The New Black - Idris Elba Named Ambassador for American Black Film Festival

25th March 2010

Idris Elba Named Ambassador for American Black Film Festival

This summer, one of Hollywood's hottest black actors, Idris Elba, will host the 14th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF). Hackney born Elba, tipped to be the first black Bond (if it ever happens) made a name for himself as Russell "Stringer" Bell on HBO's critically acclaimed drama The Wire, signed up for his ambassador role in part to continue to inspire and encourage African Americans in the film industry.

"One of the reasons why I took on the ambassadorship is because I want to do directing and storytelling, and in the future I feel like with the energy I'm bringing in, I'm going to bring in more people and explore that world."

"It gives me the opportunity to vibe with filmmakers. "I feel relatively new in comparison to some of the cats writing scripts."

Elba, who considers ABFF "the greatest film festival in the world," credits it with helping him nail his first lead film role in the 2005 Rob Hardy-directed film The Gospel.

"It was this very platform that allowed me to be cast in the starring role of Reverend Charles Fran in the drama film The Gospel, which is an independent film," he said. "I came to the festival when I wasn't really on the map, and I made a few connects that still help me now."

"As an ambassador, I'm really encouraging young filmmakers to come to this film festival to check out the vibe, even if film is something you've had a romance with and don't know how to get into," he continued.

Since starring in the 2009 blockbuster Obsessed with superstar Beyonce Knowles, Elba is gearing up for what he considers his biggest movie year yet.

ABFF weekend will take place in Miami this year from June 23 through June 26. The festival, which was established in 1997 by Film Life, Inc.'s Jeff Friday with the help of financial backing from HBO, seeks to strengthen the black filmmaking community through panel discussions, film showcases and contests to highlight emerging talent.

This year, women in film and television are the focus of the festival. There will be an all-woman grand jury to judge the HBO Short Film Award, as well as prizes for best film, best documentary and best performance by an actor. Winners will take home between $5,000 and $20,000 in prizes.

Call for Entry Closing Dates

HBO Short Film Competition: March 31st 2010

Documentaries: April 5th 2010

Narrative Features: (Live Action or Animation) April 15th 2010

For Submission Form click link to visit ABFF www.abff.com/festival

Bio

Elba, an only child, was born Idrissa Akuna Elba, and shortened his first name when he started acting at Trinity Comprehensive, a secondary school in Canning Town, with encouragement from his drama teacher Susan McPhee. His father is Sierra Leonean and his mother is Ghanaian.Elba grew up in East Ham.

He began helping an uncle with his wedding-DJ business at age 14, and within a year had started his own DJ company with some friends.

He left school at 16 and won a place in the National Youth Music Theatre thanks to a £1,500 Prince’s Trust grant, but then ended up having to do everything from working the night shift at a Ford factory in Dagenham, Essex to cold-call advertising sales to pay the rent between roles in Crimewatch murder reconstructions.

He was spinning the decks in nightclubs under the DJ nickname Big Driis by the age of 19, but began auditioning for television parts in his early twenties.