Director named “Female Filmmaker to Watch” Debuts award-winning first feature, ‘No Ordinary Love,’ at 24th ABFF
July 24, 2020
Director named “Female Filmmaker to Watch” Debuts award-winning first feature, ‘No Ordinary Love,’ at 24th American Black Film Festival
Romantic Thriller Brings National Topics to Light with a Powerful And Diverse Creative Team to Miami Beach’s ABFF
MIAMI BEACH, Florida (July 24, 2020) — The industry celebrated as the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) announced yesterday their lineup for this year’s highly anticipated festival including the U.S. Narrative Feature film No Ordinary Love from Award-Winning Director Chyna Robinson. The first-ever digital fest for the company will showcase 90 films from across the globe (August 21 – 30, 2020) selected from a record number of entries featuring the best of independent Black cinema.
When asked about her film being selected as part of the American Black Film Festival, Chyna Robinson said, “It seems surreal. This is a filmmaker’s dream and an amazing opportunity to showcase our work at such a prestigious festival.”
Called “Chilling” by CW Orlando , No Ordinary Love is a romantic thriller that follows the lives of two female protagonists who plot a potentially deadly escape from their manipulative partners. The themes of the film have resonated with filmgoers and festival juries alike with an impressive award-winning showing across the festival circuit including: Robinson’s personal win of the coveted Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award, Indie Memphis (2019) plus overall film awards including Audience Choice Awards , Indie Memphis (2019); Worldwide Women’s Film Festival (2020); Best Feature Film, National Black Film Festival (2020); Best Edit, International Film Festival, Nice (France, 2020) and several other awards.
“The more than 90 films in this year’s festival are the work of a group of powerful and passionate storytellers who reflect the diversity of voices in our industry,” said Jeff Friday, founder and CEO ABFF Ventures. “Creating an opportunity for these filmmakers to reach a broader audience is our core mission. We are thrilled to have IMDb on board to simulcast the Awards Show.”
For many Black filmmakers and creatives, participation in ABFF’s premier festival is a major career milestone. The festival is designed to bring a National spotlight on projects and talent often overlooked by Hollywood. As both the film’s screenwriter and director, Chyna Robinson has set her sights on expanding both the voice and representation in the world of filmmaking.
“As a Black, female director I have faced a number of challenges in finding opportunities in the film industry. I think when you look at the fact that last year, out of the 100 top grossing films, women only represented 12% of the directors and even less were Black women, that says a lot. We have certainly come a long way, but we still have so far to go. American Black Film Festival is unquestionably playing a huge role in creating opportunities for Indie filmmakers,” said Robinson.
In addition to Chyna’s role as the film’s auteur, she made it a priority to assemble a creative team that includes women and people of color in numerous key roles for production including the project’s producer, executive producer, director of photography, editor, and 1st AD.
No Ordinary Love is scheduled to screen as part of the 24th annual and first ever virtual American Black Film Festival.
US Narrative Feature Films are eligible for the following Jury Awards – Best Director, Best Narrative Feature, Best Screenplay, and the John Singleton Award for Best First Feature, presented by Netflix.
Screening times are available at https://www.abff.com/2020-films/.
To set up an interview with Chyna or for additional press asset requests, please contact Holland Sanders at holland@hollandcollective.co.
ABOUT NO ORDINARY LOVE:
Lines between romantic ideals and control become blurred when Elizabeth’s charming husband manipulates her into believing that she is going insane. At the same time, Tanya’s idyllic life is marred when her husband can no longer handle the stress of his career. When both women decide to leave, they realize it isn’t going to go as smoothly as they’d planned.
Online
www.NoOrdinaryLoveMovie.com
Facebook: @NoOrdinaryLoveMovie
Instagram: @NoOrdinaryLoveMovie
Twitter: @NOLMovie
Film Details
Duration: 97 minutes
Production Year: 2019
Language: English
Film Awards
Duncan-Williams Scriptwriting Award, Indie Memphis Film Festival – Chyna Robinson
Audience Choice Award – Indie Memphis Film Festival
Audience Choice Award – Worldwide Women’s Film Festival
Best Feature – National Black Film Festival
Best Editing – International Film Festival – NICE
Best Editing – Worldwide Women’s Film Festival
Best Ensemble Cast – Worldwide Women’s Film Festival
Best Lead Actor – Eric Hanson, Worldwide Women’s Film Festival
ABOUT CHYNA ROBINSON:
Director, writer, and producer Chyna Robinson made her film debut with the short film entitled Greenwood: 13 Hours (2017). The short won 18 awards including 3 Best Short film awards, Best Actor and Best Actress, Best Edit, Best Sound Design, and others.
On the heels of producing her latest film, Chyna was honored by SXSW 2019 as a “Female Filmmaker to Watch” by Film Fort Worth. She also appeared on prime news segments on the CW network in Orlando, FL and Live at 9 in Memphis, TN. In addition to narrative projects, Chyna has worked as a director on several commercial projects and has recently penned the pilot for a television sitcom.
ABOUT AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL:
24th Annual | August 21 – 30, 2020
The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to recognizing black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration.
After 24 years, the festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging black artists — many of who have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Will Packer (“Girls Trip”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Kevin Hart (“Night School”), Omari Hardwick (“Power”) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”). The ABFF is the preeminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in the entertainment Industry.
As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the ABFF attracts a broad audience of celebrity talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the five-day event. The festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by a full schedule of intriguing independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.
The 24th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place online August 21-30, 2020 at abff.com. The ABFF Online Edition will continue the tradition of the live festival, featuring the best of independent black cinema, studio premieres, conversations and panels, business of entertainment seminars, along with virtual networking events.
The ABFF will also use its platform for social change in response to the scourge of racial injustice in our country, as well as educate and support its community in an effort to help in its recovery from the coronavirus. This year’s festival theme is “Community First!”