Free American Black Film Festival movies and events in Miami

The 2026 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will feature a host of free community events during it's five-day run between Sunday, May 27 and Sunday, May 31.

These are the free community events:

Friday, May 29 at 8 p.m. at the New World Center, 500 17 St., Miami Beach
Film Screening Under the Stars
Bring a blanket and enjoy a screening of the 2002 hip-hop classic, romantic comedy “Brown Sugar” starring Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs as two lifelong friends whose discovery of hip hop on a New York street corner reconnects them 15 years later.

Saturday, May 30 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Miami Beach Black Cultural Heritage Tour
Meet at Miami Beach Convention Center, 1700 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach
Take a behind the scenes tour with exclusive access to historic landmarks around Miami Beach like the 5th Street Gym where boxing great Muhamad Ali trained and visit the site where legendary black performer Josephine Baker performed. The tour ends with a social gathering at a Black-owned spot to connect with those keeping the culture alive today. Click here to book a tour.

Sunday, May 31 from noon to 5 p.m.
American Black Film Festival Community Day
Black Archives – The Historic Lyric Theater, 819 NW 2 Ave., Miami
Screenings, local vendors and activations throughout the day.

12:30 p.m. – HBO^® Short Film Award Showcase
Now in its 29th year, the HBO^® Short Film Award is one of the most prestigious short-film showcases in the world. Each year, five exceptional filmmakers are selected as finalists, with one Grand Prize winner receiving the HBO^® Short Film Award and a $10,000 cash prize. The four remaining finalists are each awarded $5,000. Experience this year’s standout films featuring Jared Leaf (Spilled Milk), Modupe Thompson (Facade), Jeremiah Towolawi (The Truth About Space), Linda Lô (We Had Fun), Carlton Daniel Jr. (FLY).

3 p.m. – Girl Dad
A queer teenager (Marsai Martin) travels from Brooklyn to Los Angeles to spend the summer with her estranged father (Courtney B. Vance), a gifted composer she barely knows. As they attempt to bridge years of distance, an unexpected conflict brings underlying tensions to the surface, testing the limits of their connection. Post Q&A with the filmmakers and cast, including Marsai Martin.