In Conversation: A Black Film Renaissance

This program celebrates the nearly 30-year partnership between the American Black Film Festival and HBOs Short Film Competition, one of the most influential platforms for the discovery and advancement of Black filmmakers, and a rare example of a sustained collaboration between a major media corporation and a Black-owned cultural institution. Featuring ABFF Founder Jeff Friday, HBO/Warner Bros. Discoverys Dennis Williams, and distinguished alumni of the competition, Steven Caple, Jr. (Creed II and Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) and Christine Swanson (The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel and All American: Homecoming), the conversation reflects on how long-term access, creative risk-taking, and shared commitment helped spark a modern renaissance in Black storytelling across film and television. Both a tribute to legacy and a look forward, this program honors the enduring power of opportunity, partnership, and belief in shaping careers and expanding cultural impact.