Everything about the 2025 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors was intentional, even the food.

Nicole Friday wears many hats, including film executive, producer, president of ABFF, and chef. She has played a key role in expanding the impact and reach of the festival founded by her husband, Jeff Friday, in 1997. 

When Black Hollywood’s elite descended upon the SLS Hotel Beverly Hills for a night that felt much like a night of revival at a Baptist church, Friday says the number one goal was to uplift spirits – and they did just that.

The night kicked off with the Victory Bible Church choir, who performed a rendition of Donald Lawrence and The Tri-City Singers’ “The Best Is Yet To Come,” to pay homage to the lives lost in the LA wildfires, particularly the Black community of Altadena, who was severely impacted by the Eaton fire. 

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“We wanted everyone to feel better and good about being here and making a celebratory moment, so it was important for us to open on a high note if you will, with the Victory Bible Church choir,” Friday told MadameNoire.

The moment was all a part of the larger process at hand to continue making ABFF Honors an event that recognizes significant contributions made by those in the community that drive the culture forward. This year’s honorees included Marla Gibbs who walked away with the Hollywood Legacy Award, Keke Palmer who received the Renaissance Award, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor who was crowned with the Excellence in the Arts Award, Gincarlo Esposito was the male recipient of that same award, and last but certainly not least, Aaron Pierre was honored with the Rising Star Award.

“Every year, some people don’t get recognized in other mainstream award ceremonies, and we want to really dig a bit deeper and not just go for the people who are popular, and not to say that they’re not deserving, because they are, but we really wanted to go with those who may not always get recognized,” said Friday.

She also spoke to how this year’s ceremony was filled with many full-circle moments. From Keke Palmer returning to receive an award of her own after she played a role in presenting the late Diahann Carroll with the Legacy Award in 2016 to host Zainab Johnson’s relationship with ABFF that started long ago.

“We always try and have some connective tissue,” Friday reflected. “Zainab was a part of contest for a comedy show we held many years ago, and she was our first female winner. And so we wanted to figure out ways to bring her back. I thought she was excellent and did an amazing job. We try and continue our stories, which actually is about how ABFF Honors started. It stems from the American Black Film Festival, which, of course, has been all about dedicating and celebrating people who have had achievements and who are also emerging in the industry.”

(L_R) Nicole Friday, Zanaib Johnson and Jeff Friday at the 7th Annual American Black Film Festival Honors held at the SLS Hotel on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Aaron J. Thornton / ABFF Honors 2025

As a chef and culinary expert, Friday went beyond carefully selecting this year’s honorees and host. She was also responsible for curating the ceremony’s menu.

“What was important for us is that it wasn’t just another award ceremony or banquet at a hotel, getting hotel food, I wanted it to be about our heritage, our culture, our community, which is why the Caribbean southern influences were inspired in the menu with the collard greens, red snapper, and the coconut rice. All of that was very intentional.”

She added, “And even, you know, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s birthday was a few days after the ceremony, knowing that it was her birthday and having that moment to not only celebrate her and honor her because of all of her achievements in Hollywood, but to celebrate her life. Having a birthday cake and having that moment where we could sing, of course, Stevie Wonder’s ‘Happy Birthday’ rendition, was intentional and important to us.”

As they look ahead to the 19th year of the Miami festival, Friday says the intentionality doesn’t stop there. During the recent ABFF Honors, Friday shared the news of a continued partnership between ABFF and Ally, with the financial institution returning as the presenting sponsor of this summer’s event. 

(L-R) Jeff Friday, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Nicole Friday attend the 7th Annual American Black Film Festival Honors at SLS Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Beverly Hills on February 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty

She also revealed that Ally will play an integral role in making the brand more accessible to those who cannot attend the flagship event in June in Florida.

“As you’ve heard, we’re kicking off, with our good people of Ally, our ABFF Pop-Up Tour this fall, which will go to four major cities,” Friday explained.

“Everything that we do is intentional and we want people to feel welcome, to feel that they belong, to understand that we see that whatever event we do, whether on the bigger scale or the smaller scale, we want it to feel like home,” she continued. “We want it to feel like it’s a reunion. We want it to feel like it’s a church revival. That’s what we want, because that’s who we are, and I think that starts with the leadership. I know that I’m a part of that leadership, but it does because that’s what we believe and that’s what we feel, Jeff and I. That’s how we live our life, whether on a professional level or a personal level, that’s just who we are. I think that intentionality can’t be faked. It can’t be imitated. It has to be genuine, and it has to be innate, and that’s what we hope comes across with everything that we do.”

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The post How President Nicole Friday Brought Culture To Every Detail Of The 2025 ABFF Honors — Down to the Menu [Exclusive] appeared first on MadameNoire.