L.A. will host black film fest

The 11th annual American Black Film Festival, which has been held for the last five years in Miami, is relocating to the West Coast, with activities to be centered in West Hollywood and Beverly Hills on Oct. 25 to 29.

“The move to Los Angeles is an important part of the festival’s evolution. We intend to work more closely with the studios and create a more potent marketplace for buyers and producers of independent black cinema,” Jeff Friday, founder and chief executive of Film Life Inc., said Thursday.

Founded in 1997, the festival’s mission “is to strengthen the black filmmaking community through resource sharing, education, artistic collaboration and career development,” according to Film Life, a New York-based film marketing and distribution company. Since its inception, more than 400 independent films have been screened, 70% of which have gone on to secure theatrical or DVD distribution, Friday said.