Living in the Moment in Miami: My Time at the American Black Film Festival
By: Kyle Price, Contributing Writer
I had the honor of attending this year’s American Black Film Festival in Miami, FL on behalf of GLAAD and I had the time of my life! The entire experience was a showcase of the best and brightest in Black media sharing their projects, learning how to pitch their ideas, and making prominent connections during the weekend. It goes without saying that everyone looked amazing while doing what Black people do best: show up and show out!!
I got a chance to see and hear some of my faves, including Issa Rae, Denzel Washington, Jussie Smollett, Trina and many more, drop gems, industry expertise, and key insights and knowledge. On top of a series of professional development workshops and industry centered talks, the festival featured the annual epic white party, a yacht party, and plenty of daytime mixers and activities to keep everyone entertained.
The highlight of the weekend was the “Queer Lens Brunch” which was led by GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media team. In addition to brunch, the event opened with a preview of projects developed by winners of the inaugural Black Queer Creative Summit (BQCS) Pitch Competition in September 2023. The projects debuted were created and driven by Black queer filmmakers and creatives Alexander King (And Then There Was Her), Soy Giraud (HellaGood Podcast), and Donnie Hue Frazier III (The Scent of Coffee).
The event also featured a key panel, moderated by Sidra Smith, which highlighted three major voices in the community and the entertainment industry: Alexandra Grey, Jussie Smollett, and Jonica Booth. Each of the panelists shared their stories and insights into how they navigate through the industry as queer personalities while maintaining their sense of identity throughout the process.
What started out as a panel turned into a family reunion that only GLAAD and the Communities of Color and Media team could put together. I’m grateful to have met everyone there and left this year’s festival feeling inspired and empowered to navigate my own journey in the industry.
