* New York City, New York- The 19th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) concluded Sunday evening (06-14-15) at the Hilton New York Midtown ballroom with ‘The Best of ABFF Awards Ceremony.’
With a red carpet filled with a bevy entertainers, actors, and filmmakers, the evening fete was nothing short of a Hollywood-style bash.
From day one to day four, celebrity sightings attending the festival included Tracee Ellis Ross, David Banner, Gayle King, Taraji P. Henson, Chanel Iman, Bevy Smith, Tasha Smith, V. Bozeman, Jasmine Burke, Lisa Arrindell Anderson, Naturi Naughton, Taimak, and many others.
The four day festival (June 11-14) – which included seminars, master classes, film screenings and workshops – was created by Jeff Friday in 1997 as a vector to acknowledge the creativity and filmmaking skills, talents, and abilities of African Americans which may have otherwise been overlooked by the mainstream film industry. The awards ceremony which is held annually on the last night of the ABFF honors those individuals who have submitted their works into the various competitions such as best documentary, best web original, best short film, etc.
This year’s Career Achievement Award went to none other than actress extraordinaire, Jenifer Lewis who received a standing ovation after delivering a rousing ‘thank you’ speech reflecting upon her long career, her tenaciousness as an actress, and her dealing with the diagnoses of bipolar disorder. The awards ceremony host for the evening was funnyman Chris Spencer, while V. Bozeman impressed the audience with her strong vocals in songs interspersed throughout the ceremony.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT: Jenifer Lewis 
2015 AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS LIST:
“BEST OF THE ABFF” AUDIENCE AWARD (TIE) (Presented by VH1): KNUCKLEHEAD Directed by: Ben Bowman Written by: Bryan Abrams, Ben Bowman Produced by: Gbenga Akinnagbe, Ben Bowman Executive Producers: Jonathan Gray, Debra Azemar Cast: Gbenga Akinnagbe, Alfre Woodard, Amari Cheatom, Justin Myrick, Nikiya Mathis, Carla Duren
AND
LAST NIGHT Directed by: Harold Jackson III Written by: Harold Jackson III Produced by: Harold Jackson III, Hope Taylor, Prince Levy Jr., Latecia Durham Cast: Judi Blair, Danny Gavigan, Benton Greene, Nedra McClyde, Nikkole Salter
GRAND JURY PRIZE FOR BEST SCREENPLAY (Presented by Time Warner Foundation):
LAST NIGHT Directed by: Harold Jackson III Written by Harold Jackson III Produced by: Harold Jackson III, Hope Taylor, Prince Levy Jr., Latecia Durham Cast: Judi Blair, Danny Gavigan, Benton Greene, Nedra McClyde, Nikkole Salter
GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR (Presented by Cadillac):
THE NIGHT BEFORE Directed by: Kenny Young Written by: Kenny Young Produced by: Phil James, Lisa D. Washington, Kim Hardin Executive Producers: Angela White, Felicia James Cast: Colin Egglesfield, David Faustino, Fred Willard, Anna Hutchinson, Brian White, Gary Owen
GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST NARRATIVE (Presented by Prudential):
THE NIGHT BEFORE Directed by: Kenny Young Written by: Kenny Young Produced by: Phil James, Lisa D. Washington, Kim Hardin Executive Producers: Angela White, Felicia James Cast: Colin Egglesfield, David Faustino, Fred Willard, Anna Hutchinson, Brian White, Gary Owen
GRAND JURY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR (Presented by ASPiRE) LISA ARRINDELL ANDERSON IN THE SIN SEER Directed by: PaulD.Hannah Written by: Paul D. Hannah Produced by: Paul D. Hannah, Angela White, Isaiah Washington
HBO® SHORT FILM COMPETITION: STANHOPE Directed, written, and produced by: Solvan Naim, Co-produced by Akshay Bhansali Cast: Malik Lockett, Johnnie Mae, Rob Morgan, Nedra McClyde, Simeon Buresch
BEST WEB ORIGINAL (Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal): AMERICAN KOKO Directed by: Diarra Kilpatrick & Miles Orion Feld Written by: Diarra Kilpatrick Produced by: Anna Micayla Feld Cast: Diarra Kilpatrick, Terrence Colby Clemons, Miles Orion Feld, Elaine Kao, Cedric Sanders
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Presented by BET Networks): ALTHEA Directed by: Rex Miller Produced by: Nancy Buirski, Elisabeth Haviland James, Rex Miller Executive Producers: John Amos, Billie Jean King, William Ackman Principal Subject(s): Billie Jean King, Nick Bollettieri, David Dinkins, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe
ABFF TALENT COMPETITIONS COMEDY WINGS COMPETITION WINNER (Presented by HBO) : Chastity Washington MCDONALD’S LOVIN’ VIDEO COMPETITION WINNER: “PUPPY LOVE” Written and Directed by Richard T. Fields STAR PROJECT (Presented by NBCUniversal) Female – Asha Kamali Male – Rahmell Peebles TV ONE SCREENPLAY COMPETITION DEADBEAT DAD REHAB Written by Keronoda “Kiki” McKnight
Congratulations to all the 2015 ABFF competition winners!!
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