MIAMI, Fla. (FNN News) — The 2016 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) kicked off Wednesday night with its red carpet opening ngiht premiere, Central Intelligence. VIP attendees included ABFF founder Jeff Friday, Black Enterprise President and CEO Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., GRAMMY and Oscar winner Common, who is the festival ambassador, TV One’s Roland Martin, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO William Talbert, and Conan writer Deon Cole, among many others.

The ABFF, a Black Enterprise event, made history on its opening night in not one, but two ways. The first is its staying power: ABFF celebrates its twentieth year, which is a tough feat for any film festival, particularly one that celebrates and facilitates works by people of color. The second milestone comes by virtue of the very opening night movie, Central Intelligence. Until now, the Motion Picture Aassociation of America (MPAA), which represents the six major U.S. production companies, has never identified with any film festival. For the first time ever, the organization has chosen to partner with a film festival, and it chose ABFF.

Lead actress Danielle Nicolet introduced the film after the opening ceremony, welcoming the 300+ viewers to the comedy mayhem.

_{Mellissa Thomas is Editor of the Florida National News. The Jamaica-born author and journalist is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran with degrees in Entertainment Business and Film. She also helps business owners, CEOs, executives, and speakers double their income and clinch the credibility they deserve by walking them step by step through the process of developing, completing, marketing, and publishing their first book.}