renew: The seventh annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) awards show, transformed in the wake of the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles, will include a tribute to the Altadena community, celebrating its residents and their extraordinary contributions to Black history and culture.

In addition to honoring the evening's special honorees - Keke Palmer, Giancarlo Esposito, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Aaron Pierre and Marla Gibbs - the awards ceremony, hosted by Nice Crowd, will also spotlight those who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the arts, activism, education, business Pioneers who made a major impact. and the social landscape of California and beyond.

“The Altadena community embodies what we celebrate at the American Black Film Festival – strength, unity and a commitment to excellence,” said Jeff and Nicole Friday, CEOs of Nice Crowd. “By honoring the enduring spirit of this historic community , our goal is to showcase Black achievements, inspire creativity, and provide unwavering support for a vibrant cultural future. This tribute is a testament to perseverance and collective effort, and we are proud to feature Altadena's. Stories as a source of inspiration for generations to come.”

The private, untelevised dinner will be held on February 17 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills and hosted by Zainab Johnson, winner of the 2013 ABFF Comedy Wings competition.

Palmer will receive the Renaissance Award, which is given to "trend-setting content creators in recognition of their outstanding work and commitment to championing diversity, equity and inclusion through their work." The Emmy Award-winning actor ("Nope," "Turn Up With the Taylors"), producer, writer and host recently celebrated the release of her memoir "Master of Me" and stars with SZA in "One of Them Days", which caused a sensation and was released on January 17.

Ellis-Taylor and Esposito will receive ABFF's Excellence in the Arts Award, which honors acclaimed artists for their work and outstanding career achievements. Ellis Taylor received her first Oscar nomination for her role as tennis icon Venus and Oraxine Price, the mother of Serena Williams, in 2021's "King Richard," and is credited with "The Time". Nominated for Emmys on "They See Us" and "Lovecraft Country," she's won critical acclaim for her acting in her latest role, starring in an adaptation of Colson Whitehead's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "Nickboy." 》movie.

Emmy nominee Esposito is best known for playing Gustavo "Gus" Flynn on "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul." Next year, he'll add three more films to his impressive resume (which also includes The Usual Suspects, Do What You Should Do, The Mandalorian and The Boys): Captain America: Brave New World,” the Russo Brothers’ “Power State” and Shonda Rhimes’ “The House.”

"For decades, these incredible ABFF winners have captivated audiences and shaped the cultural landscape with their groundbreaking work," said Friday. "We are honored to honor Aunjanue, Giancarlo and Keke for their outstanding contributions to the industry and our shared culture."

Gibbs, a five-time Emmy nominee and eight-time NAACP Image Award winner, will receive the Hollywood Legacy Award, while Pierre will receive the Rising Star Award.

"Mara's groundbreaking career inspired countless aspiring actors and creatives, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry with her talent, grace and dedication," Friday said. “We are equally excited to introduce Aaron Pierre, a rising star whose powerful performance embodies the next generation of storytelling excellence.”

Gibbs is best known for her iconic role as Florence on "The Jeffersons" and secondarily for NBC's classic sitcom "227," which she co-created and executive produced. Her career spans film, television and music, with roles in The Visit, Lily in Winter, 101 Dalmations, ER, Cold Case, King of Queens and her own album The Visit", "Lily in Winter", "101 Dalmations" and played important roles. “It’s never too late.” Gibbs is a passionate arts advocate who revived the legendary Los Angeles jazz supper club called Marla’s Memory Lane and co-founded the Crossroads Theater and Acting school.

Pierre captivated the industry with his stellar performance in Netflix's hit thriller "Legacy" and as the voice of the iconic Mufasa in Barry Jenkins' "The Lion King" prequel for Disney. He also starred in Jenkins' critically acclaimed Prime Video series "The Underground Railroad," as Malcolm X in National Geographic Channel's "Genius: MLK/X," and in Clement Virgo's "Brothers." ", Garth Davis's "Enemy" and M. "Old" by Nate Shyamalan. Pierre will next star as John Stewart in the DC Studios and Max series "Lanterns" and in Season 4 of Apple TV+'s "The Morning Show."

Founded in 2016, ABFF Honors recognizes excellence in the film and television industries and furthers the mission of the American Black Film Festival, which was founded in 1997 by Jeff Friday to showcase Black stories narration.

Previous recipients include Taraji P. Henson, Jeffrey Wright, Garrett Morris and Marla Bullock Akee Mara Brock Akil (who was feted at the 2024 gala), as well as Denzel Washington, Ava DuVernay, Regina King King, Kerry Washington, Courtney B. Vance, Charles D. Aguirre D. King, Janelle Monáe, Tiffany Haddish, Ryan Coogler, Don Cheadle, Will Park, Queen Latifah, Lena Waithe, Terrence Howard , F. Gary Gray, Issa Rae, Diahann Carroll, Billy Dee Williams, Omari Hardwick and the late Louis Gossett Jr.

ABFF Honors is produced by Nicole and Jeff Friday for Nice Crowd, in association with dePasse Jones Entertainment and Rikki Hughes for Magic Lemonade.