ABFF Day 2 puts Regina King, Dawn Staley, and ‘Strung’ at center stage

 

Pictured: Nicole Friday and Regina King at the Official Filmmaker Breakfast 

Presented during ABFF 2026 at Mr. Chow

ABFF Day 2 puts Regina King, Dawn Staley, and ‘Strung’ at center stage

The second day of the 2026 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) unfolded as a study in legacy, craft, and cultural influence, bringing together established stars, industry leaders, filmmakers, and emerging voices for a packed day of conversations, panels, and screenings.

The day opened with the Official Filmmaker Breakfast at Mr. Chow, where Regina King joined Lina Polimeni, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, consumer, at Eli Lilly, for a 45-minute conversation moderated by Stacy Smith of the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

For King, the appearance was more than just another festival stop. It marked a return to ABFF, a festival that has long served as a meeting place for African American artists, executives, and audiences working throughout film and television.

The day’s programming moved quickly from reflection to production with Peacock’s “Strung: From Script to Screen,” a panel featuring cast members Chloe Bailey, Lynn Whitfield, Lucien Laviscount, and Coco Jones, along with director Malcolm D. Lee and producer Dominique Telson. The conversation centered on the making of the film, its central story, and the creative choices that shaped the project from page to screen.

Lee, whose work has often balanced humor, family, ambition, and cultural specificity, was joined by a cast that reflected the festival’s broader reach: established performers, rising stars, and artists moving in music, television, and film.

Later, King returned to the stage for “A Conversation with Regina King,” a Legacy Talk honoring her career and her relationship to the festival. The discussion traced her journey from early screen roles to her Academy Award-winning work and her evolution as a director, producer, and cultural force.

King’s presence gave the day its emotional center. Her career has moved among generations and formats, from television to film to directing, while remaining tied to questions of visibility, authorship, and control.

The afternoon also featured Dawn Staley, the Olympian, hall of famer, and championship-winning head coach, in “Built First: How Legacy Is Created: A Conversation with Dawn Staley.” The discussion focused on leadership, discipline, and the long work involved with building something that lasts.

Staley’s appearance widened the day’s lens beyond entertainment, placing athletic excellence and cultural leadership in the same conversation. Her message was rooted in clarity: Legacy is not declared. It is built.

The day closed with the 29th annual HBO Short Film Award Showcase, hosted by Bevy Smith. Long regarded as one of ABFF’s signature platforms for emerging filmmakers, the showcase featured five finalists competing for the HBO Short Film Award and a $10,000 grand prize. The four runner-up finalists will each receive $5,000. This year’s filmmakers included Jared Leaf for “Spilled Milk,” Modupe Thompson for “Facade,” Jeremiah Towolawi for “The Truth About Space,” Linda Lô for “We Had Fun,” and Carlton Daniel Jr. for “FLY.”

Taken together, activities of Day 2 of ABFF showed the festival’s range. It was a place for celebrity and access, but also for serious conversations about authorship, leadership, and the future of storytelling. 

From King’s homecoming to Staley’s reflections about legacy to the short-film showcase’s emerging voices, the day made clear why ABFF remains one of the most important gatherings for African American cinema and television.