On the heels of the insurmountable success of Marvel’s box office hit ‘Black Panther,’ BET Networks along with creator Jeff Friday hosted the 2018 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors to highlight Hollywood’s African-descending trailblazers and overall, its multicultural camaraderie.
In addition to its creator, hitting the carpet with Hollywood Unlocked were the show’s host Cedric The Entertainer; and honorees: Ava DuVernay; Tiffany Haddish; Omari Hardwick and Billy Dee Williams; along with classic TV tribute honorees of ‘Martin:’ Martin Lawrence, Carl Anthony Payne, Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell-Martin.
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Furthermore, Black Excellence showed up and showed out so much that host Cedric The Entertainer entered the stage with the introduction as “actor, comedian and original King of Wakanda;” and followed it up with:
“I am your host, Chadwick Boseman….It looks like the Nigerian Oscars up in here.”
Additionally, at the honors DuVernay received the Industry Visionary Award, Williams with the Hollywood Legacy Award, Hardwick with Distinguished ABFF Alumni Award and Haddish with the Rising Star Award.
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Also, the American Black Film Festival stemming Honors show also gave away awards for Movie of the Year and Television Show of the Year, in both Comedy and Drama genres.
For more than two decades the ABFF has illuminated and beared excellence in independent Black cinema; in premiering and supporting the work and many careers of today’s much successful artists.
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So, to catch more behind the scenes from the extravagant event…