Miami Beach, FL (June 14, 2025) – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) today announced winners of the 2025 Best of the ABFF Awards, the premiere award ceremony honoring storytelling from the next generation of Black filmmakers.
Hosted by three-time Emmy-nominated actor and author Dondré Whitfield, the festival presented winners in the official film selection categories – narrative and documentary features, series, and the 28th HBO Short Film Award Showcase. The 29th annual ABFF takes place in Miami Beach June 11-15, and will be available to a global audience June 16-24 on ABFF PLAY, and spotlights incredible emerging creatives in the filmmaking space.
“We are incredibly proud to honor this year’s Best of ABFF winners whose bold storytelling and visionary filmmaking reflect the brilliance of our creative community,” said Nicole Friday, President of NICE CROWD. “From thought-provoking documentaries to captivating narratives and powerful shorts, these artists are pushing culture forward and redefining what’s possible on screen. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and deep gratitude to our partners — Walmart, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Ally Financial, Comcast NBCUniversal, HBO, and Warner Bros. Discovery — for their continued support of inclusive and impactful storytelling in entertainment.”
The 2025 Jury Award winners are:
Best Narrative Feature – The Fisherman, Written and Directed by Zoey Martinson; Produced by Kofi Owusu Afriyie, Korey Jackson, and Yvonne Orji
Presented by Walmart, $2,500 cash prize
John Singleton Award for Best Debut Feature – Meta Take One, Written and Directed by John Dierre and Ryan Dutter
Presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment, $2,500 cash prize
Best Director – Zoey Martinson (The Fisherman)
Presented by Ally Financial, $2,500 cash prize
Best Documentary – Black Women and Sex, Directed by Godisamang Khunou
,$2,500 cash prize
Best Series – Sideline Story, Written by: Sam Buckner, III; Directed by: Deantè Gray and Sam Buckner, III; Produced by: Sam Buckner, III and Ski-ter Jones
Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal, $2,500 cash prize
HBO Short Film Award Showcase Winner – ADO, Written by: Sam Henderson and Ryan Romine; Directed by: Sam Henderson
Presented by HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery, $10,000 cash prize
For festival information, including media credentials and how to obtain an ABFF pass, visit www.abff.com. Follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook.
Since its inception, the highly anticipated American Black Film Festival has premiered the work and supported the careers of many of today’s most successful filmmakers, actors, writers, and stand-up comedians, and is recognized as a standard-bearer of excellence for Black creativity. Continuing its legacy to empower Black artists and showcase a wide range of entertainment content will feature studio premieres, independent films, master classes, panels, talent showcases, networking, and hospitality events.
ABOUT ABFF
Founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is the leading festival of its kind showcasing Black storytelling. Since its inception, the ABFF has been dedicated to supporting Friday’s conviction that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. Having premiered the work and encouraged the careers of many of today’s most successful filmmakers and actors, the ABFF has become the standard-bearer of excellence for Black American creativity.
ABFF sponsors and partners to date are Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO (Founding), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) (Host), Comcast NBCUniversal, Ally Financial, Walmart (Presenting), City of Miami Beach, Amazon MGM Studios (Major), Sony Pictures Entertainment, American Airlines (Official), Netflix, Starz, New World Symphony, AARP, Uber, ESPN, Northwestern Mutual, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) (Supporting), New York Film Academy (NYFA), Getty Images, A&E, OWN, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), GLAAD, William Morris Endeavor (WME), BET Media Group (Industry), Variety, LA Times (Media).
ABOUT NICE CROWD
NICE CROWD, formerly ABFF Ventures, is a Los Angeles-based live events company that develops and produces properties in the arts, entertainment, lifestyle, and wellness industries that showcase BIPOC culture and talent. The Company’s tentpole event is the American Black Film Festival, founded in 1997.
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