After the 5 Male All-Stars from American Black Film Festival edition, it’s only right that Black Enterprise spotlights a few amazing women who too have graced the ABFF halls. These talented starlets went on to do big things after showing off their skills to fellow film enthusiasts. See what they’ve been up to, and rub elbows with Hollywood’s finest at the American Black Film Festival in New York City June 11-14.
[Related: Hot Film Festivals Around the World]
Emayatzy Corinealdi
Emayatzy Corinealdi is ABFF’s 2011 Star Project winner. She has since appeared in three featured films, including Addicted and the Ava DuVernay-directed Middle of Nowhere, for which she won a Gotham award. She was also a featured actor in Abercrombie & Fitch’s “Stars on the Rise†advertising campaign.
Sherial McKinney
Sherial McKinney took home the crown with fellow winner Robert Hunter at the 2012 American Black Film Festival Star Project. McKinney stars in a popular web series Almost 30, directed by former NFL wide receiver Matthew Cherry, about the fear of being nearly 30 and not being quite where you hoped to be by the “adult” age. The ABFF all-star is also known for her roles in He’s On My Mind
, Crazy Love and Acquired.Aunjanue Ellis
Actress and producer Aunjanue Ellis won the 2014 Grand Jury Prize for Best Actress for her performance in Una Vida. Film lovers have seen Ellis in the likes of Ray, The Taking of Pelham and The Help. She also landed recurring roles in The Practice
, True Blood and The Mentalist.Brandi Ford and Rachel Goldberg
This duo won the HBO Short Film competition in 2014 for Muted. Brandi Ford wrote the script while Rachel Goldberg directed the short about a mother whose teenage daughter suddenly disappears. Muted starred big talents Chandra Wilson, Daniele Watts, Tara Tomicevic, Ross McCall, Jorge-Luis Pallo and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Keronda “Kiki” McKnight
Keronda McKnight won the UP Faith and Family Screenplay Competition in 2013 for her feature film entitled, Mary Jo’s Candy, which included a $5000 grand prize. Her skills were so good that she even peaked the interest of a certain UP power player. “We were so impressed by both the winning script Mary Jo’s Candy by Keronda ‘KiKi’ McKnight and this honorable mention script by Kimberly Walker in last year’s UP Faith and Family Screenplay Competition that we decided to produce both films this year,” said Brad Siegel, Former Vice Chariman, UP.