Whether you’re aspiring to be on camera or behind the scenes, American Black Film Festival is a must-attend event. There are countless success stories of actors, directors and producers who’ve all premiered their artistic wonders at ABFF. Check out five American Black Film Festival all-stars, and get your tickets to the three-day gathering in New York City, June 11-14.
[Related: ABFF Hosts Empire Season Finale Watch Event]
Will Packer
Will Packer is an ABFF alumni who has produced box office winners like Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man; Think Like a Man Too; and Ride Along. Packer’s film Ride Along, starring funny guy Kevin Hart and west coast rapper Ice Cube, earned over $48 million over the MLK holiday last year. The movie made history as the biggest January opening box office ever.
Roger Bobb
Why Did I Get Married?, For Colored Girls and Madea’s Big Happy Family were all produced by Roger Bobb. Bobb, who is the President and CEO of Bobbcat Films, won the GMC Award at the American Black Film Festival for directing and producing In the Meantime. The big time movie maker also executive produces and directs TVOne’s The Rickey Smiley Show, which premiered as the highest rated show in the network’s history. Roger Bobb will return to ABFF this year and teach Master Class: Fundamentals of Independent Film Production.
Rob Hardy
Rob Hardy participated in the American Black Film Festival with his former partner Will Packer. Together they founded Rainforest Films and directed and produced Trois
, which premiered at ABFF in 1999. The film grossed $1.2 and ranked as the fastest million-dollar grossing film distributed by African Americans. Since then, Hardy has directed for America’s hit shows, including Grey’s Anatomy and Criminal Minds.Ryan Coogler
ABFF 2011 HBO Short Film Competition winner Ryan Coogler is a writer and director, and the talent behind Fruitvale Station. Coogler debuted the film at American Black Film Festival in 2013, and has since won awards at Sundance and Cannes. He is also director and co-writer of Creed, the Rocky spinoff slated to hit theaters this November.
Stephen Hill
Stephen Hill is an actor and American Black Film Festival Star Project winner. You’ve probably seen Hill on Law & Order SVU, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Louie, Political Animals and Do No Harm. He also scored the lead role in Jackie Robinson: My Story.