The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is relocating to Los Angeles for its 31st edition in 2027, ending a 24-year run in Miami. The festival, founded by Jeff Friday and coordinated by NICE CROWD, will run from 20-23 May 2027, marking a significant shift for one of the most prominent showcases of Black film talent in the United States as it seeks to expand access and opportunities for emerging storytellers.

The 2027 event will be spread across several Los Angeles venues, with film screenings at AMC's Grove location, marquee events at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, industry programming based at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, and community activities at the Original Farmers Market. New additions include ABFF First Look: The Studio Showcase, ABFF Sports, and a non-competitive strand called Crossroads, alongside existing competitive categories such as U.S. Narrative Feature, International Narrative Feature and Documentary Feature. Submissions for the 31st festival are now open.