This time next week there will be a “Celebration of Hollywood,” Tuesday, Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and Centric as the American Black Film Festival, BET, and Black Enterprise host ABFF Awards, an annual gala saluting excellence in motion pictures and television.
This award show is on a mission to celebrate black culture by recognizing individuals, movies and television shows that have made a significant impact on American entertainment and those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.
Hosted by actor/comedian Mike Epps, ABFF Awards honor the works and legacies of seasoned actors and creators such as film legend Diahann Carroll, who will be presented with the Hollywood Legacy Award, television and film producer, Will Packer, who will receive the ABFF Alumni Achievement Award, actor/director Don Cheadle will be the male honoree for Excellence in the Arts Award along with actor/director Regina King who will be the female honoree. The Rising Star Award honoree goes to none other than director Ryan Coogler.
In honor of our Rising Star Honoree, Ryan Coogler, please check out this award winner’s path to stardom.
Born in Oakland California, avid student-athlete Coogler earned a football scholarship to St. Mary’s College before his talent for storytelling led him to begin shooting shorts with friends and teammates. He was later admitted into the USC School of Cinematic Arts where he went on to create award winning shorts Locks, Fig and Gap. After receiving his M.F.A, Coogler went on to create his now acclaimed first feature film, Fruitvale Station, the story of the last 24 hours of the life of Oscar Grant, who was shot to death by a police officer at Oakland’s Fruitvale BART station.
Following rave reviews from his debut feature film, in 2015 Coogler released mega-hit Creed, a spin-off of the Rocky films starring Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.
It has also been announced that Coogler will be directing action, drama, sci-fi, Black Panther, due for 2018 release.
He is truly a rising star to be honored.
Catch Coogler and countless groundbreaking stars as they are honored for the work they do in the business, Tuesday, Feb. 23rd at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET and Centric.
If you haven’t gotten the chance to check out Coogler’s first feature film Fruitvale Station here’s a little of what you’ve missed below. Check it out.