About the Black Movie Awards
Overview
The Wiltern - Los Angeles
Film Life’s Black Movie Awards (BMAs) is an unprecedented awards ceremony in celebration of Black cinema: past, present and future. The BMAs was created to recognize and bring greater attention to the creative contributions made to cinema by people of African descent as well as to give merit to outstanding films portraying the Black experience.
"Quality films are universal; great stories and performances break through cultural barriers to entertain, challenge and inspire all audiences, regardless of race or gender," said Jeff Friday, BMA Founder. "The BMAs mission is to highlight the irrefutable global appeal of Black cinema and the people who personify it."
The BMAs, founded by Jeff Friday in 1997, is a property of Film Life, Inc., a New York-based film marketing, media and distribution company. The company's mission is to spearhead the global distribution of quality Black films and be the leading American brand producing Black movies, television, events and digital content. Film Life’s other key properties include the American Black Film Festival (www.abff.com) and the ABFF DVD Series (www.thefilmlife.com) in partnership with Warner Home Video.
The Executive Producers
Suzanne de Passe and Jeff Friday
Learn more about the show's executive producers…
Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life, Inc. (Creator/Executive Producer, BMAs)
Suzanne de Passe, CEO de Passe Entertainment (Executive Producer/Head Writer, BMAs)
History
Sidney Poitier
The Black Movie Awards was launched in 1997 as a celebration of Black cinema and the achievements of people of African descent in both Hollywood and the independent film community. It was first held as the culminating event of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), a five-day international film market and retreat, recognized as the premiere Black film festival in the United States (www.abff.com).
The BMA celebrated it's television premiere on October 19, 2005 on TNT, and was hosted by Cedric "the Entertainer". In 2006, the show was hosted by Tyler Perry. 2008 will mark the third television broadcast of the BMA, host to be announced.
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