Keke Palmer, Giancarlo Esposito, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Aaron Pierre and Marla Gibbs to Receive ABFF Honors

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As a movie enthusiast, I’m excited to share that this year’s American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors has adapted its ceremony due to the tragic wildfires in Los Angeles. In addition to our regular honorees, we will now pay tribute to the remarkable community of Altadena. This special recognition is to celebrate their significant contributions to Black history and culture.

Beyond saluting the evening’s distinguished honorees, Keke Palmer, Giancarlo Esposito, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Aaron Pierre, and Marla Gibbs, the ceremony hosted by Nice Crowd aims to shine a light on pioneers who have made remarkable impacts in areas such as arts, activism, education, business, and social issues, not just within California, but across the broader spectrum.

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The evening’s honorees, Keke Palmer, Giancarlo Esposito, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Aaron Pierre, and Marla Gibbs, will be acknowledged, with the ceremony led by Nice Crowd focusing on trailblazers whose groundbreaking contributions have left a profound impact on California’s arts, activism, education, business, and social scene, as well as that of other regions.

Jeff and Nicole Friday, CEO and president of Nice Crowd, expressed that the community of Altadena symbolizes the values we cherish at the American Black Film Festival – resilience, unity, and dedication to greatness. By recognizing the enduring spirit of this historic community, they aim to highlight Black accomplishments, stimulate creativity, and cultivate undying support for a thriving cultural future. This homage serves as a symbol of persistence and collective effort, and we are honored to share Altadena’s tale as an inspiration for future generations.

On February 17th, I’ll be partaking in a delightful, off-camera dinner gathering at the prestigious SLS hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills. The event is graciously hosted by none other than Zainab Johnson, who claimed victory in the 2013 ABFF Comedy Wings competition. I can hardly wait!

Palmer is set to be honored with the Renaissance award, given to an innovative content creator who excels in their work and advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion. This esteemed actor, producer, author, and TV host (known for films like “Nope” and “Turnt Up With the Taylors”), is currently basking in the success of her memoir “Master of Me,” and recently shared the screen with SZA in “One of Them Days,” which premiered on January 17.

Ellis-Taylor and Esposito will receive the ABFF’s Excellence in the Arts awards. These honors are given to artists who have achieved great success throughout their career and produced remarkable work. After receiving her first Oscar nomination for playing Oracene Price, the mother of tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams, in “King Richard” last year, Ellis-Taylor has also been nominated for Emmys for “When They See Us” and “Lovecraft Country.” Currently, she is gaining positive reviews for her role in the movie adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, “The Nickel Boys.

Actor Bryan Cranston, who was nominated for an Emmy, is most recognized for his memorable portrayal of Gustavo “Gus” Fring in “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul.” In the coming year, he expands his impressive career (which encompasses films like “The Usual Suspects,” “Do the Right Thing,” “The Mandalorian,” and “The Boys”) with three upcoming projects: “Captain America: Brave New World,” directed by the Russo Brothers, “The Electric State,” and Shonda Rhimes’ “The Residence.

For many years, these outstanding ABFF honorees – Aunjanue, Giancarlo, and Keke – have mesmerized audiences and significantly influenced our cultural environment through pioneering work, as the Fridays noted. It’s a great honor to recognize their exceptional achievements in the industry and the impact they’ve made on our collective culture.

Five-time Emmy nominee Gibbs and eight-time NAACP Image Award winner Gibbs are set to be honored with the Hollywood Legacy award and the Rising Star award respectively. In simpler terms, Gibbs is being recognized for their longstanding career achievements with the Hollywood Legacy award, while Pierre is being acknowledged for their promising start in the industry with the Rising Star award.

The Fridays noted that Marla’s extraordinary career, filled with inspiration for many aspiring actors and creatives, has made a lasting impact on the entertainment world through her skills, poise, and commitment. They also expressed their joy in honoring Aaron Pierre, a budding talent whose compelling performances symbolize the emerging wave of outstanding storytelling.

Known primarily for her memorable portrayal of Florence in “The Jeffersons,” followed by the well-loved NBC sitcom “227” which she also co-created and produced, Marla Gibbs has had a diverse career encompassing film, television, and music. Her notable roles include those in “The Visit,” “Lily in Winter,” “101 Dalmations,” “ER,” “Cold Case,” “King of Queens” and she even released her own album titled “It’s Never Too Late.” A strong proponent for the arts, Gibbs resurrected the iconic Los Angeles jazz venue, Marla’s Memory Lane, and co-founded Crossroads Theater and Acting School.

Pierre has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry, with memorable roles in the popular Netflix thriller “Rebel Ridge,” the Disney prequel to “The Lion King” directed by Barry Jenkins as Mufasa, and in the critically acclaimed series “The Underground Railroad” on Prime Video. He also played Malcolm X in Nat Geo’s “Genius: MLK/X,” as well as notable performances in Clement Virgo’s “Brother,” Garth Davis’ “Foe,” and M. Night Shyamalan’s “Old.” Coming up, Pierre can be seen as John Stewart in the upcoming DC Studios series “Lanterns” and in season 4 of “The Morning Show” on Apple TV+.

Established in 2016, ABFF Honors is committed to celebrating outstanding achievements within the film and television industry, and it continues the objective of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), which was initiated by Jeff Friday in 1997 with the purpose of highlighting Black narratives.

Previously recognized individuals at this event include Taraji P. Henson, Jeffrey Wright, Garrett Morris, Mara Brock Akil (who were celebrated at the 2024 gala), along with 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., all of whom have been honored in past years.

ABFF Honors is overseen by Nicole and Jeff Friday as executive producers, in collaboration with dePasse Jones Entertainment, Rikki Hughes from Magic Lemonade, and Nice Crowd.

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2025-01-22 01:46