TRENDING WITH MS TRE

Dancehall superstar Demarco releases the track ‘Travel Safe’ featuring Chronic Law. The song comes as part of his highly anticipated debut album ‘Melody’, which was released on October 22, 2021. The song is a nod to his massive 2008 hit ‘Fallen Soldiers’, paying respects to those loved ones we have lost along the way.

Demarco teamed up with California-based Ineffable Records for the release of the ‘Melody’ album. The 16 track album includes impressive features from Sean Paul, Konshens, Sarkodie, Spice, Shaggy, Stephen Marley, Chronic Law, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, and Ky-Mani Marley.

October and November have been dubbed as Miami’s Entertainment Months by Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, marketing sponsor for the 6th Annual iGen
Film Festival. The 6th Annual and consecutive iGen Film Festival takes place in the sunny landscape of Miami's Historic Overtown. This festival is a multi-day event that features programming of screenings of international films, masterclasses, workshops, panel discussions, and an annual award show. In the past, we have featured celebrities and influencers such as Romeo Miller, Sope Aluko, Jo Marie Payton, Cee Lo Green, Reggie Scott, and Ghana Wilson. Produced by Miami Filmmaker Elijah Wells, of Elijah Wells Films, this event is an artistic excellence by bringing together cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry influencers. This year’s ambassador is actress, and youth talent Charity Joy Harrison and will feature the likes of Sandra Justice, Njie Sabik, Tracy Wilson-Mourning, and Tyler Watts. The various master classes, panel discussions, and other events will feature: Ms. Liberty Hull (Miss Black International Ambassador), Tyler Watts (Actor, Rapper, Singer), The Pablo and Paco Youtube Show, Eric Knowles, Nadia Adelay, and more. Each year the festival honors icons, trailblazers, and rising stars in the entertainment
industry. We salute our 2021 honorees: Dr. Dorothy Field Jenkins (Icon Achievement Award), Stamaya Verneret (Rising Star), and Kaige Brown (Rising Star), and more.
The event will take place on October 29th – 31st, 2021 in Historic Overtown, Miami, Florida.

The host venue is Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater Culture Arts Complex located at 819 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33136.

The festival begins with our Reel to Reel Youth Day featuring the Booker T. Washington Marching Band and local middle and high school students. The iGen Film Festival will screen 20 films that include shorts, features and documentaries. There were more than 3,000 international submissions from youth filmmakers. The iGen Film Festival is set to promote and encourage the next generation of young filmmakers who will inspire, lead, and entertain with their stories. For a complete list of films and ticket
information go to www.iGenFilmFestival.com

The festival’s line up this year include directing, content creation, acting for film, and music for films. The iGen Film Festival list of heavyweight film and entertainment industry influencers include Antwan Smith ( Vigorous Films), Wils Felin(CEO-Jitta Flixx, LLC), Passion Roosevelt (P-Say Entertainment) and Shawnnette Longley.

The iGen Mom Manager Talk & Brunch will take place on Sunday, October 31st, 2021 at 2 pm and will feature Keynote Speaker and 2021 iGen Honoree Ms. Tracy Wilson-Mourning. Complimentary bites and cocktails will be provided by our host venue and sponsors Red Rooster Overtown and E11Even Vodka. The panel will be hosted by Ms. Danielle Forbes featuring Martha Wells, Tina Brown, JacQuanda Jackson, and Carmen Morris.

Sponsors for the 2021 iGen Film Festival include: Elijah Wells Film, Simkins Family Foundation, E11EVEN Vodka, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Commissioner Keon Hardemon, Commissioner Watson, SEOPWCRA, Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater Culture Arts Complex, Miami Dade County Public Schools, MIA Magazine, Urban Philanthropies, Overtown Children & Youth Coalition, Overtown Optimist Club, and Miami Dade Chamber of Commerce.

ABFF Ventures, LLC today announced Oscar-winning actress and director Halle Berry as ambassador for the 2021 American Black Film Festival (ABFF). Along with her ambassador functions, Berry will headline ABFF’s popular talk series, an intimate one-on-one conversation that will spotlight her distinguished 30-year career. This year’s festival will be a worldwide virtual experience hosted on the festival’s custom-built platform ABFF PLAY November 3–28.

Berry, who is a long-time supporter of the festival, is notably the festival’s first recipient of the ABFF Rising Star Award which was presented at the inaugural ABFF in 1997. Her return to this milestone ABFF with her directorial debut of BRUISED, in which she also stars, is the result of a 25-year relationship with the festival and captures a full circle moment. The feature film is being released on the Netflix streaming platform on November 24, 2021.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Halle as the ABFF Festival Ambassador for our 25th anniversary year said Jeff Friday, founder ABFF and CEO Jeff Friday Media. “When we met her in 1997, she was a talented emerging actor with a bright future. Today, she is an Academy Award-winner, cultural icon and inspiration to women of color across our industry and the world.”

“For 25 years this festival has consistently supported emerging Black filmmakers,” said Berry. “I was honored to be recognized by ABFF early in my career and could not be prouder to return to the festival as its ambassador to help ABFF’s ongoing efforts to provide opportunities for emerging Black creators. I’m also thrilled to present my directorial debut BRUISED to the ABFF audience.”

The first Black actress to win an Oscar in the Best Actress category for her role in MONSTER’S BALL, Berry also earned an Emmy, Golden Globe, SAG and NAACP Image Award for her extraordinary performance in HBO’s telefilm, INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE, which she also produced.

Berry’s career has spanned three decades, with performances in DIE ANOTHER DAY, JUNGLE FEVER, LOSING ISAIAH, BULWORTH, SWORDFISH and JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM.

In her current film, the gripping sports drama BRUISED, Berry stars as a fighter who reclaims her power, in and out of the ring, when everyone has counted her out.

Former ABFF ambassadors include Mary J. Blige, Idris Elba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina Hall, La La Anthony, Jay Ellis, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick, Common, Taraji P. Henson and Earvin “Magic” Johnson.

The ABFF 2021 worldwide virtual experience will include over 100 independent films from 35 countries, spotlight screenings, talks and networking events featuring creators, artists and industry executives. Access to the festival is free. To register, visit https://abff.com.

For festival information visit and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook. Join in on the conversation by using #ABFF.

ABFF sponsors to date include Warner Media, HBO® (Founding) Cadillac, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Amazon Studios (Presenting); Comcast NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, American Airlines, AT&T, Facebook, IMDb (Premier); ALLBLK, HBOMax, City of Miami Beach, Netflix, Prudential Financial, TBS, Yahoo!, Starz, Warner Bros, Disney Television Studios, National Geographic, Variety (Official) Accenture, AspireTV, Motion Picture Association (MPA), Morgan Stanley, OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) (Supporting). Media partners include BIN: Black Information Network, TheGrio and Rolling Out

For as much as Jada Kingdom twists together dancehall, R&B, pop, and jazz, the Jamaica-born singer, songwriter, model, and designer also merges moments of introspection, seduction, and empowerment. Born and raised in 7 miles Bull Bay (Gold Shore Lane) on the east side of Jamaica, she resided in a two-bedroom home with her mother, brother, and sister—sharing a bed with her siblings. The family used showers outside and cooked outdoors as well.

Despite “growing up in a really rough and dark place,” Jada wrote her first poems at age 8 but fell in love with music when her grandmother first played “The Manhattans” for her. Then she was later inspired by the likes of Nina Simone, Diana King, Sade, Minnie Ripperton, and Amy Winehouse.

At the age of fourteen, she left school, waitressed, promoted events, and modeled. She even launched her own swimwear line and organically built an Instagram following of millions. In 2017, she dropped her debut single “Love Situations.” By the end of the next year, she popped off internationally with “Banana” and the “Banana REMIX Challenge,” amassing 4.4 million Spotify streams and 3.5 million YouTube views. The FADER hailed her as “Jamaica’s alternative voice of pain.”

During 2020, she served up the mixtape, E-Syde Queen (The Twinkle Playlist) #Snacksize, in between collaborating with everyone from YFN Lucci, Popcaan, and Vybz Kartel to Davido, Skillibeng, and Aluna. After amassing 20 million-plus streams and views independently and earning acclaim from The FADER, Rolling Stone, Vibe, and more, she heats up a scorching signature style through a series of singles and her debut project for Money Well Spent/Republic Records led by “Jungle

​The second season of “Games People Play” premieres this Tuesday, October 19, at 10 PM ET/PT. Based on the popular book by Angela Burt-Murray “Games Divas Play,” “Games People Play” is a sexy, stylized one-hour drama about the L.A. high life, featuring a cast of characters where everyone plays to win, including a basketball player navigating both his equally rocky personal life and NBA career, a newly appointed team marketing executive who’s got a lot to prove, a tenacious journalist desperately seeking the truth and a struggling actress with a scandalous past. The talented ensemble cast includes Karrueche Tran, Lauren London in a limited role, Sarunas J. Jackson, Karen Obilom, Parker McKenna Posey, Jackie Long, and Kendall Kyndall and Brandi Denise. In addition, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Vanessa Simmons, Shaun Robinson, Kevin Jackson, Barry Brewer, and Monti Washington reprise their recurring roles, with Cynthia Bailey, Nazanin Mandi, Ro Parrish, Hitman Holla, Leon, and Calvin Seabrooks to guest star in the ten-episode drama. #GamesPeoplePlay.

“GAMES PEOPLE PLAY” is executive produced by Tracey Edmonds of Edmonds Entertainment, Angela Burt-Murray and Vanessa Middleton. Middleton also serves as the showrunner on the series. 
 
For more information, viewers can log on to BET.com and join the conversation by following @BET on all social platforms.

​TV One’s original, autobiographical series UNCENSORED concludes the season with popular trap rapper Jeezy. The finale will air on Sunday, October 24th at 10 PM ET/9C. This season, some of today's most notable personalities told their story in their own words; including Lynn Whitfield, Anthony Hamilton, Swizz Beatz, Raven-Symoné, Kym Whitley, Loretta Devine, Bebe Winans and Tommy Davidson. The season finale will feature rapper Jeezy.
 
The hit autobiographical series UNCENSORED explores the lives of your favorite personalities as they provide first-hand accounts of their success and the obstacles they faced throughout their careers. The next episode stars popular rapper Jeezy. For Grammy nominated rapper Jeezy, discipline, leadership, and ambition come naturally. He grew up in a military family that moved around from Hawaii to Japan before he was sent back to Atlanta to live with his Grandmother. From a young age, Jeezy lived his life in the streets, but he always knew he was destined for more. As he realized he did not want to contend with the consequences of such a risky lifestyle, he saw music as a way out. Putting himself behind the mic wasn’t his original plan. He invested in a recording studio and gathered his friends to be his artists. When that plan fell through, Jeezy decided to step in the booth and tell his own life stories. He released his first mixtape in 2001 under the name Lil J. It was titled Thuggin Under the Influence. In 2004 he collaborated with DJ Drama to release his second mixtape, Tha Streets Iz Watchin. Jeezy’s natural business acumen came in handy. He built a loyal fan base by passing out his CDs and performing around the city. Soon, he was sought after by some of the biggest names in the music business. He negotiated deals with both Bad Boy and Def Jam Records. He released one album with the group Boyz n Da Hood under Bad Boy records in June 2005. The next month he released his platinum selling solo album Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 with Def Jam. Jeezy has released more than 10 studio albums and four of those albums are platinum. Jeezy sees business as his true purpose. In addition to music, he is involved in sports, real estate, beverage companies, and his nonprofit named Street Dreams Foundation.

Jeezy's episode of UNCENSORED was produced for TV One by Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal, James Seppelfrick, Robert A. Boyd lll, Paul Hall and Phil Thornton (Executive Producers), Jay Allen (Co-Executive Producer), Tony L. Strickland (Producers), Nikki Byles (Supervising Producer), Gabby Jones (Talent Producer) and Directed by Kristen Walter and Phil Thornton. For TV One, Jason Ryan is Executive in Charge of Production; and Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting.

For more information on UNCENSORED, visit TV One’s YouTube Channel and check out exclusive, behind-the-scenes content on www.tvone.tv. Download the TV One app! Watch your favorite shows & movies Anytime. Anywhere. Available in the Apple, Google Play, and ROKU app stores. Viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on TV One’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@tvonetv) and the UNCENSORED Facebook and Instagram (@UncensoredTVOne) and using the hashtag #UNCENSORED.

Bounce, the first broadcast and multi-platform entertainment network serving African Americans, will explore the topic of policing and the Black community with the world premiere of “Protect or Neglect” at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 27. The exclusive new, one-hour Bounce Original documentary will be available on Bounce’s popular subscription streaming service Brown Sugar starting Oct. 28.

“Protect or Neglect” looks at decades of turmoil between the Black community and police officers. With interviews from brutality survivors, academics, civil rights attorneys, former police staff and entertainment luminaries, the special looks to address the age-old question: “Who guards the guardians?”

“The deaths of Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Breanna Taylor, George Floyd and too many others have drawn worldwide attention, and the powerful voice of the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked a global conversation on the subject of the treatment and value of Black people in America,” said Bounce general manager Cheryle Harrison. “Bounce plays an important role in the Black community, and ‘Protect or Neglect’ was produced to amplify this discussion and let voices be heard.”

Among those interviewed in “Protect or Neglect:” Cedric The Entertainer and his daughter Lucky Kyles, political activist and former House member Stacey Abrams, retired LAPD sergeant Cheryl Dorsey, “A Million Little Things” producer Royale Watkins and the co-stars/co-executive producers of Bounce’s “Johnson,” Deji LaRay and Thomas Q. Jones.

Cedric The Entertainer talks openly with his daughter about the emotional toll she deals with watching people who look like her die at the hands and knees of police officers who took an oath to protect.

Dorsey questions the behavior displayed repeatedly towards the Black community by police officers, which, she said, will only end when those officers take responsibility for their actions and are held accountable. When it comes to the police, USC Law Professor Jody Armor vehemently recounts an experience he calls the “Black tax” - a common theme shared by the voices in the documentary.

Abrams, a former candidate for Georgia governor, shares her story of not being let into her own graduation celebration. “It’s not a figment of our imagination,” she says. Jones comments on crimes committed by police officers, while LaRay offers, “I think too many people still don’t acknowledge that abuse exists. ...We have to have law enforcement that are willing to not keep this wall of silence.”

According to a Pew Research Center study, nearly 92% of white officers surveyed believe Black people in the U.S. have equal rights, compared to only 29% of Black officers. The documentary asks the question: “How much longer must the Black community go on feeling neglected?”

Bounce (@bouncetv) programming is seen over-the-air, on cable, on DISH channel 359, over-the-top on Roku®, on mobile devices via the Bounce and Brown Sugar apps, and on the web via BounceTV.com. Bounce features a programming mix of original series, docuseries and movies, off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and events, and more. Bounce is part of The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP).

ABFF Ventures LLC announced today that the 2021 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will open its milestone 25th year with Warner Bros. Pictures’ eagerly anticipated film King Richard. The expanded 2021 festival will be available as a worldwide digital experience November 3-28 via its online platform ABFF PLAY. King Richard will be available by special invitation to a limited audience.


King Richard stars two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith, who also is the film’s producer, as Richard Williams, the determined father of Venus and Serena Williams.  The story follows the journey of their family, whose unwavering resolve and unconditional belief ultimately creates two of the world’s greatest sports legends. Also starring are Aunjanue Ellis as the girls’ mom, Oracene Wlliams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams and Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, with Tony Goldwyn and Jon Bernthal as coaches Paul Cohen and Rick Macci. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Monsters and Men) from a script written by Zach Baylin, King Richard will be released in U.S. theaters and stream exclusively on HBO Max, November 19. 

“It is with pride and excitement that we mark our 25th year opening with Warner Bros.’ King Richard, a film that is a touchstone of ABFF’s legacy of showcasing extraordinary Black talent and inspiring storytelling reflecting the brilliance of diversity in Hollywood,” said Nicole Friday, president and general manager, ABFF Ventures LLC. “We’re especially gratified to have the film’s director, Reinaldo Marcus Green, a previous finalist in HBO’s prestigious Short Film Competition, return to ABFF as feature film director — demonstrating the importance of the HBO pipeline in advancing the careers of Black artists. This event is simply a grand slam on every level."

“Having King Richard at ABFF this year is truly a full circle moment,” stated Reinaldo Marcus Green. “Back in 2013, my short film Stone Cars, that I made while studying at NYU screened in competition and was distributed on HBO -- so opening up the festival for ABFF’s 25th anniversary means a lot to me. It's an absolute honor to return this year with our film. Thank you to Warner Bros. and the whole filmmaking team, the family we built on set, the Williams family for allowing us to tell their groundbreaking story and, of course, our wonderful crew and cast led by none other than Mr. Will Smith.”

ABFF 2021 worldwide virtual experience will include over 100 independent films from 35 countries, spotlight screenings, talks and networking events featuring creators, artists and industry executives. Access to the festival is free. To register, visit https://abff.com.

ABFF sponsors to date include WarnerMedia and HBO® (Founding); Cadillac, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau and Amazon Studios (Presenting); Comcast NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, American Airlines, AT&T, Facebook, and IMDb (Premier); ALLBLK, HBOMax, City of Miami Beach, Netflix, Prudential Financial, TBS, Warner Bros., Variety and Yahoo! (Official); Accenture, AspireTV, Motion Picture Association (MPA) and Morgan Stanley (Supporting). Media partners include BIN: Black Information Network, TheGrio and Rolling Out. 
 
For festival information visit and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook. Join in on the conversation by using #ABFF. 


ABOUT KING RICHARD
Armed with a clear vision and a brazen 78-page plan, Richard Williams is determined to write his daughters, Venus and Serena, into history. Training on the abandoned tennis courts of Compton, California, rain or shine, the girls are shaped by their father’s unyielding commitment and their mother’s balanced perspective and keen intuition, defying the seemingly insurmountable odds and prevailing expectations laid before them.
The film is produced by Tim White and Trevor White’s Star Thrower Entertainment and Will Smith’s own banner, Westbrook. Isha Price, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, James Lassiter, Jada Pinkett Smith, Adam Merims, Lynn Harris, Allan Mandelbaum, Jon Mone and Peter Dodd are the executive producers.
​
King Richard is a Warner Bros. Pictures Presentation, A Star Thrower Entertainment Production, A Westbrook Production and A Keepin’ It Reel Production and will be released in U.S. theaters and on HBO Max via the Ad-Free plan on November 19, 2021; it will be available on HBO Max for 31 days from theatrical release.​

ABOUT ABFF
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to recognizing Black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the Black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration. Now in its 25th year, the festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging Black artists – many of whom have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians. The ABFF is a property of ABFF Ventures LLC, a division of Jeff Friday Media (JFM).