UPDATE: The seventh annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors ceremony has pivoted in the wake of the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles to include a special tribute to the community of Altadena, celebrating its residents and their extraordinary contributions to Black history and culture.
In addition to saluting the evening’s special honorees — Keke Palmer, Giancarlo Esposito, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Aaron Pierre and Marla Gibbs — the ceremony, presented by Nice Crowd, will spotlight trailblazers whose contributions have significantly influenced the arts, activism, education, business and social landscape of the state of California and beyond.
“The community of Altadena embodies what we celebrate at the American Black Film Festival – strength, solidarity and commitment to excellence,” said Jeff and Nicole Friday, CEO and president of Nice Crowd, respectively. “By honoring the enduring spirit of this historic community, we aim to showcase Black achievement, inspire creativity, and foster unwavering support for a vibrant cultural future. This tribute is a testament to perseverance and collective effort, and we are proud to uplift Altadena’s story as a source of inspiration for generations to come.”
The intimate, non-televised dinner will be held on Feb. 17 at the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, hosted by Zainab Johnson, winner of the 2013 ABFF Comedy Wings competition.
Palmer will receive the Renaissance award, which is presented to a “trendsetting content creator in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion” through their work. The Emmy-winning actor (“Nope,” “Turnt Up With the Taylors”), producer, author and host recently celebrated the launch of her memoir “Master of Me” and starring opposite SZA in “One of Them Days,” which hit theaters on Jan. 17.
Ellis-Taylor and Esposito will accept ABFF’s Excellence in the Arts awards, which recognize highly acclaimed artists for their body of work and distinguished career achievements. After earning her first Oscar nomination for portraying tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams’ mother Oracene Price in 2021’s “King Richard,” plus Emmy nominations for “When They See Us” and “Lovecraft Country,” Ellis-Taylor is garnering critical acclaim for her latest role, starring in the film adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Nickel Boys.”
Emmy nominee Esposito is best known for his iconic role as Gustavo “Gus” Fring in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” Next year, he adds to his stellar resume (also including “The Usual Suspects,” “Do the Right Thing,” “The Mandalorian” and “The Boys”) with a trio of new projects: “Captain America: Brave New World,” the Russo Brothers’ “The Electric State” and Shonda Rhimes’ “The Residence.”
“For decades, these incredible ABFF honorees have captivated audiences and shaped the cultural landscape with their groundbreaking work,” stated the Fridays. “It’s a privilege to honor Aunjanue, Giancarlo and Keke for their extraordinary contributions to both the industry and our shared culture.”
Five-time Emmy nominee and eight-time NAACP Image Award winner Gibbs will receive the Hollywood Legacy award, while Pierre will receive the Rising Star award.
“Marla’s groundbreaking career has inspired countless aspiring actors and creatives, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry with her talent, grace, and dedication,” stated the Fridays. “We are equally delighted to recognize Aaron Pierre, a rising star whose powerful performances exemplify the next generation of storytelling excellence.”
Gibbs is best known for her iconic role as Florence on “The Jeffersons,” followed by the classic NBC sitcom “227,” which she co-created and executive produced. Her career has spanned film, television, and music, with notable roles in “The Visit,” “Lily in Winter,” “101 Dalmations,” “ER,” “Cold Case,” “King of Queens” and her own album, “It’s Never Too Late.” A passionate advocate for the arts, Gibbs revived the legendary Los Angeles jazz supper club, dubbed Marla’s Memory Lane and co-founded Crossroads Theater and Acting School.
Pierre has captivated the industry with standout performances in the hit Netflix thriller “Rebel Ridge” and voicing the iconic Mufasa in Barry Jenkins’ “The Lion King” prequel for Disney. He also starred in Jenkins’ acclaimed Prime Video series “The Underground Railroad” and portrayed Malcolm X in Nat Geo’s “Genius: MLK/X,” as well as standout turns in Clement Virgo’s “Brother,” Garth Davis’ “Foe” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old.” Pierre will next be seen as John Stewart in DC Studios and Max’s series “Lanterns” and in season 4 of “The Morning Show” for Apple TV+.
Founded in 2016, ABFF Honors is dedicated to recognizing excellence in the motion picture and TV industry and furthers the mission of the American Black Film Festival, which was founded by Jeff Friday in 1997 to showcase Black storytelling.
Previous honorees include Taraji P. Henson, Jeffrey Wright, Garrett Morris and Mara Brock Akil (who were feted at the 2024 gala), as well as Denzel Washington, Ava DuVernay, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Courtney B. Vance, Charles D. King, Janelle Monáe, Tiffany Haddish, Ryan Coogler, Don Cheadle, Will Packer, Queen Latifah, Lena Waithe, Terrence Howard, F. Gary Gray, Issa Rae, Diahann Carroll, Billy Dee Williams, Omari Hardwick and the late Louis Gossett, Jr.
ABFF Honors is executive produced by Nicole and Jeff Friday for Nice Crowd in association with dePasse Jones Entertainment and Rikki Hughes for Magic Lemonade.
