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

variety.com:

Angelique Jackson UPDATE: The seventh annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors ceremony has pivoted in the wake of the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles to include a special tribute to the community of Altadena, celebrating its residents and their extraordinary contributions to Black history and culture.

In addition to saluting the evening’s special honorees — Keke Palmer, Giancarlo Esposito, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Aaron Pierre and Marla Gibbs — the ceremony, presented by Nice Crowd, will spotlight trailblazers whose contributions have significantly influenced the arts, activism, education, business and social landscape of the state of California and beyond. “The community of Altadena embodies what we celebrate at the American Black Film Festival – strength, solidarity and commitment to excellence,” said Jeff and Nicole Friday, CEO and president of Nice Crowd, respectively. “By honoring the enduring spirit of this historic community, we aim to showcase Black achievement, inspire creativity, and foster unwavering support for a vibrant cultural future.

This tribute is a testament to perseverance and collective effort, and we are proud to uplift Altadena’s story as a source of inspiration for generations to come.” The intimate, non-televised dinner will be held on Feb.

17 at the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills, hosted by Zainab Johnson, winner of the 2013 ABFF Comedy Wings competition. Palmer will receive the Renaissance award, which is presented to a “trendsetting content creator in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion” through their work.