Los Angeles, CA — The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF), the nation’s largest and most prestigious celebration of Pan African culture, has announced the cancellation of its highly anticipated 2025 ArtFest to later this year.
The decision to cancel the ArtFest comes in response to unforeseen challenges caused by the recent fires, which significantly impacted planning and logistics. “We are committed to delivering the highest quality experiences for our audience, and in light of these challenges, we felt it was necessary to take the time to ensure the ArtFest meets the exceptional standards our audience expects and deserves,” said Oduduwa Olatunji Executive Director of PAFF.
Despite the postponement of the ArtFest, PAFF’s signature events will continue as planned, including:
• International Black Film Festival featuring over 150 films
• Children’s Fest - A free fun-filled event showcasing kid-friendly films and activities designed to educate and entertain young audiences.
• Student Fest - A curated program of films for students in grades 6-12, addressing today’s social issues and topics that matter most to young people.
• Spokenword Fest - A powerful showcase of spoken word artists delivering electrifying performances that celebrate culture, identity, and expression.
• LOL Comedy Show - An unforgettable night of laughter featuring top comedians from across the diaspora bringing humor and heart to the stage.
• A robust lineup of panel discussions that make up the PAFF Institute
The 2025 Pan African Film Festival itself remains a full-scale celebration of Pan African art and storytelling, featuring an extraordinary lineup of films, events, and cultural experiences. Attendees are invited to immerse themselves in the powerful and diverse stories showcased on screen while PAFF works behind the scenes to prepare an unforgettable ArtFest experience later this year.
The 2025 Pan African Film Festival runs from February 4-17 in Los Angeles, CA. For tickets, schedules, and more information, visit paff.org.
The Pan African Film and Arts Festival is proud to be supported by an incredible lineup of sponsors who share our commitment to celebrating Black art, culture, and storytelling. This year’s sponsors include Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, District 2, the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, Culver City, the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson, District 8, Los Angeles City Councilmembers Curren D. Price Jr., District 9 and Heather Hutt, District 10. Additional support for PAFF comes from Stocker Street Creative, Gilead Sciences, SAGindie, Sony Pictures, DGA, US Bank, BeiGene, and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI).
About Pan African Film & Arts Festival:
The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) is one of the longest-running and most respected cultural events dedicated to showcasing the artistic achievements of the Black and African diaspora. Since its inception, PAFF has provided a dynamic platform for filmmakers, artists, and performers to share their stories, celebrate their heritage, and inspire audiences through powerful and thought-provoking works. More at paff.org.
