‘Strung’ Director Malcolm D. Lee Talks Changes Since the Last Time He Opened ABFF with ‘Girls Trip’
Malcolm D. Lee discusses his return to the American Black Film Festival with his new film 'Strung.' The film, a psychological thriller, marks a departure from his previous work, such as 'Girls Trip.' Lee emphasizes the importance of audience response in filmmaking and the collaborative nature of his work with producers Tyler Perry and Jason Blum.
- ▪Malcolm D. Lee's new project 'Strung' will open the 30th anniversary edition of the American Black Film Festival.
- ▪'Strung' is a psychological thriller that differs from Lee's previous films, which were primarily comedies.
- ▪The film stars Chloe Bailey as a violinist who tutors a traumatized young girl, exploring themes of past trauma.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.indiewire.com/features/interviews/malcolm-d-lee-strung-interview-abff-girls-trip-1235196702/ |
| Publication time | Wed, 27 May 2026 22:30:00 +0000 |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
To keep with the theme of “Homecoming” for the 30th anniversary edition of the American Black Film Festival, organizers Jeff and Nicole Friday tapped a familiar face to kick off its opening night. “I remember when we screened ‘Girls Trip,’ it went over like gangbusters,” said director Malcolm D. Lee over Zoom, recalling his first film that opened ABFF nearly a decade ago, and went on to be a global comedy phenomenon. Now, his new project “Strung,” which comes to Peacock in June, marks his grand return, but “it’ll be a different type of reaction.
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