The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will host a “pop up” event in Los Angeles, featuring conversations with Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Tika Sumpter, as well as a short film showcase, and a preview of season 2 of Prime Video series Cross.
In a recent press release, organizers announced the event is open to the public and will run from Saturday, Dec. 13 to Sunday, Dec. 14 at The Grove 14.
ABFF is held each spring in Miami. In an effort to bring more programming and events to other cities, Nice Crowd — the company behind the festival — launched a “Pop Up Tour” this year with stops in select cities.
Previous events were held in New York City from Oct. 25–26; Atlanta from Nov. 8–9, and Dallas from Nov. 15–16. Additional details and ticket information on the Los Angeles event can be found here.
Related: ABFF Founder Jeff Friday Urges Black Hollywood to ‘Open the Doors’ to Others
Below is the programming schedule for ABFF’s West Coast “Pop Up Tour” stop.
Bringing Stories to Life in 3D: Creating Believable Creatures & Characters, Presented by New York Film Academy (NYFA)
Saturday, Dec. 13, 11:00 am.
Learn the techniques and philosophy behind how some of the most iconic creatures in Hollywood were created. Creature & character creator, Craig Caton, discusses his techniques and principles for creating memorable creatures & character performances for telling visual stories.
Beyond the Role: Wealth, Worth & Womanhood — A Conversation with Tika Sumpter, Presented by Ally
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2:15 pm.
In Hollywood and in life women are often cast in roles written by someone else. But what happens when we reclaim the pen? In this intimate fireside chat, actor, producer and creator Tika Sumpter joins Ally’s Head of Money Wellness, Jack Howard, for a candid conversation about rewriting your personal money story and beliefs.
Cross Returns for Season 2, Presented by Prime Video
Saturday, December 13, 4:50 pm.
Be among the first to experience Prime Video’s hit crime drama CROSS with an exclusive advance screening of the first episode of Season Two, ahead of its February 11, 2026 premiere. Following the screening, join showrunner/executive producer Ben Watkins and stars Matthew Lillard, Johnny Ray Gill, and Stacie Greenwell for a live talkback diving into what fans can expect from the upcoming new season.
2025 HBO Short Film Showcase Followed by a Conversation with Filmmakers Princess Adenike, Nick Buchheit, and DeeDee Casimir
Saturday, Dec. 13, 8:30 pm.
The 2025 HBO Short Film Showcase spotlights the five finalists from the 29th American Black Film Festival, selected from a pool of thousands. The program features the following lineup: ADO (Written by Sam Henderson and Ryan Romine; Directed by Sam Henderson), A Beauty Supply in Queens (Written by Princess Adenike; Directed by Oluseyi Olatujoye and Princess Adenike), In Good Hands (Written by Yasmine Crawley; Directed by Nick Buchheit), ManBooBs (Written and Directed by Luke Harris), and Last Hoorah at G-Baby’s (Written and Directed by DeeDee Casimir).
Swimming Against The Current, Presented by AARP
Sunday, Dec. 14, 12:00 pm.
As most of us dread the idea of getting “older,” the seniors of the “Harlem Honeys and Bears” Synchronize Swim Team inspire us to live our best lives regardless of age.
“A Creator Conversation” with Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Presented by AARP
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2:10 pm.
Emmy-nominated director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield takes part in a conversation about her evolution both in front of and behind the camera. From performances in film and television to her acclaimed work directing and executive producing Task, The Gilded Age, and Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty, Richardson-Whitfield has become an in-demand storyteller.
Hoops, Hopes & Dreams Screening, Presented by Andscape
Sunday, Dec. 14, 4:30 pm. The untold story about how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a team of civil rights activists took to basketball courts to connect with young voters, and how their strategy echoes in politics through President Obama’s historic campaign.
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