Walmart and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) have partnered to create the Black & Unlimited Fatherhood Director’s Showcase, a national competition that champions independent filmmaking and highlights diverse stories about Black men as fathers.
The showcase is part of Walmart’s Black & Unlimited Fatherhood Project, a comprehensive marketing and media initiative celebrating Black fatherhood and amplifying the presence of Black men in their families and communities.
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF), founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is the leading festival of its kind showcasing Black stories. Since its inception, the festival has been dedicated to supporting Friday’s conviction that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts. Having premiered the work, and supported the careers, of many of today’s most successful filmmakers and actors, the ABFF has become the standard-bearer of excellence for Black American creativity.
Three (3) directors will each receive:
- Industry mentorship.
- A $10,000 cash award.
- Feature placement on ABFF PLAY, the festival's global online platform, and Walmart's Black and Unlimited YouTube page.
- One (1) round-trip domestic economy airline ticket from their U.S. home city to Miami, FL (must be available to attend the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, June 11-15, 2025).
- One (1) standard hotel room for four (4) nights (June 11-15).
- A one-time $350 honorarium for meals and incidentals.
- Festival credentials for the film’s director and one (1) guest upon request.