Comcast; Robert Chang of Pov; Alexandra Garcia of The New York Times Op-Docs; Molly O’Brien,...
- 11/14/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Comcast NBCUniversal said Tuesday that it will exclusively premiere the documentary The Return, a film about the Hbcu experience. Will Packer is executive producer of the doc, which is directed by Ali Muhammad.
The documentary arrives Friday on the recently launched Black Experience on Xfinity Channel.
In 2020, the global Covid-19 pandemic put a pause on most large-scale college activities and sent students into virtual learning. After a year of lockdowns and sheltering in place, 2021 marked a return to campuses and the traditions that come with it. In the Hbcu world, the biggest of these traditions is Homecoming, an annual pilgrimage that brings thousands of alumni, students, family, and friends together in one place for a week-long celebration. The Return explores the Hbcu experience through the prism of these celebrations.
Packer, a magna cum laude graduate of Florida A&m University, is a longtime supporter of Hbcu initiatives.
Comcast NBCUniversal...
The documentary arrives Friday on the recently launched Black Experience on Xfinity Channel.
In 2020, the global Covid-19 pandemic put a pause on most large-scale college activities and sent students into virtual learning. After a year of lockdowns and sheltering in place, 2021 marked a return to campuses and the traditions that come with it. In the Hbcu world, the biggest of these traditions is Homecoming, an annual pilgrimage that brings thousands of alumni, students, family, and friends together in one place for a week-long celebration. The Return explores the Hbcu experience through the prism of these celebrations.
Packer, a magna cum laude graduate of Florida A&m University, is a longtime supporter of Hbcu initiatives.
Comcast NBCUniversal...
- 10/18/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Comcast NBCUniversal and FaceForward Productions announced their partnership for the upcoming docuseries The Black Beauty Effect, releasing this fall exclusively on the Black Experience on Xfinity channel. From creator and executive producers Andrea Lewis (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Emmy-nominee Cj Faison (Giants & Junebug), Jackie Aina, Kahlana Barfield Brown, and Keesha Boyd of Comcast, the docuseries will closely examine the social change, past and present, within the beauty industry, through the lens of the successful Black women who have led the charge.
The Black Beauty Effect is a three-part docuseries that captures the current evolution, revolution, and disruption taking place within the beauty industry. Black beauty influencers, celebrities, and entrepreneurs have taken up the torch passed down from their pioneering predecessors. Each hour-long episode examines a different aspect of beauty – hair, skin, and makeup – through the lens of some of the beauty industry’s most iconic game-changers. The Black Beauty...
The Black Beauty Effect is a three-part docuseries that captures the current evolution, revolution, and disruption taking place within the beauty industry. Black beauty influencers, celebrities, and entrepreneurs have taken up the torch passed down from their pioneering predecessors. Each hour-long episode examines a different aspect of beauty – hair, skin, and makeup – through the lens of some of the beauty industry’s most iconic game-changers. The Black Beauty...
- 6/18/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast NBCUniversal is celebrating the one-year anniversary of Black Experience on Xfinity by announcing plans to offer $1M in the form of ten $100K grants to emerging Black filmmakers.
Home to the largest curated collection of independent Black film collection on demand, Black Experience on Xfinity features content from many of Xfinity’s existing network partners, while investing millions of dollars in emerging talent from the top Black film festivals. Curated by industry leaders, the channel is the only one of its kind endorsed by African American Film Critics Association (Aafca), the world’s largest group of Black film critics that gives annual awards for excellence in film and television.
“The launch of Black Experience on Xfinity has been a major investment in the Black creative community and one of the many ways we are leveraging the scale and reach of our platforms to amplify voices that need to be heard,...
Home to the largest curated collection of independent Black film collection on demand, Black Experience on Xfinity features content from many of Xfinity’s existing network partners, while investing millions of dollars in emerging talent from the top Black film festivals. Curated by industry leaders, the channel is the only one of its kind endorsed by African American Film Critics Association (Aafca), the world’s largest group of Black film critics that gives annual awards for excellence in film and television.
“The launch of Black Experience on Xfinity has been a major investment in the Black creative community and one of the many ways we are leveraging the scale and reach of our platforms to amplify voices that need to be heard,...
- 2/28/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
BlackStar Projects And Comcast’s Xfinity Join Forces To Launch First-Ever Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab
Exclusive: BlackStar Projects, and Xfinity, announced the participants of the inaugural class of their new Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab.
The year-long fellowship supports Black, Brown and Indigenous emerging and mid-career artists and filmmakers in the Greater Philadelphia area by providing access to equipment, funding, and mentorship. BlackStar will act as an executive producer on the short films created during the Lab, providing feedback and advice, while Xfinity will provide a major portion of the funding for production. The BlackStar Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab is presented by Xfinity with additional support from All Ages Productions, Independence Public Media Foundation, Kickstarter, Vimeo, and Wyncote Foundation.
“At Xfinity, we strive to facilitate the discovery of diverse emerging content creators like the filmmakers in this lab and provide a platform for them to showcase their talent,” said Keesha Boyd, Executive Director, Multicultural Video & Entertainment, Xfinity Consumer Services. “We’re thrilled to work with the BlackStar team...
The year-long fellowship supports Black, Brown and Indigenous emerging and mid-career artists and filmmakers in the Greater Philadelphia area by providing access to equipment, funding, and mentorship. BlackStar will act as an executive producer on the short films created during the Lab, providing feedback and advice, while Xfinity will provide a major portion of the funding for production. The BlackStar Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab is presented by Xfinity with additional support from All Ages Productions, Independence Public Media Foundation, Kickstarter, Vimeo, and Wyncote Foundation.
“At Xfinity, we strive to facilitate the discovery of diverse emerging content creators like the filmmakers in this lab and provide a platform for them to showcase their talent,” said Keesha Boyd, Executive Director, Multicultural Video & Entertainment, Xfinity Consumer Services. “We’re thrilled to work with the BlackStar team...
- 10/27/2021
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Kevin Hart’s Laugh Out Loud and the Sundance Institute have set three scribes for their inaugural Women Write Now screenwriting fellowship, designed to bolster the next generation of Black women in comedy.
This year’s Fellows, whose short film scripts were selected from a pool of 672 submissions, are Wilandrea Blair, Danielle Nicolet and Moni Oyedepo. Each will have their project developed and produced for Peacock by Lol Studios, as part of a new partnership between Laugh Out Loud and NBCUniversal. In the end, all three will be given the opportunity to pitch additional projects to execs at NBCUni, with just one securing a development deal.
Blair’s project, Buddy and Bernice, examines the rivalry between a nursing home’s famous funny man and his old comic nemesis; Nicolet’s Black Karen centers on a Black woman with anxiety who is advised by her therapist to think and behave “like happy people do,...
This year’s Fellows, whose short film scripts were selected from a pool of 672 submissions, are Wilandrea Blair, Danielle Nicolet and Moni Oyedepo. Each will have their project developed and produced for Peacock by Lol Studios, as part of a new partnership between Laugh Out Loud and NBCUniversal. In the end, all three will be given the opportunity to pitch additional projects to execs at NBCUni, with just one securing a development deal.
Blair’s project, Buddy and Bernice, examines the rivalry between a nursing home’s famous funny man and his old comic nemesis; Nicolet’s Black Karen centers on a Black woman with anxiety who is advised by her therapist to think and behave “like happy people do,...
- 10/5/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Vice President Kamala Harris is saluting her Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters in a new documentary film titled “Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.”
The documentary — which debuts March 26 on Comcast’s Black Experience on Xfinity channel and will be available nationwide on demand starting March 30 — is narrated by Phylicia Rashād. Both Rashād and Harris pledged the sorority during their time as students at Howard University.
“Twenty Pearls” examines the sorority’s history beginning with its founding by nine Black women enrolled at Howard in 1908 and traces the sorority’s direct influence and involvement in watershed moments throughout history including Civil and Women’s Rights, World War II, NASA, Hbcu Endowments and mobilized support for Harris to become America’s first Black and South Asian woman vice president.
As the documentary notes, observers have called the members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Harris’ “secret weapon.” But Harris...
The documentary — which debuts March 26 on Comcast’s Black Experience on Xfinity channel and will be available nationwide on demand starting March 30 — is narrated by Phylicia Rashād. Both Rashād and Harris pledged the sorority during their time as students at Howard University.
“Twenty Pearls” examines the sorority’s history beginning with its founding by nine Black women enrolled at Howard in 1908 and traces the sorority’s direct influence and involvement in watershed moments throughout history including Civil and Women’s Rights, World War II, NASA, Hbcu Endowments and mobilized support for Harris to become America’s first Black and South Asian woman vice president.
As the documentary notes, observers have called the members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Harris’ “secret weapon.” But Harris...
- 3/23/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
As Black History Month kicks off, Comcast NBCUniversal and African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) are partnering to launch the Black Experience on Xfinity, a first-of-its kind destination of Black entertainment, movies, TV shows, news, and more. The newly launched channel will be available Xfinity X1 and Flex as well as the Xfinity Stream app.
The channel will be curated by industry leaders and feature content from many of Xfinity’s existing network partners at no additional cost, while investing millions of dollars in fostering and showcasing emerging Black content creators. The channel is the only one of its kind endorsed by the Aafca.
“The launch of Black Experience on Xfinity is a major investment in the Black creative community and one of the many ways we are leveraging the scale and reach of our platforms to amplify voices that need to be heard,” said Keesha Boyd, Executive Director, Multicultural Video & Entertainment,...
The channel will be curated by industry leaders and feature content from many of Xfinity’s existing network partners at no additional cost, while investing millions of dollars in fostering and showcasing emerging Black content creators. The channel is the only one of its kind endorsed by the Aafca.
“The launch of Black Experience on Xfinity is a major investment in the Black creative community and one of the many ways we are leveraging the scale and reach of our platforms to amplify voices that need to be heard,” said Keesha Boyd, Executive Director, Multicultural Video & Entertainment,...
- 2/1/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast launched a new destination with Black content, endorsed by the African American Film Critics Association, which is available to customers on Xfinity X1, Flex and Stream App at no additional cost.
Dubbed “Black Experience,” the content hub at launch comprises more than 100 titles (and growing). It’s a mix of programming from across the Xfinity content catalog, spanning networks, free and ad-supported video streaming services, and streaming music providers.
Comcast customers have access to a selection of sample content from existing partners like TVOne, Cleo, AspireTV, Revolt, Afro, KweliTV, the Africa Channel, BET, Bet Her, Impact TV, Up Faith & Family and OWN. In addition, Black Experience includes films such as “Pursuit of Happyness,” “Jumping the Broom,” “Poetic Justice,” “Two Can Play That Game,” “Death at a Funeral,” “Guess Who,” “Blue Streak” and “Lakeview Terrace.”
According to Comcast, the Xfinity Black Experience section will feature all-new premium content by new and up-and-coming Black content creators,...
Dubbed “Black Experience,” the content hub at launch comprises more than 100 titles (and growing). It’s a mix of programming from across the Xfinity content catalog, spanning networks, free and ad-supported video streaming services, and streaming music providers.
Comcast customers have access to a selection of sample content from existing partners like TVOne, Cleo, AspireTV, Revolt, Afro, KweliTV, the Africa Channel, BET, Bet Her, Impact TV, Up Faith & Family and OWN. In addition, Black Experience includes films such as “Pursuit of Happyness,” “Jumping the Broom,” “Poetic Justice,” “Two Can Play That Game,” “Death at a Funeral,” “Guess Who,” “Blue Streak” and “Lakeview Terrace.”
According to Comcast, the Xfinity Black Experience section will feature all-new premium content by new and up-and-coming Black content creators,...
- 2/1/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Comcast’s Xfinity TV has expanded distribution of AspireTV, a cable network focused on Black culture and urban lifestyle, putting it in millions of new homes.
The network is now available in 12 additional markets, mostly in the southeastern U.S., including Jacksonville and Tampa-St. Petersburg in Florida. It was founded in 2012 by former NBA star and entrepreneur Magic Johnson.
“Since day one of AspireTV’s launch, Comcast has been a strong supporter of the network,” said Melissa Ingram, SVP of Multicultural Networks and Strategy, Up Entertainment. “We are grateful for the continued partnership and their belief in the importance of AspireTV’s vision to provide Black and urban lifestyle programming that allows Xfinity customers to ‘see themselves here’.”
Stemming from a consent decree entered into with federal regulators permitting its acquisition of NBCUniversal a decade ago, Comcast has supported a range of networks aimed at diverse audiences. That commitment...
The network is now available in 12 additional markets, mostly in the southeastern U.S., including Jacksonville and Tampa-St. Petersburg in Florida. It was founded in 2012 by former NBA star and entrepreneur Magic Johnson.
“Since day one of AspireTV’s launch, Comcast has been a strong supporter of the network,” said Melissa Ingram, SVP of Multicultural Networks and Strategy, Up Entertainment. “We are grateful for the continued partnership and their belief in the importance of AspireTV’s vision to provide Black and urban lifestyle programming that allows Xfinity customers to ‘see themselves here’.”
Stemming from a consent decree entered into with federal regulators permitting its acquisition of NBCUniversal a decade ago, Comcast has supported a range of networks aimed at diverse audiences. That commitment...
- 1/27/2021
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Revolt, the music-oriented cable network launched by rapper-turned-entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs, is gaining distribution in new and existing markets through a new carriage deal with Comcast’s Xfinity TV.
Comcast, a key distribution launch partner of the network in 2013, said it will be added in high-definition to the Xfinity Digital Starter package in several cities, including Philadelphia, Orlando and Indianapolis. In markets where Revolt has been available in standard definition as part of the Xfinity Digital Premier package, the network will be moved to Digital Starter in HD, beginning September 29.
The official announcement said the agreement would make the network available to “millions” of additional customers of Comcast, the No. 1 U.S. cable provider. A company rep did not immediately confirm the exact number of new homes. Revolt has recently passed the 50-million mark and has added streaming outlets like Philo TV and Sling.
It has been a winding road...
Comcast, a key distribution launch partner of the network in 2013, said it will be added in high-definition to the Xfinity Digital Starter package in several cities, including Philadelphia, Orlando and Indianapolis. In markets where Revolt has been available in standard definition as part of the Xfinity Digital Premier package, the network will be moved to Digital Starter in HD, beginning September 29.
The official announcement said the agreement would make the network available to “millions” of additional customers of Comcast, the No. 1 U.S. cable provider. A company rep did not immediately confirm the exact number of new homes. Revolt has recently passed the 50-million mark and has added streaming outlets like Philo TV and Sling.
It has been a winding road...
- 9/24/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Comcast has agreed to expand availability of Revolt, the hip-hop focused cable network backed by entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Under the new pact, Revolt on September 29 will be available in high-definition to Comcast’sXfinity Digital Starter package in Philadelphia, Northern New Jersey, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Tampa, Knoxville, Indianapolis, Charleston, and Augusta. Additionally, in markets where Revolt has been available in standard definition as part of the Xfinity Digital Premier package, the network will be moved to Digital Starter in HD, beginning September 29.
“Revolt exists to tell our stories and empower our community,” said Combs, chairman of Revolt Media & TV, in a statement. “As one of very few Black-owned media platforms, it is important that we can reach our audiences wherever they are. We are excited to continue to grow with Comcast and deliver our content to millions of additional homes.”
Under terms of the new pact,...
Under the new pact, Revolt on September 29 will be available in high-definition to Comcast’sXfinity Digital Starter package in Philadelphia, Northern New Jersey, Orlando, West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Jacksonville, Tampa, Knoxville, Indianapolis, Charleston, and Augusta. Additionally, in markets where Revolt has been available in standard definition as part of the Xfinity Digital Premier package, the network will be moved to Digital Starter in HD, beginning September 29.
“Revolt exists to tell our stories and empower our community,” said Combs, chairman of Revolt Media & TV, in a statement. “As one of very few Black-owned media platforms, it is important that we can reach our audiences wherever they are. We are excited to continue to grow with Comcast and deliver our content to millions of additional homes.”
Under terms of the new pact,...
- 9/24/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
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