black film Archives - Rolling Out

A.R. Hilton is an accomplished author, screenwriter and director. However, Hilton’s path to success was not an easy one. He had to fight for it. At 19, he was found guilty of drug possession and spent the next 18 years of his adult life in prison. Still, life did not stop for the future author…

Robert Townsend has blazed trails in the film industry for several decades. He’s a pioneer that has brought us classics such as Hollywood Shuffle and The Five Heartbeats. He’s currently a professor at the University of Southern California, teaching screenwriting and directing. He’s a multi-faceted visionary, filmmaker, and actor that’s been dubbed the “Godfather of…

The iconic African American director John Singleton has died. He was a trailblazer in film, who created content for the community that challenged, educated and entertained. He was the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for best director. Known for his one-of-a-kind style, the 51-year-old filmmaker suffered a major stroke on April 17, 2019.…

In the event you missed the Viola Davis-led thriller Widows while it was still in theaters, don’t fret, as this slept on film gets set for digital release. In advance of the release, actor Brian Tyree Henry provided an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the chemistry between himself and actor Daniel Kaluuya. This is a must-watch feature. Widows will…

The Screen Actors Guild Awards were held Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. Black Panther took the night’s biggest prize, Outstanding Performance By a Cast in a Motion Picture. The cast of the comic book blockbuster gathered on stage at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles to accept the final award of the evening, with actor Chadwick…

While the eyes of the world were fixated on the pageantry of the 2019 Golden Globe Awards, Will Smith spent his time teasing fans with the start of production on the third installment of the Bad Boys film franchise. “Day 1. I’ll keep y’all posted,” Smith posted on Instagram alongside a photo of a stack of…

The 61-year-old Hollywood legend who has helmed documentaries about Michael Jackson and Pavarotti has worked in almost every cinematic genre possible, but making a “straight out singing and dancing” movie is still on his bucket list. He told CinemaBlend.com: “Oh yeah. I’m going to do a musical one day, for sure… I mean, there are many…

Part 2 of our creative series with R&B sensation H.E.R. is titled ‘le beau mystère’ or the Beautiful Mystery. We hope you enjoy our visual journey with such a dope artist. This piece was directed by DeWayne Rogers

As the light of Black women continues to shine brightly in Hollywood, big business and all over the world, a crop of phenomenal talent is emerging. These women are skilled, poised and dynamic. Chicago filmmaker Sanicole embodies all of those traits. She is chock-full of superpowers that can be witnessed in her body of work.…

American Black Film Festival (ABFF) celebrates its 22nd year with a return to Miami, June 13-17, 2018. The festival is an annual event dedicated to introducing emerging content creators of African descent. The event will feature an exciting lineup of film screenings, events and innovative programming. This year, actor Jay Ellis will serve as the ABFF…

ABFF (American Black Film Festival) Ventures, a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events, television and digital content targeted to upscale African American audiences, is gearing up for two highly-anticipated events leading up to the summer. The first kicks off this year’s award season. ABFF Honors returns to the Beverly Hilton in…

Phillip Boutte Jr. is a costume illustrator and concept artist for pioneering films such as A Wrinkle in Time, Justice League and Black Panther. Boutte tells rolling out how he got his start, as well as how he maintains longevity and success within the industry. In celebration of Black History Month, Xfinity is spotlighting the pioneering talent behind…

Dear White America, I’m writing this letter because it’s about time that you and I had a serious talk. Now, before I begin, I want to be sure that you have an open mind to what I’m about to say. In the past, whenever one of us (you know, those of us with a darker…

The African American Film Critics Association is the nation’s premier group of Black film critics. Established in 2003, AAFCA’s primary mission is to cultivate understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contributions of African American talent to cinematic and television culture. The AAFCA is a nonprofit organization that commits its time, efforts, and finances to numerous…

Rolling out aims to share tips from successful businesswomen. This week, we had the pleasure of chatting with director Nefertite Nguvu, who shot her movie In the Morning in just eight days. Nguvu has had her hand in the arts in various capacities for many years/ Find out how she’s sustained her success. How did you…

If the success of Get Out is any indication of the power of Black film, the producers of the film may have another mega success coming with Sleight. Directed by JD Dillard, Sleight is a story about an inner city street magician who turns his life around after the death of his parents. Central character…

Paradigm Grey is opening up a door to Black cinema and providing a different perspective from the norm. The most recent releases of The Birth of a Nation and Boo! A Madea Halloween — two very different movies — offer a sampling of the narrative Hollywood wishes to present to the world on behalf of Black people. This…

Recently, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and McDonald’s joined forces for the “My Community” video competition. The competition provided up and coming filmmakers the opportunity to create a 90-second film showcasing and celebrating the diverse communities they represent. Three finalists (Tyshun Wardlaw, Travis Dent and Marshelle Montgomery) were chosen to attend the 20th Annual American Black…

Former NFL defensive end Simeon Rice’s feature film directorial debut, the thriller “Unsullied,” hits theaters this week.

American Black Film Festival Honors Jenifer Lewis at “Best of the ABFF” Awards Show The American Black Film Festival attracted more than 7,000 New Yorkers and beyond is where film and TV enthusiasts converged. More than 30 documentaries, web originals, short films and narrative features were showcased at the AMC Empire 25 in Times Square to a…