The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) brought its second annual Pop Up tour to Houston, Texas, for the first time on November 7th and 8th, celebrating Black cinema, television and creative excellence. The two-day event featured appearances by Larenz Tate, Brandee Evans, Gail Bean and more, alongside exclusive screenings, filmmaker discussions and conversations exploring the future of film production in Texas.
The Houston Pop Up kicked off on November 7th with a screening of The Rise: The New MoneyBall, presented by Ally Financial. The opening day continued with an early access screening of the highly anticipated Season 3 premiere of STARZ’s P-Valley, followed by a conversation with stars Brandee Evans and Gail Bean. Audiences also enjoyed an encore presentation of the 2026 HBO Short Film Showcase, featuring an in-depth discussion with filmmaker Modupe Thompson and Grace Amaku.
The festival’s second day, November 8th, opened with a screening of Three Colors: Pan-African, winner of the 2026 ABFF Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature, followed by a discussion with co-directors Elijah Davis and Tyler Holmes. The programming continued with Making Movies Happen: Film Incentives in Texas and Houston, presented by Houston First, bringing together industry leaders to discuss how state and local incentives can strengthen the region’s film production industry. The conversation highlighted opportunities to position Houston and Texas as competitive destinations for feature films and other screen productions.
Another highlight of the weekend was Icons, Idols + Influencers with Larenz Tate, featuring the acclaimed actor and producer reflecting on his career, creative journey and lasting influence on film and television. The discussion offered audiences insight into Tate’s experiences and contributions to entertainment. The festival concluded with a screening of Funny Feelings, followed by a conversation with producer Josh Ferrell about the film.
