The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) brought its second annual Atlanta Pop Up to the Hollywood of the South on October 24th and 25th, celebrating Black storytelling through exclusive screenings, filmmaker conversations and industry discussions. The two-day event featured appearances by Taye Diggs, Katori Hall, Nicco Annan, Raven Goodwin and more, highlighting some of the standout programming from the festival’s flagship event.
The Atlanta Pop Up kicked off on October 24th with a special screening of the beloved romantic comedy The Best Man, followed by a conversation with Taye Diggs about the film’s enduring cultural impact. The opening day continued with an early screening of the Season 3 premiere of STARZ’s P-Valley, followed by a discussion with creator and showrunner Katori Hall and star Nicco Annan. Audiences also enjoyed an encore presentation of the 2026 HBO Short Film Showcase, featuring a conversation with filmmaker Modupe Thompson and actress Arsema Thomas.
The festival’s second day, October 25th, 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 cast members Candice Renee, Rafael Castillo and Furly Mac. Actress Raven Goodwin participated in the Built to Last: Your Money Story, Your Legacy panel presented by Ally Financial, exploring financial empowerment, generational wealth and creating opportunities for future generations. The programming continued with a screening of Otra, winner of the 2026 ABFF Directing Award, followed by a conversation with director Armani Ortiz about the film’s creative vision.
The weekend concluded with a screening of Funny Feelings, followed by a discussion featuring director Rhonda Baraka, producer Rod McClure and cast members Chrystale Wilson and Danielle LaRoach. The panel explored the film’s themes, creative development and storytelling approach. Throughout the weekend, ABFF Atlanta provided audiences with opportunities to connect with filmmakers, performers and industry professionals while celebrating Black cinema and television.
