LA, California (May 4, 2022) – The American Black Film Festival celebrating its 26th anniversary announced The Young Vote as an Official Selection. ABFF will take place in Miami Beach from June 15-19, followed by virtual events on ABFF Play from June 20-30.
The ABFF, in its new hybrid format, opens with Netflix’s upcoming documentary Civil, based on the life of civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The festival brings together Black culture enthusiasts, artists, executives, and filmmakers from around the world for five days of screenings, talk events, exclusive parties, and high-powered networking.
“We’ve curated an entertaining and thought-provoking lineup of features, documentaries, and web series and I am so excited to share our content with a live audience again,” said Nicole Friday festival producer and president of ABFF ventures.
“I made this film because I wanted to find out why young people were not voting in higher numbers in our country. After working for decades with young people in education, I did not buy the narrative that our young people didn’t care and that’s why they didn’t turn out to vote. I think our young people care deeply about our country and this planet. But like most complicated problems in our society, there are no easy solutions and I think The Young Vote tells a different story through the eyes of young people of what it will take to fully engage them in our democracy” said Robinson.
THE YOUNG VOTE was written, directed, and produced by Diane Robinson. Award-winning television personality and worldwide animal advocate Marco Antonio Regil also served as a producer along with Award-winning producer Mark Gordon and producers Lu-Shawn M. Thompson and Patricia Howell.
About Diane Robinson
Award-winning education leader, filmmaker, and activist Diane Robinson was born in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. She immigrated to the United States with her mother when she was 7 years old. Robinson was raised in Brooklyn where she attended public schools, graduated from Midwood High School at age 16, and was a first-generation graduate of Vassar College in 1991.
She credits her mother as her inspiration, as well as Wendy Kopp, Founder of Teach For America and Teach For All. Diane Robinson founded Yard Girl Productions in 2019 to actualize the evidence-based learning theory that film can activate aha moments, change mindsets and catalyze impact in society.
A movement-builder since her early days on the front lines as a teacher and non-profit leader in low-income communities for organizations like Teach For America, KIPP, Teach For All, and Global Nomads Group — she knows how to make change happen.
She has traveled and worked extensively in the United States and globally, is a first-generation college graduate and Jamaican-American who earned her bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, a Master’s degree from California State University, and a Doctorate from Harvard University.
Diane is also a Pahara Institute Fellow, a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and a 2021 Recipient of the Black Voices for Black Justice Award from the Moriah Fund.
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