In a major expansion for Black cinema, the American Black Film Festival is partnering with AMC Theatres to create new opportunities for independent filmmakers to reach audiences beyond the festival circuit. Los Angeles will be among the first markets targeted.
LOS ANGELES — October 2026
For nearly three decades, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has been a platform for discovering, celebrating, and elevating Black filmmakers. Now, the organization is taking a significant step toward getting more independent films onto the big screen.
On October 14, the festival announced ABFF97, a new theatrical distribution initiative designed to bring select independent films to movie theaters across the United States.
The initiative represents a major expansion of ABFF’s mission, moving beyond its annual festival to help filmmakers secure theatrical releases and connect with audiences year-round.
And for Los Angeles moviegoers and filmmakers, the announcement is particularly significant: Los Angeles is among the markets identified for the program’s theatrical releases.
From Film Festivals to Movie Theaters
For independent filmmakers, getting a movie screened at a festival is an important accomplishment. But securing theatrical distribution can be an entirely different challenge.
Even critically acclaimed independent films can struggle to reach audiences outside film festivals, particularly when competing against major studio productions.
ABFF97 aims to help address that challenge.
The initiative will curate independent films and develop theatrical release strategies that include marketing, publicity, and audience engagement.
Rather than simply screening films at festivals, ABFF97 intends to create opportunities for selected projects to reach paying audiences in commercial movie theaters.
The program will also seek to build visibility and demonstrate audience demand, potentially strengthening filmmakers’ opportunities for future licensing and distribution across additional platforms.
AMC Theatres Joins as Inaugural Theatrical Partner
A central component of the initiative is a new partnership with AMC Theatres, which will serve as ABFF97’s inaugural theatrical provider.
The collaboration will support curated theatrical releases in major U.S. markets.
The initial markets identified include Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, and Philadelphia.
The partnership creates an opportunity for independent films to reach audiences in cities with established moviegoing communities and significant interest in Black storytelling.
However, specific films, participating theater locations, and screening dates have not yet been announced.
Why the Initiative Is Called ABFF97
The name ABFF97 pays tribute to 1997, the year the American Black Film Festival was founded.
Over the past 30 years, ABFF has built a reputation for championing emerging filmmakers, providing industry exposure, and connecting creative talent with entertainment executives and audiences.
The festival was founded by Jeff Friday, who is also co-founder and CEO of Nice Crowd, the company behind ABFF.
In announcing the initiative, Friday emphasized the opportunity to extend the festival’s role beyond discovering filmmakers.
The new program builds on ABFF’s established audience relationships and cultural reach, creating a more direct connection between independent film discovery and theatrical distribution.
For filmmakers, that distinction matters.
A successful festival screening can generate industry attention, but theatrical distribution creates another opportunity to establish an audience, build recognition, and potentially open doors to future projects.
More Opportunities for Independent Black Filmmakers
ABFF97 will initially prioritize films that have screened at the American Black Film Festival.
However, the initiative also plans to consider independent films from outside the festival as the platform develops.
That approach could eventually expand opportunities for filmmakers who have not previously participated in ABFF.
The organization will oversee several important aspects of the theatrical release process, including film selection, distribution strategies, marketing, publicity, and audience development.
The goal is not simply to get films into theaters, but to help create a stronger foundation for their long-term commercial potential.
The initiative also builds on ABFF’s 2026 Pop-Up Tour, which has brought independent films to audiences in multiple cities.
According to the organization’s announcement, audience interest generated by those screenings helped inform its decision to expand into theatrical distribution.
What This Means for Los Angeles
As the center of the American entertainment industry, Los Angeles is home to an enormous community of independent filmmakers, actors, writers, producers, and other creative professionals.
Yet access to traditional theatrical distribution remains a significant challenge for filmmakers working outside major studio systems.
ABFF97 could provide another pathway for independent projects to gain visibility in a competitive marketplace.
For Black filmmakers in Los Angeles, the initiative is particularly relevant because it focuses on the types of independent stories and emerging talent that ABFF has historically supported.
For audiences, the potential benefit is equally important.
The initiative could make it easier to experience independent Black cinema in a traditional movie theater setting, rather than relying exclusively on film festivals or streaming platforms.
The first ABFF97 film selections and theatrical release schedule have not yet been announced.
American Black Film Festival Returns to Los Angeles in 2027
The distribution announcement comes as ABFF prepares for another major milestone.
The 2027 American Black Film Festival is scheduled for May 20–23 in Los Angeles, bringing its annual celebration of Black film and television to the city.
The festival provides a platform for filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences to discover new projects, participate in conversations about the entertainment industry, and celebrate Black storytelling.
The addition of ABFF97 creates another dimension to the organization’s work, extending its reach beyond the annual festival.
Film Submissions Open October 20
For filmmakers interested in participating in the American Black Film Festival, the organization has announced that film submissions for the 2027 festival open October 20, 2026.
Filmmakers should review the festival’s official submission guidelines, eligibility requirements, and deadlines before applying.
Festival submission and acceptance should not be interpreted as a guarantee of theatrical distribution through ABFF97.
For additional information, visit:
American Black Film Festival — Official Website
ABFF97 — Distribution Initiative
BlackNLA Take: A Potential Game Changer for Independent Black Cinema
The launch of ABFF97 is an important development for Black filmmakers because it addresses one of the industry’s biggest challenges: getting independent stories in front of wider audiences.
For years, film festivals have provided valuable opportunities for filmmakers to showcase their work, but recognition doesn’t always translate into distribution.
By establishing a theatrical pathway through AMC Theatres, ABFF is taking a meaningful step toward helping selected independent films reach audiences beyond the festival circuit.
The real measure of success will come as the organization announces its first releases and demonstrates how effectively the initiative supports filmmakers.
For Los Angeles, the announcement is particularly exciting.
With the American Black Film Festival coming to the city in May 2027 and Los Angeles included in ABFF97’s planned theatrical markets, local filmmakers and moviegoers have two developments worth watching.
Black stories deserve opportunities to be seen, supported, and celebrated on the big screen. ABFF97 could help make that possible for more independent filmmakers.
