American Black Film Festival aims to discover new talent with Star Project

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For 17 years, the American Black Film Festival has celebrated diversity in the motion picture industry.

Each year, Film Life Inc. has hosted a four-day event honoring black film creators and artists in TV and film and highlighting the work of established professionals.

Since 2009, ABFF has teamed up with the Star Project in hopes of discovering new talent and presenting them with exciting career opportunities in the field.

The sixth annual Star Project, which is sponsored by NBCUniversal, is an annual contest targeted to minority individuals who are aspiring to be actors and actresses. TheGrio is owned by MSNBC, which is a property of NBCUniversal.

The competition is now open and is accepting submissions through March 17 when six finalists will be chosen – three male and three female actors.

All finalists will be flown to New York City to participate in the 18th annual ABFF from June 19-22, where they will compete for a chance to audition for a walk-on role on NBC’s award-winning daytime drama Days of Our Lives. 

“We are proud to partner with ABFF in providing support for emerging multicultural film and television talent,” said Karen Horne, Vice President, Programming Talent Development and Inclusion at NBCUniversal.

“The Star Project is an important way that NBCUniversal is able to further its commitment to finding and nurturing the next generation of culturally diverse [talent] taken [from] in front of and behind the camera,” she added.

Those interested in entering the competition are required to send two videotaped monologues: one of their choice and one issued to them by NBCUniversal and ABFF.

Six finalists will then be selected and two grand prize winners will be introduced during the festivals closing awards ceremony where they will meet with casting directors for both film and television productions at the NBCUniversal bureau in Los Angeles – only one of the top two finalists will win the walk-on role on TV.

“In eighteen years of the festival, I have found very few companies as committed to diversity as NBCUniversal,” said ABFF founder and CEO of Film Life, Inc., Jeff Friday. “I’m delighted that they see the necessity in helping multicultural actors gain visibility and am grateful for the opportunities that they are able to provide them.”

For more information of the Star Project and the official rules to apply, click here.

Follow Lilly Workneh on Twitter @Lilly_Works