One of those early unknowns? Ryan Coogler. Yes, that Ryan Coogler.
"He got his start at our festival in 2011," Friday says proudly. "He won the HBO Short Film Award — $40,000. Used it to fund his next film. And now? Black Panther. Creed. Sinners. It's incredible."
Coogler is not the only artist the festival platformed before they became household names. ABFF also spotlighted early work by Issa Rae and Taraji P. Henson, among others, but Friday is quick to clarify: This isn't about celebrity worship.
"This festival is about people. About fairness. About creating opportunities," he says. "The stars come, sure — but that's not what drives us." That said, the festival has lined up an impressive roster this year, including Chris Paul, Jemele Hill, Gabrielle Union, and Ashanti. Nia Long and Larenz Tate will serve as festival ambassadors and take part in a conversation in tribute to their classic film, Love Jones, which Friday credits with inspiring him to launch ABFF nearly 30 years ago.
From Acapulco to Lincoln Road and the Global Stage
Few people know ABFF's origins trace back to Acapulco, Mexico. "The first five years were there," Friday remembers. "The Mexican Tourism Board was our biggest client at my ad agency, and they supported the idea." A chance street encounter in 2001 brought the festival north."David Whitaker — who's now the CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau — literally stopped me on the street in Acapulco," Friday tells New Times. "He flew there to convince me. A month later, I was in Miami Beach, and that was it. We never left."
Today, the city considers ABFF a "tentpole event," on par with Art Basel. But success hasn't come cheap. "Miami Beach is world-class — and world-class comes with a price tag," Friday says. "Fundraising is the biggest challenge, year after year."
This year's edition introduces "South African Stories," a sidebar dedicated to films from emerging South African directors, curated in partnership with the Gauteng Film Commission, which develops, promotes, and coordinates film and television productions in its namesake South African province.
In 2026, the spotlight shifts to Ghana and Nigeria. Friday says it's all part of an effort to make ABFF a global festival. "We want the world to understand that Black storytelling isn't monolithic," he says. "It's richly diverse."
"The Next Ryan Coogler"
Nearly three decades in, ABFF remains a haven for emerging filmmakers, no matter their stage of creative development."If you have a movie, ABFF is the place to get it seen," says Friday. "If you don't, we have masterclasses all week: acting, writing, producing, directing." Partnering with the New York Film Academy, the festival offers intensive workshops right on Lincoln Road.
"People ask me, 'What big film is playing this year?'" he says. "I say, 'Who cares?' Ask me how many 25-year-olds are leaving this festival believing they can be the next Ryan Coogler."
American Black Film Festival. Wednesday, June 11, through Sunday, June 15. abff.com.
