Emmy Award-winning writer, creator, actress, and Hillman Grad founder, Lena White, will serve as an ambassador for the 2023 American Black Film Festival (ABFF).
As an ambassador, White – an influential advocate for unrepresented storytellers in Hollywood – will help the ABFF’s mission to showcase black talent and discover new voices.
“I am honored to be chosen as an ambassador for the ABFF 2023,” White said in a statement. “I am excited to collaborate with the festival to highlight the unique, pioneering stories and creators behind them.”
Nicole Friday, Festival Producer and President of ABFF Ventures LLC, added: “Lena is a powerhouse in the film and television industry and a pioneer for emerging creative artists. Her commitment to elevating diverse voices exemplifies ABFF’s commitment to Hollywood diversification. We are excited to have her unique perspective and talent as the ABFF Ambassador for 2023.”
The 27th edition of the festival will take place June 14-18 in Miami Beach, followed by a virtual program from June 19-25 ABFF Play. Previous ABFF ambassadors are Issa Rae, who served as an ambassador for the 2022 Festival, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Idris Elba, Tracy Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, La La Anthony, Jay Ellis, Maurice Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Common, Taraji P. Henson and Irvine “Magic” Johnson.
In addition to its collection of studio premieres, independent films, master classes, commissions, talent shows, networking, and hospitality events, ABFF will introduce three new cultural initiatives for its 2023 program including On Women, which will highlight the work and support of comrades among women of color in the industry. cinema and television; “Pro-Hollywood,” which highlights how professional athletes use their platform to influence diversity in the entertainment industry; and “ABFF Pride,” a new series of shows and talk shows focused on the LGBTQIA+ community timed appropriately during Pride Month.
Witty received the Industry Renaissance Award at the 2020 ABFF Honors Awards, the annual festival award that pays homage to excellence in television and film. The special award is given to content creators whose “exemplary work in film and television contributes to changing perceptions of people of color in the entertainment industry.”
Waithe has created and executive produced the Peabody Award-nominated and NAACP Image Showtime series “The Chi,” as well as the semi-autobiographical BET series, “Twenties.” She also recently produced the movie “Beauty” on Netflix and is currently producing an autobiography for Sammy Davis Jr. Other upcoming projects include: “A Thousand and One” by AV Rockwell scheduled for release in March 2023. “Chang Can Dunk” for Disney+; and Being Mary: A Mary Tyler Moore Documentary by James Adolphus. Waithe made her screenwriting debut for a feature film with Universal’s “Queen & Slim,” directed by Melina Matsoukas and starring Oscar-nominated Daniel Kaluuya and Judy Turner.
On the acting front, Waithe can be seen in the critically acclaimed third season of Netflix’s “Master Of None: Moments in Love,” which she co-wrote and executive produced. In 2017, White became the first black woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the “Master of None” episode “Thanksgiving”. Her other acting work includes HBO’s Westworld, the horror satire “Bad Hair”, Steven Spielberg’s “Ready Player One”, Netflix’s “#BlackAF” and the animated series “Big Mouth” and “This Is Us” on NBC.
Waithe is also an advocate for queer representation across the industry, and has been honored by The New York City LGBT Community Center, GLAAD, The Trevor Project, MTV Awards, and OUT Magazine.
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