{"id":6265,"date":"2016-05-24T17:38:33","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T21:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.abff.com\/?p=6265"},"modified":"2016-09-14T14:13:38","modified_gmt":"2016-09-14T18:13:38","slug":"central-intelligence-to-screen-as-opening-night-film-at-the-20th-abff-in-miami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/abff.com\/archive\/2018\/central-intelligence-to-screen-as-opening-night-film-at-the-20th-abff-in-miami\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cCentral Intelligence\u201d Starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, to Screen as Opening Night Film at the 20th American Black Film Festival on June 15, 2016 in Miami"},"content":{"rendered":"

ABFF FIRST LOOK CONVERSATIONS CONFIRMED WITH NATE PARKER, AJA NAOMI KING AND GABRIELLE UNION FOR \u201cTHE BIRTH OF A NATION\u201d AND GABRIELLE UNION, DAVID E. TALBERT AND WILL PACKER FOR \u201cALMOST CHRISTMAS\u201d<\/em><\/h2>\r\n\r\n

PRESENTED BY THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. (MPAA), WITH COURTESY FROM WARNER BROS. PICTURES, FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES AND UNIVERSAL PICTURES<\/em><\/h3>\r\n\r\n

New York, New York (May 24, 2016)<\/em> – The new action comedy Central Intelligence<\/em>, from director Rawson Marshall Thurber<\/strong> (We’re the Millers, Dodgeball<\/em>) will screen on opening night of the 20th American Black Film Festival on Wednesday, June 15, at the Olympia Theater, 174 East Flagler Street, Miami. The opening night film is presented by the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA), courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures, in advance of its nationwide release.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Starring Dwayne Johnson<\/strong> (San Andreas, Hercules, Furious 7<\/em>) and Kevin Hart<\/strong>, (Ride Along, The Wedding Ringer, Get Hard<\/em>), Central Intelligence follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob (Johnson), who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent, coming home for his high school reunion. Claiming to be on a top-secret case, Bob enlists the help of former “big man on campus,” Calvin (Hart), now an accountant who misses his glory days. But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he’s getting into, it’s too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

A New Line Cinema and Universal Pictures presentation distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Central Intelligence<\/em> also stars Oscar-nominee Amy Ryan<\/strong> (Gone Baby Gone<\/em>), Aaron Paul<\/strong> (TV’s Breaking Bad<\/em>), and Danielle Nicolet<\/strong> (TV’s The Game, Born Again Virgin<\/em>) and will open in theaters June 17.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

“The MPAA is thrilled to sponsor the American Black Film Festival for the fourth year in a row and the Opening Night film for the second year. We are pleased to partner with one of our member studios, Warner Bros., to bring their new film, “Central Intelligence,” starring Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, to the festival audience. I want to commend my good friend, Jeff Friday, and everyone at the American Black Film Festival for the amazing job they have done over the past 20 years. MPAA’s ongoing partnership with the ABFF underscores my belief that our industry is best served when we present a wide array of diverse stories,” said Senator Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

ABFF FIRST LOOK<\/strong> is a new signature panel event at the ABFF, and will give festival attendees an inside look into two of the Fall\u2019s most talked about films: The Birth of a Nation<\/em> and Almost Christmas<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

THE BIRTH OF A NATION<\/em>, presented by MPAA, courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures, will include an enlightening conversation with The Birth of a Nation<\/em> filmmaker and actor Nate Parker<\/strong> (Beyond the Lights, Red Tails<\/em>), along with actress Aja Naomi King<\/strong> (How To Get Away with Murder<\/em>) and actress Gabrielle Union<\/strong> (Being Mary Jane, Bad Boys II<\/em>). They will showcase behind-the-scenes clips on the making of the film, as well as discuss the film\u2019s incredible journey to date. The panel will take place on Friday, June 17 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ritz Carlton Miami.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Set against the antebellum South, THE BIRTH OF A NATION follows Nat Turner (Nate Parker), a literate slave and preacher, whose financially strained owner, Samuel Turner (Armie Hammer), accepts an offer to use Nat\u2019s preaching to subdue unruly slaves. As he witnesses countless atrocities – against himself and his fellow slaves – Nat orchestrates an uprising in the hopes of leading his people to freedom. The film opens in theaters October 7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Images: http:\/\/wdrv.it\/1QiLQjL<\/a>
\r\nTeaser Trailer: http:\/\/wdrv.it\/1XzK2Zu<\/a>
\r\nHashtag: #TheBirthofaNation<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cSenator Dodd and the MPAA team have been wonderful partners over the past four years and have proven their commitment to supporting diversity in the motion picture industry,” says ABFF Founder Jeff Friday. “We are excited about their expanded footprint at this year’s festival including hosting our opening night film and inaugural ABFF First Look panel series.” <\/p>\r\n\r\n

THE MAKING OF ALMOST CHRISTMAS<\/em>, sponsored by Comcast NBCU, courtesy of Universal Pictures, an MPAA studio, will bring the ABFF audience a first-look at Universal\u2019s new comedy from writer\/director\/executive producer David E. Talbert<\/strong> (Baggage Claim<\/em>) and producer Will Packer<\/strong> (Ride Along, Think Like a Man<\/em> series, This Christmas<\/em>). The all-star cast is led by Kimberly Elise, Danny Glover, John Michael Higgins, Romany Malco, Mo\u2019Nique, JB Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Omar Epps, Nicole Ari Parker, Jessie Usher<\/strong> and DC Young Fly<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Almost Christmas<\/em> tells the festive story of a beloved patriarch who asks his family for one gift this holiday season: to get along. If they can honor that wish and spend five days under the same roof without killing one another, it will be a Christmas miracle.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Talbert, Packer and Union (who also executive produces the comedy) will participate in a panel discussion for festivalgoers about the making of Almost Christmas<\/em> on Friday, June 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ritz Carlton Miami. The panel will be moderated by Buzzfeed Pop Culture Editor, Sylvia Obell<\/strong>. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Almost Christmas<\/em> arrives in theaters on November 11.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Images: http:\/\/wdrv.it\/1QiLQjL<\/a>
\r\nTeaser Trailer: Watch<\/a>
\r\nHashtag: #AlmostChristmas<\/p>\r\n\r\n

To purchase passes, tickets for events, panels and screenings at the American Black Film Festival, log on to www.ABFF.com<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to ABFF\u2019s multiple social media platforms:?<\/p>\r\n