Regina King is coming back to where her festival journey began. The Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy-winning actor, director, and producer will serve as the ambassador for the American Black Film Festival’s milestone 30th anniversary, taking place in Miami Beach from May 27–31 under the theme “The Homecoming.” Her connection to ABFF reaches back nearly three decades, beginning during the festival’s earliest years in Acapulco in 1997.
As ambassador, King will welcome festival-goers on opening night and lead a featured Creator Conversation reflecting on her decades-spanning career and the festival’s impact on rising Black creatives across film and television.
Festival founders Jeff and Nicole Friday selected King to headline this landmark year as a nod to her long-standing relationship with the event and her continued commitment to championing Black storytelling.
King’s résumé remains one of Hollywood’s most dynamic. She began as Brenda Jenkins on 227 and became a defining presence through films like Boys N the Hood, Jerry Maguire, Ray, and If Beale Street Could Talk, plus award-winning turns in American Crime, Seven Seconds, and Watchmen. Her directing work spans This Is Us, Scandal, Insecure, and the feature film One Night in Miami, which marked a history-making festival debut.
Most recently, King directed and executive produced Netflix’s Forever, already renewed for a second season. On screen, she stars in Caught Stealing and will soon appear in the film adaptation of The Children of Blood and Bone from director Gina Prince-Bythewood.
ABFF’s legacy of ambassador alumni includes Issa Rae, Lena Waithe, Mary J. Blige, Taraji P. Henson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, Idris Elba, Morris Chestnut, and last year’s ambassadors, Nia Long and Larenz Tate.
With Regina King leading its 30th year, ABFF steps into a celebration rooted in legacy, talent, and the ongoing evolution of Black cinema and storytelling.