Documentary – Unspool Hollywood

LINKIN PARK: UNSHATTER in Theaters September 30th

A FILM BY JOE HAHN

UNSHATTER FILM SOUNDTRACK (LIVE IN SÃO PAULO)

RELEASES SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 – Available for Pre-Order NOW*

The hardest part of ending is starting again.

After a seven-year hiatus following the devastating loss of their beloved bandmate Chester Bennington, LINKIN PARK’S remaining members struggled to find their way forward. Their shared history and enduring friendship, combined with the fresh perspective of two new band members Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain spark a renewed creative energy that leads them on a transformative journey of artistic reinvention.

Following the band from intimate 2022 studio sessions through their explosive FROM ZERO album release and concert in São Paulo, the film UNSHATTER weaves together rare vault footage, electrifying performances from sold-out shows, and candid interviews with band members and fans—capturing the raw, honest story of what it means to start over.

This accompanying Unshatter Film Soundtrack (Live in São Paulo) features transcendent performances of songs spanning their entire career, including exclusive recordings not experienced in the film.

DIRECTOR STATEMENT FROM JOE HAHN:

The title UNSHATTER came from the idea that something can be broken, rebuilt, and still carry its scars. To me, resilience isn't about pretending something never happened. It's about accepting what happened, honoring it, and finding a way to keep moving forward. That felt like the best way to describe both the film and our journey. This is really a story about loss, friendship, creativity, and reinvention.

UNSHATTER follows a very particular moment in Linkin Park’s history and documents a path through loss, uncertainty, friendship, and reinvention. Our friendship, our shared history, and the new creative energy that Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain brought into the band helped us discover that beginning again didn't mean leaving the past behind. It meant carrying it with us.

This wasn't supposed to be a documentary. It started with an opportunity to film our 2024 show in São Paulo, just wanting to capture that moment. But the more we kept the cameras rolling, the more we realized there was a much bigger story unfolding. After seven years away, we honestly didn't know what the future of Linkin Park looked like. We were figuring it out as we went. None of us knew if the band would evolve the way it did, how fans would respond, or where any of it was leading. I didn't want to make a film that looked back on everything with perfect clarity. I wanted people to experience that uncertainty the same way we did in real time.

I've lived this story from the inside, so I had a perspective that only a bandmate and a friend could have. That also came with a responsibility to be honest. It would have been easy to tell the version people expected or the version built from headlines and interviews, but that was never the goal. I wanted to capture the conversations, the doubts, the creative moments, and everything in between that only the people living through it could really understand.

As a filmmaker, I had to approach this differently than anything I'd done before. My background is in music videos where you're always thinking about visuals and style. On this project, every creative decision had to support the story instead of getting in the way of it. The editing process was really about finding the spine of the film. We had hundreds of hours of footage and thousands of index cards covering every possible direction the story could take. Working with Igor Kovalik, who's edited Linkin Park videos for years, we kept asking ourselves the same question: are we telling the story as we actually lived it?

Coming back was a huge leap of faith. We decided that if we were going to do it, we wanted to go all in because we wanted it to feel meaningful for the fans who had stayed with us through everything. Making this film also reminded us how much our songs mean to people. They've always lived somewhere between darkness and hope, and seeing how they've continued to help people over the years became one of the biggest reasons to tell this story.

More than anything, this film is a thank you to the fans. It's our chance to share the whole story instead of having people piece it together through speculation or bits and pieces over the years. I hope longtime fans see parts of our journey they've never seen before, and I hope people who are just discovering the band come away with a better understanding of how we got here. But even beyond Linkin Park, I hope people connect with it as a story about relationships, resilience, and what it really takes to move forward when you don't have all the answers

View New Clip: Jimmy Buffett Documentary OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD: The First Coral Reefers

Greene Street Entertainment, in association with Confluence Productions

Present

Director: John H. Cunningham
Featuring: Kenny Chesney, Mac McAnally, songwriter Keith Sykes, The Coral Reefer Band
Narrator: Jeff Bridges
Producers: John H. Cunningham and Ted E. Haynes
Run time:1 hour 32 minutes
Country: USA
Language: English

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD: THE FIRST CORAL REEFERS is a feature documentary that journeys back to the 1970s and early 1980s to tell the origin story of Jimmy Buffett’s original Coral Reefer Band. Set against the creative backdrop of Key West, the film explores the musicians, friendships, touring years, and studio sessions that helped shape Buffett’s legendary sound.

Through rare, never-before-seen archival footage and deeply personal interviews with founding members, tour managers, producers and music legends, OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD captures the camaraderie, chaos, and magic of an era that thrived on freedom and lived without a rulebook.

Narrated by Academy-award winner Jeff Bridges, OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD offers fans a deeper look at the people behind the music and the era that helped define Jimmy Buffett’s lasting legacy. This film is a tribute to Buffett and the original Coral Reefers, the places and people that shaped them, the volatile beauty of a musical moment that couldn’t last but changed everything and their candid sentiment toward Buffett. It’s the origin story upon which the Parrot Head empire was built upon, by the people who helped lay the foundation.

Official Website:
www.occupationalhazardfilm.com

Instagram:
www.instagram.com/theoccupationalhazardfilm

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/people/Occupational-Hazard-Film/61585990122584/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@OccupationalHazardFilm

BLUE HARBOR ACQUIRES AWARD-WINNING FESTIVAL FAVORITE FOLLOWING HARRY FEATURING LEGENDARY PERFORMER AND HUMANITARIAN HARRY BELAFONTE FOR NATIONAL US VOD RELEASE

Inspiring doc will be released in the US on all major VOD platforms October 13

New York, NY – September 8, 2026 – Blue Harbor Entertainment announced today that it will release the impactful and timely documentary FOLLOWING HARRY on VOD nationwide in the US on October 13.

Directed by Susanne Rostock (Sing Your Song), FOLLOWING HARRY joins legendary artist and civil rights leader Harry Belafonte as he embarks on a deeply personal and reflective journey, inspiring the next generation of entertainers and activists to disrupt injustice across the globe,striving for impactful change. The film also features Aja Monet, Angela Davis, Aloe Blacc, Carmen Perez, Chuck D, Gina Belafonte, Jamie Foxx, Jesse Williams, Kerry Kennedy, Matt Post, Phillip Agnew, Rod Starz, Rosario Dawson, Sean Pica, & Talib Kweli.

The film was an Official Selection of Tribeca Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Martha's Vineyard Film Festival, and winner of the Sidewalk Film Festival Jury Award, the BronzeLens Cinema & Social Justice Award, and the Cleveland International Film Festival FilmSlam Award.

FOLLOWING HARRY is an intimate documentary that chronicles the last twelve years of legendary Harry Belafonte’s life, highlighting the artist-activist's enduring commitment to social justice. Fueled by his tremendous sense of urgency to inspire the next generation of entertainers and activists to stand for justice, the film provides a window into both his public endeavors and private moments, capturing his journey from the aftermath of the death of Trayvon Martin, to his engagements in the protests in Ferguson, the Women’s March (which was created in his office), to the deeply and profound conversations in his home. The film ultimately amplifies Harry’s belief that “each generation must be responsible for itself. All I can do is leave behind the crumbs of my experience. I have a trail that you can follow, if you find value in it, pick it up and if you don’t, bring something better.”

FOLLOWING HARRYis directed by Susanne Rostock and Produced by Frankie Nasso, Edward Zeng, and Susanne Rostock. Executive Producers include Mimi Polk Gitlin, David Dinerstein, Pamela Belafonte and Jeff Kranzdorf. The Co-Executive Producers are Irene Mu and Kimberly Olsen, and the film is produced by NextG, SparkIce, and Belafonte-Nasso-Zeng Productions, in co-production with MML. The Cinematographer is Martina Radwan and the music for the film was composed by Hahn Rowe.

Led by Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle , Blue Harbor Entertainment recently released the Sundance award-winner Ricky, starring Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Titus Welliver, the Australian box office hit Kangaroo Island starring Rebecca Breeds, festival favorite An Autumn Summer, starring Lukita Maxwell and Mark McKenna, and adventure/action epic Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead. Previous notable releases include indie sensation A Nice Indian Boy, starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, the award-winning untold story of Dr. Audrey Evans, Audrey's Children, starring Natalie Dormer, and Lilly , the powerful story of equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter starring Patricia Clarkson. They are set to release the Sundance breakout revenge comedy The Musical and the sci-fi thriller Orion this Fall.

“Harry Belafonte’s impact as an artist and activist is immeasurable, and FOLLOWING HARRY is a powerful and deeply personal reflection of the principles that guided his life,” said Blue Harbor Entertainment. “Susanne has created a film that not only honors Harry’s extraordinary legacy, but carries his message forward through the voices of a new generation. We’re incredibly proud to be bringing the film to audiences across the country, ” stated Seth Needle of Blue Harbor Entertainment.

Filmmaker Susanne Rostock commented: “After over seven decades of fervently fighting for a more compassionate and just world, Harry Belafonte was wrestling with the feeling of not having done enough. He turned to me and said with a great sense of urgency, “I am running out of time”. So began my over twelve-year journey capturing the inner workings of a movement in real time, Harry Belafonte handing off to the next generation everything he knew about power, art, and resistance before it was too late. Following Harry is intimate access to that reckoning: never-before-seen, and impossible to ignore. This is the blueprint how we learn from the past to save our future.”

Producer Edward Zeng commented: "I am thrilled to bring this incredible, behind the scenes look at Mr. Belafonte and his activism to the world with Blue Harbor Entertainment and shine a light on the next generation of leaders that we need so much during these times. I still remember Harry recording a special happy birthday song for me in the last few months of his life — a moment I will treasure forever."
ABOUT BLUE HARBOR ENTERTAINMENT
Blue Harbor Entertainment is a boutique distributor of independent films designed for the business needs of today’s filmmakers. Established in 2023 by industry veterans Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle, Blue Harbor offers a much-needed alternative in today’s challenging U.S. distribution environment with a structure that empowers filmmakers by providing a comprehensive and full-scale distribution and marketing solution covering theatrical releases, home entertainment, transactional and subscription digital streaming platforms, and television. Notable releases include the hit romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, the award-winning, untold story of Ronald McDonald House founder Dr. Audrey Evans, Audrey's Children, starring Natalie Dormer, Lilly, the powerful story of equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter starring Patricia Clarkson, and Ricky, which stars Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Titus Welliver, and won the directing award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Recent releases include the Australian box office sensation Kangaroo Island, romantic drama An Autumn Summer, starring Lukita Maxwell and Mark McKenna, and adventure/action epic Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead.

Now #1 on Disney+: National Geographic’s LION

National Geographic’s LION, the four-part event series, is currently the #1 title on Disney+ in the U.S., resonating with audiences through its cinematic storytelling, emotional depth and real-life coming-of-age journey centered on a lion cub named Kio as he fights to survive and ultimately

More than a traditional wildlife documentary, LION blends the emotional storytelling audiences loved in The Lion King with unprecedented natural history filmmaking. The series is executive produced by Jon Favreau, director of Disney's live-action The Lion King, alongside acclaimed natural history producer Mike Gunton (Planet Earth II, Dynasties), and features an original score from Hans Zimmer's Bleeding Fingers Music, creating a viewing experience that feels every bit as epic as a blockbuster drama.

ABOUT LION

From The Lion King director Jon Favreau and BBC Studios Natural History Unit's Mike Gunton comes the extraordinary true story of Kio, a lion cub whose four-year journey unfolds as an epic saga of family, hope, loss, courage and survival. Narrated by O.J. Lynch, the four-part event series combines cinematic storytelling with groundbreaking wildlife filmmaking to capture the complete making of a king.

LION premiered on National Geographic and is now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. The series features an original score by Hans Zimmer, Niccolò Pacella and George Hutson Warren for Bleeding Fingers Music.

JOANNA NATASEGARA’S “THE DISCIPLE: A WU-TANG FABLE” ON NETFLIX OCTOBER 16th

The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable is a Netflix Documentary in association with Studio Gebbia, Film4, 36 Cinema, Sony Music Vision; an Aluna Entertainment and Violet Films production

The Disciple. (L to R) Tarik Azzougarh, The RZA and Jeremy Waterloo in The Disciple. Cr. Tarik Azzougarh

Director and Producer: Joanna Natasegara
Producers: Abigail Anketell-Jones, Lauren Dark and Vanessa Kirby.
Executive Producers: The RZA, Joe Gebbia, Jason Ropell, Abazar Khayami; David Kimbangi, Farhana Bhula and Ollie Madden for Film4; Trevor Burgess, Gary Hess and James Costa for Bird Street Productions.
Editors: Chloë Lambourne and Chris Dickens.

The true story of an outsider whose relentless determination catapults him into the Wu-Tang Clan's inner circle, where ambition and creativity converge to record an album destined to ignite global controversy.

Academy Award-winning producer Joanna Natasegara makes her feature directorial debut, tracing the decades-long journey of Dutch-Moroccan rapper and producer Cilvaringz, who transformed himself from the group's most devoted fan into the unlikeliest of disciples to his childhood heroes, including The RZA, whose mentorship shapes the odyssey that follows.

Director and Producer Joanna Natasegara: "For the last 5 years making this film has been a labour of love and discovery for me. Initially I was inspired by a teenhood love of Wu-Tang and a story about the secret album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin too intriguing to miss. In the making I discovered so much more about why Tarik, myself, and so many of us idolise them. They stand for so much that is so needed right now - community, talent, tenacity, innovation and love. I'm so thrilled audiences will get to spend time in this world I've loved so much."

That journey culminates in Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, a 31-track album packaged in an ornate, handcrafted silver box and auctioned to the highest bidder in 2015. Only one copy will ever legally exist. Its scarcity is a form of protest, and an argument that music still holds intrinsic worth as art in a digital age.

The result is one of the most controversial artifacts of our time that sparked ongoing conversations about technology, creation and ownership. It's also a story about how far one outsider went to belong.

View New Trailer: TO USE A MOUNTAIN at DCTV in New York on Friday, August 21st

Facet, Narrow Vision Endeavors, and Correspondent Productions Present TO USE A MOUNTAIN

Director, Cinematographer, Editor: Casey Carter
Producers: Colleen Cassingham, Jonna McKone
Executive Producers: Brett Story, Maida Lynn, Ryan Krivoshey
Co-Executive Producer: Heather A. Baldry
Animation & Design: Magdalena Orellana
Original Score: Kara-Lis Coverdale
Additional Music Sound: BorisBunnik (Severnaya )Mechanical
Editor: Blair McClendon
Additional Consulting Editor: Todd Chandler
Assistant Editor: Tiffany Jackson

View New Clip THIS ORDINARY THING on VOD and Nationwide in US and Canada June 12th

"The word “inspiring” does not cut it.” — The Forward

Nominated for the Cinema for Peace Dove for Documentary of the Year at the 2026 Cinema for Peace Awards in Berlin.

ALBERT M. TAPPER PRESENTS

Director and Writer: Nick Davis
Cast: (A-Z) F. Murray Abraham, Jeannie Berlin, Eric Bogosian, Ellen Burstyn, Bill Camp, Carrie Coon, Hope Davis, Stephen Fry, Joanna Gleason, Marcia Gay Harden, Mamie Gummer, Harry Hadden-Paton, Jeremy Irons, Bill Irwin, Louisa Jacobson, Kasia Koleczek, Anna Krippa, Stephen Lang, John Leguizamo, Donal Logue, Kelly Macdonald, Helen Mirren, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelli O’Hara, David Hyde Pierce, Martha Plimpton, Lily Rabe, Rufus Sewell, J. Smith-Cameron, David Strathairn, Lily Tomlin
Executive Producer: Albert M. Tapper
Composer: Adam Guettel,
Genre: Documentary
Run time: 1 hour 2 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

Director Nick Davis’ haunting and unforgettable, THIS ORDINARY THING tells the story of non-Jews who helped save Jewish people across Europe during The Holocaust. The film combines never-before-seen archival footage with the testimonies of over forty different people who, operating independently and at great risk to themselves and their families, saved thousands of Jewish strangers from almost certain death. THIS ORDINARY THING is a timely reminder of the pockets of goodness that can rise in a sea of evil: everyday people helping others who were "different" from them. The film employs some of the world’s greatest actors, performing excerpts translated from the original transcripts. The cast, including Helen Mirren, F. Murray Abraham, Carrie Coon, Jeremy Irons, Ellen Burstyn, and Stephen Fry, have amassed five Oscars (and over twenty nominations), over sixty Emmy nominations, and over twenty-five Tony nominations in their illustrious careers.

Featuring the voices of Bill Irwin, F. Murray Abraham, Joanna Gleason, Stephen Lang, Louisa Jacobson and Jeremy Irons.

2026 American Black Film Festival Announces Showcase Film Sections Lineup With Projects Featuring Jill Scott, Glynn Turman, and Renée Elise Goldsberry

THE 2026 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SHOWCASE FILM SECTIONS LINEUP INCLUDING VOICES OF CULTURE, AFRICAN STORIES, AND AI x XR STORYTELLING SHOWCASE

Voices Of Culture to Feature Projects Starring Jill Scott, Glynn Turman, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tabitha Brown, and Russell Hornsby

LOS ANGELES, CA (May 1, 2026) – The 2026 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced today the Non-Competitive Showcase Film Sections lineup including Voices Of Culture, African Stories, and AI x XR Storytelling Showcase. The 30th anniversary of ABFF will take place in Miami Beach May 27-31 under the theme “Homecoming.”

Voices Of Culture is a showcase of short films directed by persons of African descent. Curated by invitation only, this section highlights outstanding works that reflect the breadth of the global Black experience. The showcase features forty films from a variety of countries, including Rwanda, Belgium, Nevis, and Colombia, and features over fifteen World Premieres. Short films feature a variety of notable talent including Renée Elise Goldsberry, Tabitha Brown, Jabari Banks, and Russell Hornsby.

African Stories, a special non-competitive showcase spotlighting short films from Africa’s most dynamic emerging voices, celebrates the continent’s rich cultural perspectives and storytelling traditions, offering audiences a powerful window into the creativity shaping Africa’s diverse and rapidly evolving film communities. All five of the films included in the African Stories showcase are World or US premieres, with films represented across Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.

AI x XR Storytelling Showcase is a series of innovative works created through artificial intelligence and immersive technologies, curated in partnership with GRX Immersive Labs, which explore the future of storytelling by featuring bold new voices at the intersection of creativity and technology. The five films included in the AI x XR Storytelling Showcase are World or US Premieres and feature a variety of genres including Sci-Fi/Afrofuturism to Horror/Supernatural.

“As we celebrate 30 years of ABFF, this year’s showcase programming reflects both the breadth of storytelling today and where it’s headed,” said NICE CROWD President Nicole Friday. “African Stories introduces distinct voices from across the continent, all premiering their work on our stage, while the AI x XR Storytelling Showcase explores how emerging technologies are reshaping the creative process. Voices of Culture brings together a wide range of perspectives from around the world. Together, these sections underscore ABFF’s continued commitment to championing new voices, expanding access to global audiences, and serving as a platform for discovery and what’s next in storytelling.”

VOICES OF CULTURE

A non-competitive showcase of short films directed by persons of African descent. Curated by invitation only, this section highlights outstanding works that reflect the breadth of the global Black experience.

The Day You Find Your Name

At the height of the Black Panther movement, a pregnant Afeni Shakur must defend herself against 189 felony charges in a trial that threatens her freedom and her unborn child’s future.

USA | 15m
Director: Dominique R. Draper
Writer: Dominique R. Draper
Producers:
Cast: Journey Carter, Mitchell Edwards
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1165898884/6e9e4b5d89?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Penny in the Sky *World Premiere

When a man contemplating his life decides to put his fate into a coin toss, he's interrupted by the sudden appearance of a woman there to end her life as well.
USA | 20m
Director: Drew Allyn & Alexis Wilson
Writer: Drew Allyn
Producers: Cee Wright
Cast: Benjamin Earl Turner, Ryn Stafford

If only you knew *World Premiere

A woman confronting her father about his absence.
USA | 20m
Director: Safiyah Chiniere
Writer: Safiyah Chiniere
Producers: Safiyah Chiniere, Rox Campbell
Cast: Ashley Hernandez, Adrian Luke Sinclair, Steve Attie

Crossroads

A wrongfully fired financier and a guarded lawyer connect unexpectedly on a blind date, turning a night of bad news into something more.
USA | 19m
Director: Horane Henry
Writer: Shari Brown
Producers: Victorious De Costa, Rasheen "Raye" Donaldson
Cast: Okema T. Moore, Rory Clarke, Saint Thompson, Horace Henry, Donnadeen Rowe-Henry
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1104489333/98d2c2a220?fl=tl&fe=ec

Bid

During a Thanksgiving dinner an eager grad student attempted to reconnect with family through a game of Spades, the only obstacle is her mother.
USA | 10m
Director: Matthew Price
Writer: Matthew Price
Producers: Chelsea Stardust, Alex Coulter, Matthew Price
Cast: Phylicia Wissa, Nikko Austen Smith, Tim Russ, Teri Gamble, Sheroid Evans, Jeffrey Reddick
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1126095802?fl=ip&fe=ec

Fairytales *World Premiere

On their wedding day, a young bride’s monstrous powers are exposed during a violent police encounter, forcing her and her husband to flee through a city that now sees her as a threat— finding brief refuge at her loving father’s secluded home, until the outside world catches up and turns sanctuary into battleground.
USA | 12m
Director: Tiffani Holland
Writer: Tiffani Holland
Producers: Christopher Gleaton, Tiffani Holland
Cast: Paulina Singer, Brian Reese, Steven Strickland
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1183961483

Peace by Piece *World Premiere

When a so-called actor from the future travels back in time to study the ordinary man he will play in a movie, we all want to know... why him?
USA | 11m
Director: Jordan K. Paul
Writer: Jordan K. Paul
Producers: Bria O'Brien, Sam Van Dyke, and Jordan K. Paul
Cast: Jordan Paul, Dante Rossi
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/jordankpaul/pxptrailer?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Touching *World Premiere

A young girl must protect her baby sister when a sleepover with their cousin becomes a nightmare.
USA | 11m
Director: Lauryn Charliah Allums
Writer: Lauryn Charliah Allums
Producers: Jasmin Prophete, Jasiah Denise Washington, Aiyannah Tasker-Lewis
Cast: Rose De La Cruz, Alexandria Grice, Antoinette Allison, Nakia Borgella, David Perry

I Got My Brother

Two brothers reflect on their candid and often humorous memories of surviving the foster care system and prison, realizing along the way that their path to healing has always been each other.
USA | 17m
Director: Victor Gabriel
Producers: Rachel Earnest
Cast: Jarrett Harper, Baylon Harper

500 Seconds To Tell You

Before a catastrophe ends life on Earth, a young man struggles to put his feelings for his best friend into words.
USA | 11m
Director: Gerard Clarke
Writer: Gerard & Rashielle Clarke
Producers: Gerard Clarke, Rashielle Clarke, Saham Hosseini, Asha Alaji-Sharif
Cast: Jared Jackson, Asha Alaji-Sharif

Iku Aka (Knocking on the Door)

On the eve of her Iku Aka, Chinelo’s joyful Igbo marriage celebration is upended by a long-hidden family secret, forcing her to choose whether tradition will guide her or her jailer.
USA | 12m
Director: Tiffany Lotanna Onyejekwe
Writer: Tiffany Lotanna Onyejekwe
Executive Producers: Epiphany Ciers, Onyii Ogomaka, Tiffany Onyejekwe | Producer: Asari Aibangebee
Cast: Jessica Otse, Dorothy Chinenyenwa, Francis C. Edemobi, Prince Ezerumaka, Ella Nwokedi

Woman Land

Two young Somali sisters in Minneapolis have to balance rebellion with their reputations when their secret matchmaking business attracts a client a little too close to home.
USA | 10m
Director: Yasmin Yassin
Writer: Yasmin Yassin, M.A. Lepage
Producers: Yasmin Yassin, Filsan Said, Nolan Morice
Cast: Hodan Hassan, Nadira Hussein, Beera Luula, Abdurahman Muhumed

Buttercup Pudding Pie *World Premiere

Looky here: A daddy runs outta gas on the way to his baby girl’s birthday, then everything goes sideways.
USA | 15m
Director: Keith Powell
Writer: Keith Powell
Producers: Keith Powell, Venkatesh Potula
Cast: Burl Moseley, John Earl Jelks, Milton TJ Taylor, Talya Klein
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1114719451?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Please Return Your Cart *World Premiere

A former soldier turned shopping cart attendant, resigned to a life on the sidelines, is challenged by a vibrant consultant to embrace his greatest fear - a second chance at love.
USA | 14m
Director: Kendra Jo
Writer: Kendra Jo
Producers: Andrew St Juste, Color Creative
Cast: Russell Hornsby, Kimrie Lewis, Jabari Banks, Ratoya Banks, Tabitha Brown
Trailer: https://youtu.be/uJ1NEAvBKn8

Mini Me *World Premiere

In the pursuit of an open cast call at the height of hurricane season, a Jamaican-American family learns to voice their pent-up grief.
USA | 18m
Director: a. b. oddman
Writer: a. b. oddman
Producers: Redd Coltrane, Kaylee Hayes, Thyais Walsh
Cast: Symone Holmes, Kyrie McAlpin, Thyais Walsh, Taylor Crawford
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1179777669?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Cutoff

Chester connects with his nephew Quincy on the day of his baptism. Their relationship ruffles feathers, and Chester reconsiders his next steps in the boy’s life.
USA | 9m
Director: Jalen Rayno
Writer: Jalen Rayno
Producers: Ethan Elkins
Cast: C.P Walker, Eli Romelus, Kamajhia Williams

Keep My Brother

"Keep My Brother" tells the poignant story of Ava, who struggles to balance her family, career, and health while caring for her younger brother, Darryl, during his severe manic episode.
USA | 11m
Director: Sharona D'Ornellas
Writer: Sharona D'Ornellas
Producers: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Sharona D'Ornellas, Cat Del Re, Jessy Greer
Cast: Renée Elise Goldsberry, Darryl Dunning II, Daniel J Watts
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1107191130?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Age Of Quorum

A young man's New Year's Eve takes a dramatic turn as the night transforms into an adversary he must conquer to survive.
UK | 14m
Director: Yomi Ayeni
Writer: Yomi Ayeni
Producers: Laurelle Jones
Cast: Ade Femzo, Rhys Quilley, Justice Ezi, Mack Muggleton
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1120647727?fl=pl&fe=sh

Vengeance Is All I Have *World Premiere

An enraged young man infiltrates a picturesque suburban home with revenge on his mind, but his determination begins to falter when he discovers a connection with his younger half-brother.
USA | 17m
Director: Christian Osagiede
Writer: Christian Osagiede
Producers: Kaylin Stanford
Cast: Patrick Walker, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Trent Allen Davis, Elizabeth Dantus

Echoes Beneath The Hill

On the verge of the genocide against the minority Tutsi. Jeanne, 10, a daredevil girl, is searching for her pet goat.

Rwanda;Belgium | 17m
Director: Aime Octave
Writer: Aime Octave & Manon Poelman
Producers: Nora Essalama, Lead Producer | Aime Octave Ishimwe, Ass. Producer
Cast: Uwihirwe Francine, Cyiza Bolce, Gakwaya Celestin, Uwimana Clementine

Oh Happy Day!

Over the course of Easter week, a young boy struggles to impress his crush.
USA | 12m
Director: Ivan Rome
Writer: Ivan Rome
Producers: Leah Simone Scott, Brianna Jones Appiah
Cast: Kaden Taylor, Blossom Cole, Chantal Maurice, Ann Nesby, Alfred Lamar, Syer Blu Wilson
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1179935848?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Ella

Ella sings her love songs--scatting through her darkest notes.
USA | 18m
Director: Nikki Taylor-Roberts
Writer: Nikki Taylor-Roberts, Anthea Piscarik
Producers: Meleisha J. Edwards, JT Thames, Sophia Watson
Cast: Jill Scott, Destinee Rae

The Checklist *World Premiere

When a mother rediscovers a forgotten checklist from her past, she’s inspired to reclaim her adventurous spirit—pulling her skeptical daughter into a journey of self-discovery, nostalgia, and unexpected reconnection.
USA | 13m
Director: Jasmine T.Q. McLaurin
Writer: Kay Rich
Producers: Emma Jackson, Kay Rich, Tarra Denise Jackson, Linda Richardson-Gardner, Angie Blackwell
Cast: Karole Foreman, Tarra Denise Jackson, Shaun Bedgood, Emma J
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1116492717?fl=pl&fe=sh

Couples Skate *World Premiere

A night at the roller rink reveals the cracks in a relationship.
USA | 11m
Director: Kaliya Warren
Writer: Kaliya Warren
Producers: Magen Ashley Young, Roan Bibby, Hughes William Thompson, Kaliya Warren
Cast: Jordan Coleman, Myko Olivier
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1032497650/1e8961e0cb

AFUFU

When a live-in housekeeper accidentally breaks a valuable item, her decision to hide her transgression from her employers has devastating consequences.
USA | 18m
Director: Ellie Foumbi
Writer: Ellie Foumbi
Producers: Leo Blumberg-Woll; Jesy Odio
Cast: Babetida Sadjo; Saffron Burrows; Tate Donovan; Vivian Olyphant

This Is Private

A stripper cunningly decides to use her private dances as therapy sessions in order to prevail in her collegiate psychology class.
USA | 14m
Director: LeAndre Thomas
Writer: LeAndre Thomas
Producers: Caitlyn Durkin
Cast: Birgundi Baker, Joseph Rye, Wendy Feign, Matthew Baetz, Skip Howland, S.B. Grey, William Romano-Pugh

JOHN *World Premiere

Facing discrimination, a black female lawyer disguises herself as a white man to navigate with more privilege.
USA | 17m
Director: Amirah Adem
Writer: Amirah Adem
Producers: Yennefer Fang, Nellie Luna, Tosin Omolola
Cast: Samantha Marie Ware, David Shatraw, Spencer Neville, Lisagaye Tomlinson
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1101400085/83946ba905?fl=pl&fe=vl

Intergalactic Ingenue

On the night he’s supposed to integrate with his Hive-mind alien girlfriend, James, a man with deep commitment issues, discovers his ex is also dating the same Hivemind.
USA | 20m
Director: Nathan Deshawn Bouie
Writer: Nathan Deshawn Bouie
Producers: Ami Coulibaly, Quinn Murphy, Jayla Hodge
Cast: Jai’Reeh Demond, Akira Jackson, Mckayla Fontanez

Trailer: https://youtu.be/aedq36s0IlY

The Last Wish

When an unsettling visitor disrupts her fragile new life, a 70-year-old widow is compelled to face her greatest fear, water, forcing her into a battle with both her past and her own mortality.
Canada | 15m
Director: Kimberley Ann Surin
Writer: Kimberley Ann Surin
Producers: Kimberley Ann Surin, Véronique Charbonneau
Cast: Marie-Aimée Cadet, Naïla Louidort, Nayla Mongeon-Levesque
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1110767661

HOMEbirth *World Premiere

As her due date nears, a first-time mother meticulously plans the perfect home birth, only to confront a haunting truth many Black women know too well- that doing everything right still may not be enough to survive.
USA | 17m
Directors: Carra Patterson, Korey Jackson
Writer: Carra Patterson
Producers: Carra Patterson, Korey Jackson
Cast: Carra Patterson, Ruffin Prentiss III, Ngozi Anyanwu

TIGUERONAS

After ending an abusive relationship with her narcissistic boyfriend, Aaliyah and her friends hatch a bold plan for revenge on a girls’ night out, igniting a journey of self-empowerment and sisterhood.
USA | 14m
Director: Imani Celeste
Writer: Imani Celeste
Producers: Imani Celeste, Flor de Oro Tejada
Cast: Daniella Denisse Macre Rodríguez, Imani Brammer, Mariyea, Victoria Lino, Malik Tyree Sneed

EL TIGUERE

In the Bronx, an Afro-Dominican father nurtures an underground mobile food garden while searches for a way to rebuild his relationship with his estranged son.
USA | 20m
Director: Andrew J. Rodriguez
Writer: Andrew J. Rodriguez
Producers: Yuki Maekawa-Ledbetter
Cast: Elvis Nolasco as Joaquin & Ansi Rodrigues as Junior
Trailer: youtube.com/watch?v=hWQ4ZEYIBuI&pp=ygUSZWwgdGlndWVyZSB0cmFpbGVy0gcJCdMKAYcqIYzv

Killer Of Men *World Premiere

Set in the antebellum American South, an enslaved prize fighter faces a choice between life and freedom after attending the burial of the man he was forced to kill.
USA | 13m
Director: Jordan Betine
Writer: Jordan Betine; Kiera Bratton-Lewis
Producers: Jordan Betine; Ruoxiao Li
Cast: Erik Orjiako, Sandra McDaniels
Trailer: https://youtu.be/v5iWPSAVtjA

P. V. *World Premiere

Plagued by the physical and emotional tolls of endometriosis and HPV, Kaleigh’s relentless quest for empathy drives her to desperate measures.
USA | 17m
Director: Kiah Clingman
Writer: Kiah Clingman, CJ Sykes
Producers: Kiah Clingman, Alex Woodruff, Abijeet Achar, Pink Maxwell, Breanna O'Conner, Sue-Ellen Chitunya, Taylor Polidore Williams, Marcella Arthur, Rennard West, CJ Sykes, Annie Jacob, Amer-Marie Woods
Cast: Taylor Polidore Williams, Vince Swann, Stephen Ruffin, Allen Burns, Jessica Fontaine

Beach Day

In a world where one woman’s death means the end of everything, a man sets out on a surreal journey to ask her permission to die before she does.
USA | 11m
Director: Brandon XIV
Writer: Brandon XIV
Producers: Brandon XIV, Shane Snow, Sylvia Brindis, Jess Black
Cast: Richard David, Aja Monet, Sekou Andrews, and LaChanze
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1118985169

Pan Gyul

On the island of Nevis, a determined young girl challenges tradition and her mother’s opposition to learn the steel pan, hoping to connect with her celebrated musician father and claim her own voice.
Nevis, West Indies | 15m
Director: Juliette Jeffers
Writer: Juliette Jeffers
Producers: Juliette Jeffers, Damaris DiVito, Dawn Bridgewater, Carole Copeland and Thomas Austin Sinclair Bridgewater
Cast: Juliette Jeffers, Winston Crooke and Hadassah Daniels
Trailer: https://youtu.be/HQLVSiOFwiY?si=MJmRLhr0OSnoy_KI

Yellow Pages *World Premiere

When a little girl, dreaming of becoming a comedian, begins using the Yellow Pages to test out her jokes, she unknowingly brightens the life of someone who needs it most.
USA | 15m
Director: Simone Thomas-Rowe
Writer: Simone Thomas-Rowe
Producers: Devin Saddler, Simone Thomas-Rowe, Elodie Ghonda
Cast: Cadence Reese, Damien Leake, Danielle Banks, Mingjie Zhai, Sandra Walters

BERTHA *World Premiere

A woman must be more stubborn than a goat to find her freedom.
Colombia | 13m
Director: Laura Asprilla Carrillo
Writer: Laura Asprilla Carrillo
Producers: Laura Asprilla Carrillo
Cast: Barbara Perea
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1151390510

When They’re Gone *World Premiere

After an abrupt encounter at a graveyard, two elderly men form an unexpected bond over the grief and love of their late wives.
USA | 14m
Directors: Ragan Henderson, Lauryn Darden
Writer: Lauryn Darden
Producers: Gabriyèl Barlatier, Elizabeth Kurtz; Executive Producers: Glynn Turman, Marni Rosenzweig, Brian Kurtz, Janice Barlatier-Tawfiq, Leon Henderson Jr., Ana Verde, Taylor Wildenhaus, Brenda Robinson, Jenifer Westphal, Loy A. Webb, and Delta Dirt Distillery
Cast: Glynn Turman, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs
Trailer: https://youtu.be/lBRea1iWmjU

Fragments of Joy *World Premiere

Taking his Alzheimer addled mother on a weekend jaunt to NYC in hopes of jogging her memory, an alcoholic son has to walk a fine line between frustration and responsibility.
USA | 15m
Director: Andre Royo
Writer: Andre Royo
Producers: Darren Dean, Ante Novakovic, Sabine Ocaña, Isabella Cooper
Cast: Andre Royo, Maria Broom

AFRICAN STORIES

A non-competitive showcase of short films from Africa’s most dynamic new voices. Curated to highlight the continent’s rich cultural perspectives and storytelling traditions, the program offers a unique window into the creativity driving Africa’s diverse and growing film communities.

ROGERS *US Premiere

From the tale of "Old Roger is dead and gone to his grave" stems a young family who goes to spend a holiday weekend with relatives, and ignorantly awakens an unforgiven but insidious entity that rains terror, bringing their bloodline to the brink of hell.
Nigeria | 19m
Director: Daniel Ehimen
Writer: Daniel Ehimen & Aaliyah Salia
Producers: Daniel Ehimen, Oladayo Oladejo, Omoyeni Sholabomi Disu
Cast: Yusrah Ayinde, Joseph Imoikor, Demi Banwo, Princess Obuseh, Ayo Binta Mogaji, Kunle Coker, Francis Oyinlola Bakare
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1102923797

Bam Bam *US Premiere

When a gifted but withdrawn teenager falls for a classmate, his AI best friend pushes him toward love, forcing him to confront the self-doubt that has shaped his life.
Nigeria | 17m
Director: Tolulope Itegboje
Writer: Tolulope Itegboje
Producers: Oge Obasi, Tolulope Itegboje
Cast: Kelechi Udegbe, Ambrose Nwoga
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1113905841?fl=ip&fe=ec

The Break-In *World Premiere

A routine break-in spirals when tensions inside a crew of small-time thieves force one member to question the future he's been chasing.
South Africa | 14m
Director: Sizwe Kubeka
Writer: Sizwe Kubeka
Producers: Masibulele Mtonjeni
Cast: Malusi Ngxubungela, Patrick Sithole, Akhile Mjanyelwa

Our Brother *US Premiere

A grieving family faces loss and imminent departures while tensions rise as the matriarch cares for her eldest autistic son. The intricate threads binding them are tested.
Kenya | 15m
Director: Shandra Apondi
Writer: Shandra Apondi, Kofi Ntiforo, Norris Kabembe
Producers: Celine Onditi, Shandra Apondi
Cast: Beatrice Kamuyu, Brian Furaha, Ivy Collette Nafula, Agwingi Adingo
Trailer: https://youtu.be/sYJuUOTvNnA?si=xNL0HbNP1n-xMWb5

Amon *World Premiere

As a boy responds to letters for his illiterate grandmother, he is confronted with one of news of her failing health -- he must make the decision to disclose the truth or keep the letter's contents to himself.
United States | 6m
Director: Chloé-Eloïse Mallet
Writer: Chloé-Eloïse Mallet
Producers: Jiayang Liu, Chloé-Eloïse Mallet
Cast: Lamine Goita, Maimounay Lemailloux

AI x XR STORYTELLING SHOWCASE

A non-competitive showcase of innovative works created through artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. Curated in partnership with GRX Immersive Labs, the program explores the future of storytelling by featuring bold new voices at the intersection of creativity and technology.

The Haunting of RiverFalls *World Premiere

When a matriarch witch of a powerful Black lineage teaches her daughter to cross into the spirit world, a forbidden ritual goes wrong—and a demonic entity follows the girl back, threatening to destroy their bloodline forever.
United States | 7m
Director: Aaron Avont Johnson
Writer: Aaron Avont Johnson
Producers: Aaron Johnson, Takela Johnson, Dasha Johnson
Cast: Aaron Johnson

FAME FARM *World Premiere

The future ain’t what it used to be.
United States | 9m
Director: Whoingodsname
Writer: Whoingodsname
Producers: Kharmony Fortune
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1103270500

Cowbone *World Premiere

When a Jamaican excavator operator is left in the Jamaican jungle alone, he knocks down the wrong tree and discovers that some roots are better left buried.
United States | 2m
Director: Alexander Newman Hall
Writer: Alexander Newman Hall
Producers: Alexander Newman Hall

The B Side: The Future is Past *US Premiere

When visitors from the sky descend on a terror-haunted Jim Crow community, one young Black girl understands what the adults cannot - salvation has arrived, and it chose her.
United States | 6m
Director: Kimberly Offord
Writer: Kimberly Offord
Producers: Kimberly Offord
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/1184935594/4b8154999e?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Eat The Rich *World Premiere

After the middle class is quietly “optimized” out of existence, a starving Dracula pivots to a new menu—wealthy professionals who are about to learn that money doesn’t buy immunity, just a later appointment.
United States | 6m
Director: Tiffani Lee Joseph
Writer: Tiffani Lee Joseph
Producers: Tiffani Lee Joseph
Trailer: https://youtu.be/IPq4BjCxNRU?si=_pYRuGr_heb8Mt2t

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 (Official), CBS, with the support of the Miami Beach Visitor And Convention Authority, Hartbeat, AARP, L'Oréal Groupe, STARZ, ESPN (Supporting), Motion Picture Association, Uber (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.

To receive ABFF notifications by email, sign up HERE!

About the American Black Film Festival (ABFF)

Founded in 1997 by Jeff Friday, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is a premier destination for film and television storytelling. Widely regarded as a key pipeline for emerging talent, ABFF has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of many of today’s most acclaimed filmmakers, actors, and creative voices. Each year, the festival brings together artists, industry leaders, and audiences from around the world for a five-day program of screenings, panels, masterclasses, and networking opportunities. The festival’s 30th anniversary edition will take place May 27–31, 2026, in Miami Beach.

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 its philosophy, 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 harnesses that energy to deliver culturally relevant experiences while generating measurable economic impact for its partners. Through expertise in event production, audience engagement, and strategic partnerships, NICE CROWD creates platforms that celebrate groundbreaking artists and innovators while connecting brands, media, and audiences in meaningful ways. www.nicecrowd.com

More information about the American Black Film Festival (ABFF): https://www.abff.com/miami/

Netflix ‘aka CHARLIE SHEEN’

On Wednesday, April 22, Netflix hosted an exclusive FYSEE event with Charlie Sheen and director Andrew Renzi to discuss their docu-series aka Charlie Sheen. The event took place at The London in Los Angeles, CA.

Charlie Sheen / Film Participant
Andrew Renzi / Director
Scott Mantz / Moderator, KTLA News

Please see below for photos from the event!

Netflix’s SKYSCRAPER LIVE

On Sunday, April 19, Netflix hosted an exclusive event with free solo climber Alex Honnold to discuss his live-streamed ascent of one of the world's tallest skyscrapers in Taipei, Taiwan on SKYSCRAPER LIVE. The event, which included a climbing demo by Honnold, took place at Sender One climbing gym in Los Angeles, CA.

ABOUT SKYSCRAPER LIVE

No ropes. No fear. Free solo legend Alex Honnold risks it all in a high-stakes, live ascent of one of the world's tallest skyscrapers in Taipei, Taiwan.