*The American Black Movie Competition is marking its thirtieth 12 months with a significant growth into digital storytelling by way of the introduction of the ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Venture. In response to the information launch, the brand new initiative expands the competition’s programming by specializing in short-form, vertical video collection created by storytellers of shade, designed for mobile-first viewing.
Microdramas are episodic narratives produced particularly for vertical screens and social platforms. With episodes usually lasting one to 2 minutes, the format emphasizes speedy pacing, heightened emotional stakes, and cliffhanger endings that encourage continued viewing and repeat engagement.
By launching the 9:16 Microdrama Venture, ABFF goals to ascertain itself as a frontrunner within the rising vertical content material house. The initiative is designed to raise rising voices, join creators with international audiences, and increase entry to alternatives inside a quickly increasing digital ecosystem.
“Vertical storytelling is redefining how audiences uncover and eat scripted content material,” stated Jeff Friday, Cofounder & CEO of NICE CROWD and Founding father of ABFF. “With the ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Venture, we’re extending ABFF’s mission into this subsequent frontier and making certain creators of shade should not solely represented, however main the evolution of this format and collaborating within the financial upside of this quickly increasing market.”
Initiatives chosen for this system can be chosen by way of a aggressive analysis course of overseen by business professionals from movie, digital media, and rising platforms. These chosen works will earn the designation of Official Choices of the ABFF 9:16 Microdrama Venture.
Official Choices will obtain curated digital exhibition throughout ABFF platforms and built-in publicity throughout the 2026 American Black Movie Competition. This visibility is meant to offer creators with business recognition, viewers discovery, and expanded skilled attain.
Individuals will keep full possession and artistic management over their work whereas having access to ABFF’s broader ecosystem. Submission pointers and eligibility particulars can be found by way of the ABFF web site.
The competition’s sponsors embrace Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO as founding companions, together with Ally Monetary, American Airways, Netflix, Sony Footage Leisure, and a number of other cultural and media organizations. Further programming particulars are anticipated to be introduced within the coming weeks.
Based in 1997, ABFF has grown right into a premier platform for movie and tv content material by and about individuals of African descent. Because it approaches its thirtieth anniversary in 2026, the competition continues to function a key vacation spot for expertise discovery, cultural change, and business connection.
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