California Love

Release Date:  10/24/21; TBA
Genre:  Biography/Drama
Rating:  NR
Director:  Preston A. Whitmore II
Studio(s):   Brandani Productions, Preston Picture Company, Sunset Pictures
Cast:   Allen Payne as Leon Watkins
Christa B. Allen as Joanne Beck
Columbus Short as Norris
Robert Ri’chard as Jay Hunter
Michelle Lee as Lisa Yuen
Michole Briana White as Pat
Carson Fagerbakke as Sandy
Markice Moore as DeAndre
Natasha Marc as Evelyn Watkins
Draya Michele as Beverly
Kevin Thoms as Phil
Malea Rose as Jessica Beck
Philip Boyd as Morgan
Tatum Shank as Jack Beck
Jensen Atwood as Doctor
Broderick Hunter as Angelo Adams
Joel Steingold as Jay’s Father
Christina Fuursted as Bartender
Sue Cremin as Ruth Beck
Amanda Henn as Amanda Richards
Lamar Usher as Keyson
Six Reasons as Vonte
Omar Bolden as Marquise
Natasha Makin as Cece
Tammie Sellers as Sis

Story:  Based on a true story, California Love takes place in 1992 Los Angeles. Joanne Beck (Christa B. Allen) is a young, aspiring entrepreneur whose idealistic outlook suffers a blow when she experiences sexism in the workplace. Looking for a change, Joanne volunteers at community leader Leon Watkins’ (Allen Payne) help center in South Central. Meanwhile, reputed gang member Jay Hunter (Robert Ri’chard), back on the streets following a bid in prison, is nearly killed in a drive-by shooting. When Jay comes to Leon for a loan, he meets Joanne, and their fate is set in motion. The unlikely duo defies social constructs and forms an organization that gains national recognition in the fight against racial injustice. Along the way, they experience love, tragedy, and the deep-seated racism that continues to plague America, ultimately leaving behind a legacy that is as relevant today as ever before.  Source:  filmifeed.com.

Trailer:

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The Forgettable Life of Liam White

a/k/a Liam White

Release Date:  11/3/21 – 11/28/21 (American Black Film Festival)
Genre:  Drama
Rating:  TV-14
Director:  Harold Jackson, III
Studio(s):  8 Picture House, Legacy Distribution
Running Time:  87 mins.
Cast:  Shaun Woodland, Jasmine Guy, Terrence “TC” Carson, Brave Williams, Tamieka Chavis.

Story:  For author Liam White (Shaun Woodland), his career has peaked, to put it kindly. His agent and manager are frustrated with his lack of enthusiasm to make public appearances and finish the next novel. His life and work are uninspired. Adding to his problems, Liam is told by his oncologist that his cancer has returned. He is hesitant to once again go through chemotherapy and considers other options – including doing nothing. Now resigned to the fact that his life will soon come to an end, Liam begins a journey of reflection. Unfortunately for him, it involves his always disappointed and emotionally distant father, Liam Sr. (Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson), and his mother (Jasmine Guy), who left him and his father as a small boy. Helping him along the way is an old flame, Adrianna (Sasha Wakefield), who gives Liam a much-needed perspective on being a man and a human being. Yet all is not lost. Just at the moment when Liam is about the give up, he meets a woman at a support group. She tells him about a potential treatment that extended the life of her brother for several more years.  Source:  IMDB; ABFF.com.

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A Message from Brianna

Release Date:  11/3/21– 11/28/21 (American Black Film Festival)
Genre:   Horror
Rating:  NR
Director:  DeShon Hardy
Running Time:  80 mins.

Cast:  Vernon Davis, Asia’h Epperson, Kevin Benton, Liana Kristina Mayer-Reinach, Adaisha Strong, Stan J. Adams, Brittany Beckett, Amanda Felix, Leigh Bodden, Mohamed Sanu, Brittany Geertgens, Rita Bacot, Ethan Henderson, Robert Epstein, Tracy Oliver.

Story:  When an African American couple move into their new home, their 2-year-old daughter becomes a terrifying messenger from the other side.  Source:  ABFF.com.

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B-Boy Blues

Release Date:  11/3/21 – 11/28/21 (American Black Film Festival)

Genre:  Drama

Rating:  NR

Director:  Jussie Smollett

Studio(s):   A SuperMassive Movie, Story Worthy Pictures, Winnienoah Productions.

Running Time:  106 mins.

Cast:  Timothy Richardson, Thomas Mackie, Landon G. Woodson, Brandee Evans, Michael Jackson Jr., Jabari Redd, Heather B., Brian Lucas, Jahleel Kamara, Broderick Hunter, Derrick Downey, Marquise Vilson, Otis Winston, Bry’Nt, Eric R. Williams, Tieisha Thomas, Shawn Sutton, Andre Virgo, Anthony Virgo, Mariama Diallo, Ilara Phoenix Williams, Sampson McCormick, Ledisi.

Story:   Class and culture clash when a college educated journalist from Brooklyn and a homeboy-bike messenger from Harlem fall in love.  Source:  ABFF.com.

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Maya & Her Lover

Release Date:  11/3/21 – 11/28/21 (American Black Film Festival)
Genre:  Drama/Romance
Rating:  NR
Director:  Nicole Sylvester
Studio(s):  Come Monday Productions, No Evil Entertainment, Film Emporium
Running Time:  94 mins.
Cast:  Ashanti J’Aria, Shomari Love, Faiven Feshazion, Al Thompson, Hisham Tawfiq, Tony D Head, Johnathan Davis

Story:  Maya, stifled by childhood memories of an overbearing father, takes a young lover then learns he wants to be celibate.  Source:  ABFF.com.

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The Outlaw Johnny Black

Release Date:  11/3/21 – 11/28/21 (American Black Film Festival)
Genre:  Western
Rating:  NR
Director:  Michael Jai White
Studio(s):  Jaigantic Studios
Running Time:  130 mins.

Cast:  Michael Jai White, Anika Noni Rose, Byron Minns, Erika Ash, Chris Browning, Kevin Chapman, Tommy Davidson, Kym Whitley, Randy Couture, Barry Bostwick, Glynn Turman.

Story:  Hell bent on avenging the death of his father, Johnny Black vows to gun down Brett Clayton and becomes a wanted man in the process while posing as a preacher in a small mining town that’s been taken over by a notorious Land Baron.  Source:  ABFF.com; IMDB.

Trailer:

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