Today, ABFF Ventures announced that actor and comedian Mike Epps will host the 2016 ABFF Honors on February 21 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. This is the first year for the annual gala, which is a celebration of black culture; recognizing individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment, and those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.
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Held one week before the Academy Awards, the guest list for the invitation-only awards dinner includes influential artists, executives, and stakeholders in the Hollywood community.
“I am encouraged that a handful of black artists are now being acknowledged at high-profile mainstream award ceremonies, but the work of the majority of our artists continues to be unheralded. ABFF Honors will change this and there’s no better person to host our first show than Mike Epps. He is an inspiration to many stand-up comics and living proof that talent combined with focus and perseverance will eventually bring success. I plan to be laughing all night,” says Jeff Friday, executive producer and president of ABFF Ventures.
Mike Epps’ career has evolved over the years and his work in both film and television continues to garner praise and admiration from peers and critics alike. Among his notable achievements, are the Starz’ hit series Survivor’s Remorse, the upcoming ABC series Uncle Buck, HBO’s Emmy-winning biopic Bessie, and the much-anticipated Lee Daniels’ film Pryor, featuring Oprah Winfrey, Eddie Murphy, and Kate Hudson, where he will play the title role of comedy icon, Richard Pryor.
“I am very proud to be
hosting this year’s ABFF Honors celebrating the best in film and television. To be in a room with such amazing talent and creativity will make for an exciting night, and you know I’ll be ready to hit the stage and entertain,†says Epps.The inaugural ceremony is a hybrid of the Kennedy Center Honors and the Golden Globes Awards, featuring both Competitive Awards and Special Tributes that are determined by the 2016 Awards Committee, comprised of artists, journalists, and industry influencers. As one of the most eminent events of the Hollywood Awards season and Black History Month, the event; produced by ABFF Ventures (a partnership between Film Life and Black Enterprise) in association with de Passe Jones Entertainment, will begin with Red Carpet Arrivals at 5:00 p.m., followed by a spirited Awards Dinner and Post-Awards Honoree Party.
The ABFF Honors Award Categories include:
COMPETITIVE AWARDS
FILM OF THE YEAR — Presented to the most outstanding theatrically distributed motion picture released in 2015.
TELEVISION SHOW OF THE YEAR — Presented to the most outstanding original scripted television series distributed by a network or Internet-based platform in 2015.
SPECIAL HONORS
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HOLLYWOOD LEGACY AWARD — Honoring a highly acclaimed artist whose trailblazing work and groundbreaking achievements, over at least four decades, have inspired generations and made an enduring contribution to film and television.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD (female) — Honoring an actress in recognition of her distinguished career achievement who has earned critical acclaim.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD (male) — Honoring an actor in recognition of his distinguished career achievement who has earned critical acclaim.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS AWARD (content creator) — Honoring an individual in recognition of commercial success and/or critically-acclaimed work as a writer, producer and/or director.
HOT IN HOLLYWOOD — Celebrating a contemporary artist in acknowledgment of recent success and future promise.
ENTERTAINMENT ICON AWARD — Presented to a multi-talented artist in recognition of groundbreaking commercial success across multiple entertainment disciplines, including television, film, and live performance.
DISTINGUISHED ABFF ALUMNI AWARD — Presented to an American Black Film Festival (ABFF) alumnus in recognition of career achievement, post-festival.
For more information about the 2016 ABFF Honors, log on to www.abffhonors.com. “ABFF Awards: A Celebration of Hollywood,†airs on BET and Centric Tuesday, February 23rd at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Also, follow us on our social media platforms:
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