Film Life, Inc., today announced power couple Salim and Mara Brock-Akil as the featured guests for the “A Conversation With” discussion at the 16th Annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF). Presented by BlackAtlas.com from American Airlines, this special panel will take place on Friday, June 22 from 12:00 Noon – 1:30 pm at the Ritz Carlton South Beach hotel.
The husband and wife team, Salim and Mara Brock-Akil, who founded Akil Productions, in 2000, instantly broke ground, when the company created CW’s hit, GIRLFRIENDS, which aired for eight years and became one of the longest running sitcoms on television. In 2006, the sitcom THE GAME, also created by Akil Productions, premiered and aired for three seasons on the CW before being picked up by BET Networks. Mara Brock-Akil is also credited as a Key Consulting Producer on ABC’s COUGAR TOWN.
The dynamic duo’s feature film credits are just as impressive as their television success. Salim Akil teamed up with Sony Pictures and Our Stories Films to direct the feature film JUMPING THE BROOM, starring Angela Basset, Paula Patton and Laz Alonso. This film’s success led to the highly anticipated musical, SPARKLE, also produced by Akil Poductions. Written by Mara Brock-Akil and directed by Salim Akil, SPARKLE stars Whitney Houston, Jordan Sparks, Mike Epps and Cee Lo Green.
Salim and Mara Brock-Akil continue to create, develop, and produce projects that entertain as well as bring individuals together and highlight shared human experiences. This year, Mara Brock-Akil has a new series, which she created and wrote, coming to BET Networks. SINGLE BLACK FEMALE, which will premiere on BET later this year, is a biopic about a woman in search of the missing pieces of her successful life as an influential news anchor.
Jeff Friday, Founder and CEO of ABFF states, “This year’s “A Conversation With” discussion is special because we have two guests with individual stories and experiences.” He adds, “Yet, as a married couple, the Akils also bring a very unique perspective about surviving the many pitfalls of the industry and being successful as a team.”
By engaging guests in thought provoking conversations, “A Conversation With” continues to be a special highlight of the festival. Past “A Conversation With” guests include: Paula Patton, Idris Elba, Ice Cube, Laurence Fishburne, Jeffrey Wright and Cuba Gooding Jr.
