ABFF Ventures, the company behind the highly regarded American Black Film Festival (ABFF), has undergone a rebranding and will now be known as Nice Crowd. Led by Jeff and Nicole Friday, ABFF Ventures has been at the forefront of promoting BIPOC culture and achievements through its annual events. The new name, Nice Crowd, signifies the company’s focus on the power of gathering and will expand its offerings to include comedy, health and wellness, food, and fine art events.
The inaugural event under the Nice Crowd banner will be Because They’re Funny (BTF), a comedy festival that aims to showcase comedic talent within BIPOC communities. The festival is set to launch in Washington, D.C. in October 2023 and was announced in collaboration with Angie Gates, CEO of Events DC Sports and Convention Authority.
Jeff and Nicole Friday, founders and CEOs of Nice Crowd, expressed their enthusiasm for the new comedy festival and the company’s future endeavors. “We are so thrilled to announce our new comedy festival, Because They’re Funny, which launches in Washington, DC, the hometown of many of today’s most beloved comedians of color,” they said. They also highlighted the company’s commitment to providing even more incredible event offerings as Nice Crowd.
Angie M. Gates, President and CEO of Events DC, shared her excitement about partnering with Nice Crowd for the Because They’re Funny Comedy Festival. She emphasized the festival’s role in bringing new and emerging talent from people of color to the city and supporting local creatives, theaters, and performance spaces. Gates highlighted the positive impact the festival will have on Washington, DC as a whole.
Connie Kinnard, Senior Vice President of Multicultural Tourism & Development for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), congratulates ABFF Ventures on its rebranding to Nice Crowd. Kinnard praises the organization’s impact on Miami’s multicultural programming and acknowledges ABFF’s dedication to fostering connections and showcasing diverse talent.
The American Black Film Festival, which began in 1997, plays a pivotal role in promoting diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. Recognized as a standard-bearer of excellence for Black creativity, the festival supports the careers of many successful filmmakers, actors, writers, and comedians. The opening night of the 2023 American Black Film Festival features a screening of the upcoming Netflix film They Cloned Tyrone, starring John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx. Emmy®-winning writer, producer, and actor Lena Waithe serves as the festival’s ambassador for 2023.
Nice Crowd, led by Jeff and Nicole Friday, continues to organize the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and the ABFF Honors, an awards gala honoring excellence in Hollywood. In addition, the company curates events focused on comedy, food, and more, all aimed at celebrating BIPOC culture and achievements.
Upcoming Nice Crowd events include the ABFF Global Film Series in London from September 1st to 3rd, 2023, a screening series promoting Black content and encouraging collaboration among artists from the African Diaspora. The Because They’re Funny Comedy Festival in Washington, D.C. features headline acts, new comic showcases, industry workshops, panels, film screenings, networking events, and exclusive parties, and will take place from October 6th to 8th, 2023. The ABFF Honors in Los Angeles is scheduled for March 2024 and celebrates acclaimed and rising stars who have made significant contributions to American entertainment.
Nice Crowd also plans to launch events celebrating food, fitness, and art in the coming year, further showcasing the vibrancy and creativity of BIPOC communities.
As Nice Crowd steps into this new chapter, the company remains dedicated to its mission of highlighting BIPOC culture and achievements while promoting travel and tourism to diverse destinations worldwide. To learn more about upcoming Nice Crowd events, visit their official website at www.nicecrowd.com.
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