Entertainment

TV AND FILM HEAVY HITTERS CELEBRATE BLACK EXCELLENCE AT THE 2017 ³BET PRESENTS THE AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL HONORS²

Published on February 22, 2017

DENZEL WASHINGTON, QUEEN LATIFAH, TERRENCE HOWARD, ISSA RAE, F. GARY GRAY, CICELY TYSON, VIOLA DAVIS, COMMON, PHARRELL WILLIAMS, JAY ELLIS, OMARI HARDWICK, NIA LONG AND MORE CELEBRATE BLACK EXCELLENCE IN TV AND FILM AT THE 2017 “BET PRESENTS THE AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL HONORS”

THE 2017 “BET PRESENTS THE AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL HONORS” took place on Friday, February 17, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles.
Comedy queen, Regina Hall, kept the audience laughing as host of the evening’s festivities. The annual event celebrates Black culture by honoring individuals, movies and television shows that have had a significant impact on American entertainment.

Actor and director Denzel Washington was honored with the “Hollywood Legacy Award,” musician and actress Queen Latifah with the “Entertainment Icon Award,” writer, producer and actress Issa Rae with the “Rising Star Award,” film director and producer F. Gary Gray with the “Excellence in the Arts Award” and actor and singer, Terrence Howard with the “Excellence in the Arts Award.”

Viola Davis, Common, Pharrell Williams, Lee Daniels, Morris Chestnut, Omari Hardwick and Anika Noni Rose and took the stage as presenters while Maxwell and Dionne Farris performed their hits from the film “Love Jones,” which received the “Classic Cinema Award.”

Special appearances by Cecily Tyson, Jay Ellis, Kofi Siroboe, Nia Long, Larenz Tate, Alexandra Shipp, Luke James, Kylie Bunbury and more…

Related Topics:ABFF, American Black Film Festival, Cecily Tyson, Denzel Washington, Featured, Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, Omari Hardwick

InDaHouse

Celebrity photographer and disabled Vietnam veteran Jerome Dorn embodies the very definition of resilience. Born in Philadelphia, the fifth of seven children, Dorn stayed focused throughout his youth, eventually obtaining his degree in Criminal Justice. Dorn has worked with the Philadelphia Police Department, Department of Justice, World Wide Detective Agency, and several other high profile security groups. Throughout his successful career, Dorn wrestled with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an aftereffect of his military service. Battling the pain and debilitating effect of PTSD, Dorn found comfort behind the camera. Photography proved to be not only therapeutic, but life changing as well. Dorn picked up his first camera in 1970 while serving in Vietnam and knew instantly that behind the lens was where he belonged. His shooting style and photographs were special, generating a buzz in the industry. In 1985, he began his career in photojournalism, working in a variety of genres. Dorn’s credentials include fashion, lifestyle photography, photojournalism, and celebrity/red carpet coverage. Working with MSNBC, Jet Magazine, and major publications in Philadelphia and around the country, Dorn has had the honor of capturing the images of hundreds of notable celebrities and politicians including President Barack Obama, George Bush Jr, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Maya Angelou, Jesse Jackson, Rihanna, Snoop Dog, Will Smith, and Tyler Perry. Photography has sent Dorn around the globe, inspiring his passion for civil activism. In 1995, Dorn assembled and led a group of forty-two men to the Million Man March. Together, they spent five days walking from Philadelphia to Washington DC. In his travels, Dorn observed a common theme amongst the youth of the world. Many of the children he encountered seemed lost. Understanding that opportunities for at-risk youth are minimal, Dorn was inspired to make a difference. Established by Dorn in 2011, InDaHouseMedia was built on the idea that there is room in the house for everyone. With InDaHouseMedia, Dorn’s mission is to provide the future generation with positive direction through sports, music, and photography.