Unspool Hollywood

What’s Happing Today at the 30th Pan African Film and Arts Festival Friday, April 22

Find the latest information on what to see, hear and do at the 30th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festial

ARTFEST
10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

FILM FESTIVAL
Today’s film screenings can be found here.

Senior Connections
Free screenings for seniors
Fri, April 22 @ 1:15p
The Cannons
Location: Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD

PANELS

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community
Thu, Apr 21-Sun, May 1

This digital panel discusses the context of entrenched institutional, structural and systemic racism, monopoly capitalism, sexism, gender identity, socialism, intersectionality, Pan Africanism, Mother Nature (COVID-19 and climate change).
Moderator: Journalist Jasmyne Cannick
Panelists: Ayuko Babu, Professor Angela Davis, Dr. Melina Abdullah, historian Dr. Gerald Horne
WATCH IT HERE

Earth Day: How You Can Help Protect Our Community from the Oil Field in Our Backyard

Fri, Apr 22 @ 4:30p
The Inglewood Oil Field, right here in Baldwin Hills, is the largest urban oil field in the US. More than a million people live within 5 miles of Inglewood Oil Field and it exposes residents to toxic chemicals, which can cause a vast amount of public health concerns like respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Learn about the impacts of oil fracking on our public health, especially in Black communities, and how you can help us transition to a better, cleaner, future for all.
Moderator: Josiah Edwards, Sunrise Movement Los Angeles
Panelists: Damon Nagami, Senior Attorney and Director of NRDC’s Southern California Ecosystems Project, Veronica Flores, Chief Executive Officer at Community Health Councils, Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles County Supervisor 2nd District, David Haake, M.D., Chair of Clean Break Team, Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club, and Kaela Thomas from Black Women for Wellness.
Location: SSC Gallery, BHC 2nd level (#272)

Women Behind the Scenes
Fri, Apr 22 @ 6:00p
BIPOC women are working behind the scenes and bringing their POV, life experiences and talents to film and television projects. Learn from an all-female panel discussion about the importance of gender representation in the entertainment industry and why representation empowers and amplifies female voices for the culture.
Moderator: Dominique DiPrima, KBLA 1580AM Talk Radio
Panelists: Jessica Sarowitz (Founder, Miraflores Films & 4S Bay Partners), Areva Martin, Camille Tucker, Tina Farris
Location: PAFF Institute Lounge, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 1st level

The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival Announces Competition Selections

International Black Film Festival to Feature 55 World Premiere Titles

Ledisi and Columbus Short as Mahalia Jackson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Remember Me.

Today, the 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) announced its film nominations in its prestigious juried competition. Forty-four films are included in six competitions this year.

“This year’s film roster reflects the times we are in,” said PAFF General Manager Asantewe Olatunji. “Many focus on social justice issues such as gender equality, police and community relations, and the changing lifestyle norms. Of course, several of the PAFF 2022 films focus on our well-known and sometimes obscure sheroes and heroes whose stories told by their own people give a new perspective of history and view of our world.”

PAFF is the largest Black film festival in America taking place April 19 - May 1, 2022. This year the Festival will make its return to the Cinemark Baldwin Hills for in-person screenings, featuring over 200 films from 55 countries, in 18 languages, including 58 World and 32 North American premieres. Of the films selected for the Festival, 46% are helmed by female, queer or non-binary filmmakers, and 80% are directed by filmmakers of African descent. Many titles will also be available virtually for in-home screenings via the Festival’s streaming platform Eventive to audiences worldwide. The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza will once again host its renowned Artfest, featuring over 100 established and emerging fine artists and quality craftspeople from all over the Black Diaspora.

Check out PAFF’’s competing films by clicking the names of the titles below.

*Denotes films available for viewing through PAFF press screenings for credentialed media.

Best First Feature Narrative

A Brother’s Whisper* (US)
Bantú Mama (Dominican Republic)
Get Out Alive* (US)
Juwaa* (Belgium)
Queen of Glory* (US)
Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (US)

Best First Feature Documentary

Africa and I* (South Africa)
Conversations: The Black Radical Tradition* (US)
Fanon (Algeria)
Subjects of Desire (Canada)
Broken Chains (Singapore)
The Rumba Kings (Peru)

Best Feature Narrative

Ayinla (Nigeria)
Hairareb (Namibia)
Lingui, the Sacred Bonds (Chad)
Parsley (Dominican Republic)
Tug of War (Zanzibar)

Best Feature Documentary

African Redemption: The Life and Legacy of Marcus Garvey* (US/Jamaica)
Buddy Guy: The Blues Chase the Blues Away* (US)
Grandpa Was an Emperor (US/Ethiopia)
Race Today (UK)
Why Is We Americans? (US)

Best Short Documentary

Cuba In Africa (US/Cuba)
David Dinkins: A Gorgeous Mosaic (US)
For Love and Legacy (US)
I Am More Than My Hair (US)
Jumping Into Fire (US)
Miss Panama (US/Panama)
There’s Your Ready Girl (US)

Best Short Narrative

Alone Together (US)
Astel (Senegal)
Break-up In Love (US)
Cracked (US)
Cupids (P&G Short) (US)
Famadihana - Reunion
Here (US)
Leaving Isiolo (Kenya)
Lock Off (UK)
Mass Avenue (US)
Pink & Blue (US)
Sins of the Father (US)
Slow Pulse (US)
Sungara (Kenya)
The Last Days (UK)

*Denotes films available for viewing through PAFF press screenings for credentialed media.

PAFF30 ASSETS
https://www.paff.org/pressroom/

MEDIA CONTACT
press@paff.org

Festival Sponsors and Partners

PAFF is sponsored in part by the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell through the Department of Arts and Culture, LA Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LA Councilmember Curren Price, LA Councilmember Herb Wesson, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, LA Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund with the California Community Foundation, and the LA County COVID-19 Arts Relief Fund administered by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture.

The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival's sponsors include Major Festival Sponsors: Stocker Street Creative, FX Networks, and Glassdoor.

About the Pan African Film Festival

Established in 1992 by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon), the late Ja'Net DuBois ("Good Times"), and Ayuko Babu (Executive Director), the Pan African Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression. PAFF is one of the largest and most prestigious Black film festival in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. In addition, it is an Oscar qualifying festival for animation and live-action films, and one of the largest Black History Month events in America.

PAFF ANNOUNCES FULL LINEUP FOR 2022 PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL

REMEMBER ME, THE MAHALIA JACKSON STORY Opens 30th Edition of America’s Largest Black Film Festival, Apri 19 - May 1

Over 200 films from 55 countries to be shown at Cinemark Baldwin Hills

LOS ANGELES, California – Today, PAFF announced the full lineup for the 30th annual Pan African Film & Arts Film Festival, the largest Black film festival in America, taking place April 19 - May 1, 2022. This year the Festival will make its return to the Cinemark Baldwin Hills for in-person screenings, featuring over 200 films from 55 countries, in 18 languages, including 58 World and 32 North American premieres. Of the films selected for the Festival, 46% are helmed by female, queer or non-binary filmmakers, and 80% are directed by filmmakers of African descent. Many titles will also be available virtually for in-home screenings via the Festival’s streaming platform Eventive to audiences worldwide. The Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza will once again host its renowned Artfest, featuring over 100 established and emerging fine artists and quality craftspeople from all over the Black Diaspora. Festival Passes and individual tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.paff.org.

BIG NIGHTS

The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival opens Apr. 19 at the Directors Guild of America with REMEMBER ME, a poignant look into the life and rise of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and starring Grammy-winning singer Ledisi. The Centerpiece presentation are the winning films from the JOHN SINGLETON SHORT FILM COMPETITION. Inspired by the legacy of the late Los Angeles-born legendary African American filmmaker, John Singleton, the competition is the result of a partnership between the City of Los Angeles and PAFF under L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson’s embRACE L.A. initiative and is designed to honor Singleton’s cinematic legacy while simultaneously celebrating his unapologetic approach to filmmaking. The Festival will also host the premiere of FX Network’s hotly anticipated “Snowfall” Season 5 finale and Showtime’s “The Man Who Fell From Earth,” starring Chiwetel Ejiofo. The full schedule is available in the online Festival Program.

Click here to download PAFF's 2022 Quick Facts and Highlights

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

7,200 miles away from Los Angeles in Ougadodo, Burkina Faso, the idea to showcase Black film and filmmakers in Los Angeles was born. It was 1989, the 20th anniversary of FESPACO also known as The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, the largest film festival in Africa. There, Ayuko Babu, Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethan Weapon), and others with the help of then-Chairman of the U.S. Subcommittee on Africa Rep. Mervyn Dymally and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaoré conceived a plan to bring African cinema to the U.S. Thirty years later, the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), is still going strong and is the largest Black film festival in America.

Ticketing

Festival Passes and individual tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.paff.org.

Festival Sponsors and Partners

The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival's sponsors include major Festival sponsors: Stocker Street Creative, FX Networks, and Glassdoor.

About the Pan African Film & Arts Festival

Established in 1992 by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon), the late Ja'Net DuBois ("Good Times"), and Ayuko Babu (Executive Director), the Pan African Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression. PAFF is one of the largest and most prestigious Black film festivals in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. In addition, it is an Oscar-qualifying festival for animation and live-action films, and one of the largest Black History Month events in America.

For media inquiries please contact press@paff.org.

IN-PERSON
The 30th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival
April 19-May 1, 2022

Cinemark Baldwin Hills 15 | Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza

53rd NAACP Image Awards Nominees

The NAACP Image Award will announce its winners to honor Black excellence in 2021 during their two-hour special that will be hosted by seven-time NAACP Image Awards winner Anthony Anderson, on Saturday, February 26 at 8/7c on BET.

The Image Awards highlights the wonderful achievements of people of color across television, music, literature and film, and the promotion of social justice through their creative endeavors.

Samuel L. Jackson will be presented with the NAACP Chairman’s Award and Nikole Hannah-Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the 1619 Project, will receive the Social Justice Impact Award.

Presenters for this year will be Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, LL Cool J, Morgan Freeman, Questlove, Tiffany Haddish, and Zendaya and Mary J. Blige will be a featured performer.

The list of all the 2022 nominees:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Jennifer Hudson
Lil Nas X
Megan Thee Stallion
Regina King
Tiffany Haddish

MOTION PICTURE
OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE
Judas and the Black Messiah
King Richard
Respect
The Harder They Fall
The United States vs. Billie Holiday

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth
Jonathan Majors,The Harder They Fall
LaKeith Stanfield, Judas and the Black Messiah
Mahershala Ali, Swan Song
Will Smith, King Richard

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday
Halle Berry, Bruised
Jennifer Hudson, Respect
Tessa Thompson, Passing
Zendaya, Malcolm & Marie

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE
Algee Smith, Judas and the Black Messiah
Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Delroy Lindo, The Harder They Fall
Idris Elba,The Harder They Fall
LaKeith Stanfield,The Harder They Fall

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTINGACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Audra McDonald, Respect
Danielle Deadwyler, The Harder They Fall
Dominique Fishback, Judas and the Black Messiah
Regina King,The Harder They Fall

OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT MOTION PICTURE
American Skin
Bruised
CODA
Test Pattern
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL MOTION PICTURE
7 Prisoners
African America
Eyimofe (This is My Desire)
Flee
The Gravedigger's Wife

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
Danny Boyd, Jr., Bruised
Jalon Christian, A Journal For Jordan
Lonnie Chavis, The Water Man
Sheila Atim, Bruised

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
Coming 2 America
Judas and the Black Messiah
King Richard
Respect
The Harder They Fall

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE
Encanto
Luca
Raya and the Last Dragon
Sing 2
Vivo

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE – MOTION PICTURE
Andre Braugher, Spirit Untamed
Awkwafina, Raya and the Last Dragon
Brian Tyree Henry, Vivo
Eric André, Sing 2
Letitia Wright, Sing 2

OUTSTANDING SHORT-FORM (Live Action)
Aurinko in Adagio
Blackout
The Ice Cream Stop
These Final Hours
When The Sun Sets (Lakutshon' Ilanga)

OUTSTANDING SHORT-FORM(Animated)
Blush
Robin Robin
She Dreams at Sunrise
Twenty Something
Us Again

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH CREATIVE (Motion Picture)
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Summer Of Soul (...Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Jamila Wignot, Ailey
Jeymes Samuel, The Harder They Fall
Liesl Tommy, Respect
Rebecca Hall, Passing

TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES
OUTSTANDING COMEDY SERIES
black-ish
Harlem
Insecure
Run the World
The Upshaws

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Anthony Anderson, black-ish
Cedric the Entertainer, The Neighborhood
Don Cheadle, Black Monday
Elisha 'EJ' Williams, The Wonder Years
Jay Ellis, Insecure

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Issa Rae, Insecure
Loretta Devine, Family Reunion
Regina Hall, Black Monday
Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish
Yvonne Orji, Insecure

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Andre Braugher - Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Deon Cole, black-ish
Kenan Thompson - Saturday Night Live
Kendrick Sampson, Insecure
Laurence Fishburne, black-ish

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
Amanda Seales, Insecure
Jenifer Lewis, black-ish
Marsai Martin, black-ish
Natasha Rothwell, Insecure
Wanda Sykes, The Upshaws

OUTSTANDING DRAMA SERIES
9-1-1
All American
Godfather of Harlem
Pose
Queen Sugar

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Billy Porter, Pose
Damson Idris, Snowfall
Forest Whitaker, Godfather of Harlem
Kofi Siriboe, Queen Sugar
Sterling K. Brown, This is Us

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Angela Bassett, 9-1-1
Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Queen Sugar
Octavia Spencer, Truth Be Told
Queen Latifah, The Equalizer
Rutina Wesley, Queen Sugar

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Alex R. Hibbert, The Chi
Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Power Book II: Ghost
Daniel Ezra, All American
Giancarlo Esposito, Godfather of Harlem
Joe Morton, Our Kind of People

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
Alfre Woodard, SEE
Bianca Lawson, Queen Sugar
Chandra Wilson, Grey's Anatomy
Mary J. Blige, Power Book II: Ghost
Susan Kelechi Watson, This is Us

OUTSTANDING TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Colin in Black & White
Genius: Aretha
Love Life
Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
The Underground Railroad

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL

Anthony Mackie, Solos
Jaden Michael, Colin in Black & White
Kevin Har, True Story
Wesley Snipes, True Story
William Jackson Harper, Love Life

OUTSTANDING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Betty Gabriel, Clickbait
Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha
Danielle Brooks, Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
Jodie Turner-Smith, Anne Boleyn
Taraji P. Henson, Annie Live!

OUTSTANDING ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Courtney B. Vance, Genius: Aretha
Keith David, Black As Night
Tituss Burgess, Annie Live!
Will Catlett, True Story
William Jackson Harper, The Underground Railroad

OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION MOVIE, LIMITED-SERIES OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Anika Noni Rose, Maid
Natasha Rothwell, The White Lotus
Pauletta Washington, Genius: Aretha
Regina Hall, Nine Perfect Strangers
Sheila Atim, The Underground Railroad

OUTSTANDING NEW/INFORMATION (Series or Special)
Blood on Black Wall Street: The Legacy of the Tulsa Massacre
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt
Soul of A Nation
The Reidout
Unsung

OUTSTANDING TALK SERIES
Desus & Mero
Hart to Heart
Red Table Talk
Tamron Hall
The Real

OUTSTANDING REALITY PROGRAM, REALITY COMPETITION OR GAME SHOW (Series)

Celebrity Family Feud
Iyanla: Fix My Life
Sweet Life: Los Angeles
The Voice
Wild 'n Out

OUTSTANDING VARIETY SHOW (Series or Special)
A Black Lady Sketch Show
BET Awards 2021
Dave Chappelle: The Closer
Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

OUTSTANDING CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
Ada Twist, Scientist
Family Reunion
Karma's World
Raven’s Home
Waffles + Mochi

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A YOUTH (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)
Alayah "Lay Lay" High, That Girl Lay Lay
Celina Smith, Annie Live!
Elisha 'EJ' Williams, The Wonder Years
Eris Baker, This Is Us
Miles Brown, black-ish

OUTSTANDING HOST IN A TALK OR NEWS/INFORMATION (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Joy Reid, The Reidout
Daniel "Desus Nice" Baker, Joel "The Kid Mero" Martinez, Desus & Mero
Garcelle Beauvais, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai Jenkins, The Real
Jada Pinkett Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow Smith, Red Table Talk
LeBron James, The Shop: Uninterrupted

OUTSTANDING HOST IN A REALITY/REALITY COMPETITION, GAME SHOW OR VARIETY (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Alfonso Ribeiro, America's Funniest Home Videos
Amber Ruffin, The Amber Ruffin Show
Cedric The Entertainer, 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
Iyanla Vanzant, Iyanla: Fix My Life
Trevor Noah, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah

OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMANCE
Alani "La La" Anthony, The Chi
Christina Elmore, Insecure
Daniel Kaluuya, Saturday Night Live
Erika Alexander, Run the World
Maya Rudolph,Saturday Night Live

OUTSTANDING ANIMATED SERIES
Big Mouth
Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz
Super Sema
We The People
Yasuke

OUTSTANDING CHARACTER VOICE-OVER PERFORMANCE (Television)
Angela Bassett, Malika: The Lion Queen
Billy Porter, Fairfax
Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Karma's World
Cree Summer, Rugrats
Keke Palmer, Big Mouth

SHORT FORM SERIES - Comedy or Drama
Between the Scenes - The Daily Show
Dark Humor
Della Mae
The Disney Launchpad: Shorts Incubator
Two Sides: Unfaithful

OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM SERIES OR SPECIAL – Reality/Nonfiction
Life By The Horns
Memory Builds The Monument
Widen the Screen: 8:46 Films
Through Our Eyes: Shelter
Lynching Postcards: Token of a Great Day

OUTSTANDING BREAKTHROUGH CREATIVE (Television)
Angel Kristi Williams, Colin in Black & White
Cierra Glaude, Queen Sugar
Deborah Riley Draper, The Legacy of Black Wall Street
Halcyon Person, Karma's World
Quyen Tran, Maid

RECORDING CATEGORIES
OUTSTANDING NEW ARTIST
Cynthia Erivo
Jimmie Allen
Saweetie
Tems
Zoe Wees

OUTSTANDING MALE ARTIST
Anthony Hamilton
Drake
Givēon
J. Cole
Lil Nas X

OUTSTANDING FEMALE ARTIST
H.E.R
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Chlöe
Jazmine Sullivan

OUTSTANDING GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN ALBUM
Anthems & Glory - Todd Dulaney
Believe For It-CeCe Winans
Jonny x Mali: Live in L.A.-Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music
Overcomer -T amela Mann
Power -Jason McGee & The Choir

OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL SONG
"Essence" - Wizkid feat. Tems and Justin Bieber
"Peru" - Fireboy DML
"Somebody's Son" - Tiwa Savage feat. Brandy
"Touch It" - KiDi
"Understand" - Omah Lay

OUTSTANDING MUSIC VIDEO/VISUAL ALBUM
"Best Friend" - Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
"Essence" - Wizkid feat. Tems
"Fye Fye" - Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe
"Have Mercy" - Chlöe
"Leave The Door Open" - Silk Sonic

OUTSTANDING ALBUM
An Evening with Silk Sonic - Silk Sonic
Back of My Mind - H.E.R.
Certified Lover Boy - Drake
Heaux Tales - Jazmine Sullivan
When It’s All Said and Done… Take Time - Givēon

OUTSTANDING SOUNDTRACK/COMPILATION ALBUM
Coming 2 America (Amazon Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)- Eddie Murphy, Craig Brewer, Kevin Misher, Randy Spendlove, Jeff Harleston, Brittney Ramsdell
Judas and the Black Messiah (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Mark Isham and Craig Harris
Respect (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Jason Michael Webb and Stephen Bray
The Harder They Fall (The Motion Picture Soundtrack) - JAY-Z and Jeymes Samuel
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Music from the Motion Picture) - Salaam Remi, Andra Day, Raphael Saadiq, Warren “E” Felder, Downtown Trevor Brown

OUTSTANDING GOSPEL/CHRISTIAN SONG
"Believe For It" - CeCe Winans
"Help Me" - Tamela Mann feat. The Fellas
"Hold Us Together (Hope Mix)" - H.E.R. and Tauren Wells
"Overcome 2021" - Kirk Franklin
"Time for Reparations" - Sounds of Blackness

OUTSTANDING JAZZ ALBUM – INSTRUMENTAL
Forever…Jaz - Jazmin Ghent
Love Languages - Nathan Mitchell
Somewhere Different - Brandee Younger
Sounds from the Ancestors - Kenny Garrett
The Magic of Now - Orrin Evans

OUTSTANDING JAZZ ALBUM – Vocal
Dear Love - Jazzmeia Horn and Her Noble Force
Generations - The Baylor Project
Ledisi Sings Nina - Ledisi
Let There Be Love - Freda Payne
SALSWING! - Rubén Blades y Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

OUTSTANDING SOUL/R&B SONG
"Damage" - H.E.R.
"Be Alive" - Beyoncé
"Have Mercy" - Chlöe
"Leave The Door Open" - Silk Sonic
"Pick Up Your Feelings" - Jazmine Sullivan

OUTSTANDING HIP HOP/RAP SONG
"Best Friend" - Saweetie feat. Doja Cat
"Fye Fye" - Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe
"Industry Baby" - Lil Nas X feat. Jack Harlow
"My Life" - J. Cole feat. 21 Savage and Morray
"Way 2 Sexy" - Drake

OUTSTANDING DUO, GROUP OR COLLABORATION (Traditional)|
Anthony Hamilton feat. Jennifer Hudson - "Superstar"
Chlöe x Halle - "Georgia On My Mind"
Jazmine Sullivan feat. H.E.R. - "Girl Like Me"
Leela James feat. Anthony Hamilton - "Complicated (Remix)"
Silk Sonic - "Leave the Door Open"

OUTSTANDING DUO, GROUP OR COLLABORATION (Contemporary)
Chris Brown feat. Young Thug, Future, Lil Durk and Latto - "Go Crazy (Remix)"
Doja Cat feat. SZA - "Kiss Me More"
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug - "Way 2 Sexy"
H.E.R. feat. Chris Brown - "Come Through"
Tobe Nwigwe feat. Fat Nwigwe - "Fye Fye"

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES
OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY (Film)
Attica
Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power
My Name Is Pauli Murray
Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Tina

OUTSTANDING DOCUMENTARY (Television)
1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
American Masters: How It Feels to Be Free
Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America
Insecure Documentary

WRITING CATEGORIES
OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A COMEDY SERIES
Ashley Nicole Black - Ted Lasso - "Do the Right-est Thing"
Issa Rae – Insecure -"Everything's Gonna Be, Okay?!"
Leann Bowen - Ted Lasso - "Lavender"
Maya Erskine – Pen15 - "Blue in Green"
Temi Wilkey - Sex Education - "Episode #3.6"

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A DRAMA SERIES
Aurin Squire – Evil - "C Is For Cop"
Davita Scarlett -The Good Fight - "And the Firm Had Two Partners…"
Malcolm Spellman - The Falcon and the Winter Soldier - "New World Order"
Nkechi Okoro Carroll - All American - "Homecoming"
Steven Canals, Janet Mock, Our Lady J, Brad Falchuk, Ryan Murphy – Pose - "Series Finale"

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR SPECIAL

Abdul Williams - Salt-N-Pepa
Mario Miscione, Marcella Ochoa - Madres
Monique N. Matthew - A Holiday In Harlem
Sameer Gardezi - Hot Mess Holiday
Sherman Payne - Black As Night

OUTSTANDING WRITING IN A MOTION PICTURE
Janicza Bravo, Jeremy O. Harris - Zola
Jeymes Samuel, Boaz Yakin - The Harder They Fall
Shaka King, Will Berson, Kenny Lucas, Keith Lucas - Judas and the Black Messiah
Virgil Williams - A Journal for Jordan
Win Rosenfeld, Nia DaCosta, Jordan Peele - Candyman

DIRECTING CATEGORIES
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A COMEDY SERIES
Bashir Salahuddin, Diallo Riddle - South Side - "Tornado"
Melina Matsoukas – Insecure - "Reunited, Okay?!"
Neema Barnette – Harlem - "Once Upon A Time in Harlem"
Prentice Penny – Insecure - "Everything's Gonna Be, Okay?!"
Tiffany Johnson - Black Monday - "Eight!"

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DRAMA SERIES
Anthony Hemingway - Genius: Aretha "Respect"
Barry Jenkins - The Underground Railroad - "Indiana Winter"
Carl Seaton – Snowfall - "Fight or Flight"
Carl Seaton - Godfather of Harlem - "The Bonanno Split"
Hanelle Culpepper - True Story - "Like Cain Did Abel"

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR SPECIAL
Jaffar Mahmood - Hot Mess Holiday
Kenny Leon - Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia
Mario Van Peebles - Salt-N-Pepa
Maritte Lee Go - Black As Night
Veronica Rodriguez - Let's Get Merried

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A MOTION PICTURE|
Denzel Washington - A Journal for Jordan
Jeymes Samuel - The Harder They Fall
Lin-Manuel Miranda - tick tick...BOOM!
Reinaldo Marcus Green - King Richard
Shaka King - Judas and the Black Messiah

OUTSTANDING DIRECTING IN A DOCUMENTARY (Television or Motion Picture)
Andre Gaines - The One and Only Dick Gregory
Dawn Porter - Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer
Sam Pollard - MLK/FBI
Samantha Knowles, Yoruba Richen, Geeta Gandbhir, Nadia Hallgren - Black and Missing
Spike Lee - NYC Epicenters 9/11➔2021½

LITERARY CATEGORIES
OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Fiction
Harlem Shuffle - Colson Whitehead
Libertie - Kaitlyn Greenidge
Long Division - Kiese Laymon
The Man Who Lived Underground - Richard Wright
The Perishing - Natashia Deón

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Nonfiction
Dance Theatre of Harlem - Judy Tyrus, Paul Novosel
Just As I Am - Cicely Tyson
My Remarkable Journey - Katherine Johnson
Renegades: Born in the USA - Barack Obama, Bruce Springsteen
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story - Nikole Hannah-Jones

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Debut Author
Just As I Am - Cicely Tyson
My Remarkable Journey - Katherine Johnson
Other Black Girl: A Novel - Zakiya Dalila Harris
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois - Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts - Rebecca Hal

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Biography/Autobiography
Just As I Am - Cicely Tyson
Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement- Tarana Burke
Unprotected: A Memoir - Billy Porter
Until I Am Free - Keisha Blain
Will- Will Smith

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Instructional
Diversity Is Not Enough: A Roadmap to Recruit, Develop and Promote Black Leaders in America - Keith Wyche
Feeding the Soul (Because It's My Business) - Tabitha Brown
Permission to Dream - Chris Gardner
Teaching Black History to White People - Leonard N. Moore
The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth About Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations - Robert Livingston

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Poetry
Perfect Black - Crystal Wilkinson
Playlist for the Apocalypse - Rita Dove
Such Color: New and Selected Poems - Tracy K. Smith
The Wild Fox of Yemen - Threa Almontaser
What Water Knows: Poems - Jacqueline Jones LaMon

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Children
OUTSTBlack Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy - Misty Copeland
Change Sings - Amanda Gorman, Loren Long
Stacey’s Extraordinary Words - Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas
Time for Bed, Old House - Janet Costa Bates, A.G. Ford
When Langston Dances - Kaija Langley, Keith Mallett

OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK - Youth/Teens
Ace of Spades - Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Happily Ever Afters - Elise Bryant
The Cost of Knowing - Brittney Morris
When You Look Like Us - Pamela N. Harris
Wings of Ebony - J. Elle

PODCAST CATEGORIES
OUTSTANDING NEWS AND INFORMATION PODCAST
#SundayCivics
After the Uprising: The Death of Danyé Dion Jones
Blindspot: Tulsa Burning
Into America
Un(re)solved

OUTSTANDING LIFESTYLE/SELF-HELP PODCAST
Checking In with Michelle Williams
The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema
The SonRise Project Podcast
Two Funny Mamas: Sherri Shepherd & Kym Whitley
Under Construction w/ Tamar Braxton

STANDING SOCIETY AND CULTURE PODCAST
Beyond the Scenes - The Daily Show
Jemele Hill is Unbothered
Professional Troublemaker
Questlove Supreme
Super Soul Podcast

OUTSTANDING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PODCAST
Club Shay Shay podcast with Shannon Sharpe
Jemele Hill is Unbothered
Questlove Supreme
Reasonably Shady
The History of Sketch Comedy with Keegan-Michael Key

SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
@Euniquejg - Eunique Jones GIbson
@KevOnStage - Kevin Fredericks
@Laronhinesofficial - Laron Hines
@_Lyneezy - Lanae Vanee
@Terrellgrice - Terrell Grice

30 Years of the Pan African Film and Arts Festival

30 YEARS OF PAFF is a yearlong celebration of the Pan African Film & Arts Festival in 2022

Take a look back at The African Film & Arts Festival in pictures .

A special BEST OF PAFF RETROSPECTIVE
SERIES VIRTUAL FESTIVAL will be held FEB.
15-28 for Black History Month highlighting PAFF’s
most popular films over the past 30 years. Films will
be available on-demand.

Film listings, tickets, and pass information are at
paff.org

PAFF was founded in 1992 by award-winning actor
Danny Glover (“The Color Purple,” “Lethal Weapon”), the beloved Emmy Award-winning actress Ja’net DuBois (best known for her role as Willona in the TV series “Good Times”) and executive director, Ayuko Babu (pronounced Eye-you-co Bah-boo), an international legal, cultural and political consultant who specializes in African Affairs. PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of ethnic and racial respect and tolerance through the exhibit of films, art, and other creative expressions.

Along Came Wanda: Review

Year: 2021
Director and Writer: Jan Miller Corran
Starring: Constance Brenneman, Cathy DeBuono, Isabella Hofman, Monica Young, Rich Ceraulo Ko, Adam Huss, Roberta Hanlen, Carly Frintner, Kyla Harris, Monica Young
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes
Rating: Not yet rated
Country: United States
Language: English

Mary Beth and Wanda Along Came Wanda

You Can Try to Live-up to Other's Expectations or Live-up to Your Own

Jan Miller Corran's directorial debut 'Along Came Wanda' takes you on the journey of Mary Beth (Contance Brenneman)
following the break-up of her decades long marriage to Bill (Max Adler), that gave her her only son, Kevin (Hank Matusek),
as she sets out on a journey with her new friend Wanda, (Cathy DeBuono) in her RV.

We are giving a glimpse into an intimate part of Mary's life, when she is reminded of a past love.

Wanda encourages Mary Beth to return to her passion of photography and to enter a photography contest while out on the road. The relationship between Mary Beth and Wanda is front and center as their friendship grows and they become closer during their road trip. W

Wanda and Davina Along Came Wanda

Filmed during COVID-19 pandemic, art imitates life with the challenges of COVID-19 on marriages and relationships in general a crucial part of the film that has the characters talking about the pandemic, wearing masks and social distant.

There are a few scenes that stuck with me. One is Mary Beth talking to Wanda and telling her, "I grew up in a small midwestern town that come with expectations for their daughters, including grandchildren. It stayed with me because it goes to the heart of Mary Beth's struggles and the need to find herself.

The second is when Davina Moonbeam (Roberta Hanlen), a well-known psychic said to Wanda, "Just be. Set in the nowness." ("Just Be" is the film's theme song " composed by Monica Young and Richie Sullivan and sung by Monica Young). Reminder of the importance of being and enjoying the moment and letting things happen naturally instead of forcing a desired outcome.

Mary Beth and Wanda Along Came Wanda

Mary Beth breaking the fourth wall and speaking directly to her viewers helps evoke a level of compassion for her and her plight, stands out as well.

Filming in Los Angeles was a good choice. The City has as variety of landscapes that captures the natural features of California.

Kanoa Wolfe-Doblin score works well with the scenes providing the right mood to help tell their story.

A journey of friendship, fun and discovery, 'Along Came Wanda' is a film to watch.

Distributor: buffalo 8 A Bondit Company
Producers: Jan Miller Corran, LeeAnee Matusek
Production Co.: Three women in a box films
Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Starring: Contance Brenneman, Cathy DeBuono, Max Adler, Isabella Hofman, Monica Young, Rich Ceraulo Ko, Adam Huss, Roberta Hanlen, Hank Matusek,
Carly Frintner, Kyla Harris, Monica Young
Director and Writer: Jan Miller Corran
Cinematography: Cameron Schmucker
Editor: Josh Rifkin
Music: Kanoa Wolfe-Doblin

Hollywood Award Shows, Film Festivals and Events Cancelled and Postponed Due to the Increased Omicron Variant-COVID-19 Infections

A Christmas Carol at L.A.’s Ahmanson Theatre: Canceled|

AFI Awards: Postponed, future date TBD

BAFTA Tea Party: Canceled

Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes: Canceled

Critics Choice Awards: Postponed, future date TBD

Dune Home Entertainment Release Party in L.A.: Canceled

Fox’s New Year’s Eve Toast & Roast 2022": Canceled

Governors Awards Ceremony: Postponed, future date TBD

HCA Film Awards Ceremony: Postponed until February 28th

Hulu’s How I Met Your Father L.A. Premiere: Canceled

Jagged Little Pill: Closed permanently

Is There Still Sex in the City?: Canceled

National Board of Review Gala in New York City: Postponed, future date TBD

New York Film Critics Circle Awards Ceremony: Postponed, future date TBD

Palm Springs International Film Festival and Awards Gala: Canceled

Pan Afrcan Film and Arts Festival: February 8-21, 2022

Rotterdam Film Festival: Online only
Status: Shifting from in-person to online

Slamdance Film Festival: Online only January 27th - February 6th

The Book of Boba Fett Special Screening at L.A.’s El Capitan Theatre: Canceled

10th Annual Key West Film Festival Announces Awards

November 22, 2021, Key West, FL – The 10th Annual Key West Film Festival announced its awards today. The festival showed more than 75 films during the 5-day festival, which ran November 17-21 and celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

The award winners for the 10th annual Key West Film Festival were presented Saturday evening, November 21, with many awardees in attendance.

KWFF 2021 Awards 20 November 2021 Full-5821

The feature film winners were as follows:

Best Documentary - "Bernstein's Wall" directed by Douglas Tirola

Best International film - "The Hand of God" directed by Paolo Sorrentino

Best LGBTQ Film - "Firebird" directed by Peeter Rebane

Best Narrative Film - "Parallel Mothers" directed by Pedro Almodovar

KWFF Annual Critics Award - "Red Rocket" directed by Sean Baker, with a Special Mention for "Jockey" directed by Clint Bentley

KWFF 2021 Awards 20 November 2021 Full-5894

The short film winners were as follows:

Best Florida Short Film: Like the Girls Who Wear Pink, directed by Jennifer Msumba

Best Dramatic Short Film: Feeling Through, directed by Doug Roland

Best Comedy Short: Your Monster, directed by Caroline Lindy

Best Documentary Short: Voice Above Water, directed by Dana Frankoff

Best Animated Short: Mila, directed by Cinzia Angelina

Best World Student Short Film: Bambirak, directed by Zamarin Wahdat

Best Florida Student Short Film: Soundproof, directed by Gabriela Lima

This marks the first year that a non- English language film took home the Best Narrative Feature Award. All feature awards are audience based, except for the KWFF Critics Award, which is voted on by a jury of critics including Carlos Aguilar of the Los Angeles Times, Josh Rothkopf of Entertainment Weekly, David Fear of Rolling Stone, Tomris Laffly of Variety, Shirrel Rhodes of the Key West Citizen, Eric Kohn of Indiewire and Monica Castillo of Colorado NPR.

The 11th Annual Key West Film Festival will take place November 16-20, 2022.

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 17-21, 2021.

A diverse, entertaining and artistically rigorous selection of films will be represented through a broad array of categories that offer opportunities for filmmakers, both aspiring and established, to commune and exchange ideas while showing their work to audiences in an historic and artistically vibrant tropical paradise.

Films that have been showcased in the last five years of the festival have amassed over SIXTY FIVE Academy Award nominations - five of which were for Best Picture - and 15 Oscar wins, including two for Best Picture (Spotlight and Shape of Water).

For more information, visit our website: https://kwfilmfest.com

Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival

#kwff #kwff2021 #tropiccinema

10th Annual Key West Film Festival Announces Official Lineup

October 21, 2021, Key West, FL – The 10th Annual Key West Film Festival announces its official 2021 lineup including major falls films from Jane Campion, Sean Baker, Mike Mills, Pedro Almodovar and Paolo Sorrentino. More than 75 films will be shown during the 5-day festival, which runs November 17-21 and celebrates its 10th Anniversary.

RED ROCKET (Credit A24)

ROCKET (A24), whose director, Sean Baker, will be honored with the prestigious Golden Key Award for Excellence in Filmmaking, along with JOCKEY (Sony Pictures Classics), starring Clifton Collins Jr, which will also see its director, Clint Bentley, honored with the inaugural Golden Key for Breakthrough Florida Filmmaker.

BRIAN WILSON LONG ROAD PROMISED (Credit: Screen Media)

The star studded spotlight films will be joined by the previously announced RED Also as previously announced, BRIAN WILSON: LONG PROMISED ROAD, will open the festival on November 17 at an outdoor screening under the stars at the Key West Amphitheater. The film will be preceded by the short film BLONDIE: VIVIR EN HABANA, about the celebrated artist’s recent concert in Cuba.

This year’s LGBTQ films, programmed with the assistance of Eugene Hernandez, Director of the New York Film Festival, and Brian Brooks of Cinetic Media, include GREAT FREEDOM, winner of the Jury Prize for Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, the Cold War forbidden love story FIREBIRD, and BOULEVARD! A HOLLYWOOD STORY, chronicling the love triangle that resulted from Gloria Swanson’s attempts to adapt “Sunset Boulevard” into a musical and directed by Jeffrey Schwarz, which marks his fourth film to play at the festival (I am Divine, Tab Hunter Confidential, The Fabulous Alan Carr).

Documentaries take center stage at the festival this year, which each film featuring a live appearance or event. Award-winning director Penny Lane (Our Nixon, Nuts!, Hail Satan!) will appear with her newest film, LISTENING TO KENNY G ; multiple Gotham Award and Cinema Eye Award nominee Douglas Tirola comes to town with his Leonard Bernstein film, BERNSTEIN’S WALL; Danielle Kummer will cross the pond to appear with ALIEN ON STAGE, about a small town musical of the sci fi classic Alien, and KWFF will host a special wine tasting after the screening of BLIND AMBITION, which follows Zimbabwe’s first team to compete in the international wine tasting tournament.

International films include Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino’s HAND OF GOD and FINAL SET, starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

International films include Academy Award-winner Paolo Sorrentino’s HAND OF GOD and FINAL SET, starring Kristin Scott Thomas.

KWFF 2021 will host additional outdoor events at the Lawn at The Perry Hotel, where a special sing-along edition of the 20th Anniversary of the 2001 film MOULIN ROUGE will be screened along with Eric Clapton’s latest concert film, ERIC CLAPTON: THE LADY IN THE BALCONY. The Perry will also screen a collection of boundary pushing short films prior to a Welcome Party for visiting filmmakers and VIPs on Thursday, November 18.

Florida gets its moment in the sun with an all-day Florida Focus on Sunday, November 21. A collection of award-winning shorts from Key West High School’s Conch 5 Studios – who recently sent NINE films to the National High School Student Film Awards – will be screened in the morning, followed by the 15thanniversary screening of Florida Filmmaking legend Billy Corben’s COCAINE COWBOYS. Corben will participate in a discussion following the screening. The award winning Miami-produced feature LUDI will also screen at the festival.

The festival shines on an Alumni spotlight on Nell Teare’s BOLIVAR. This is her first feature after having won numerous awards for her short films at the festival.

The shorts programs and Florida feature films were curated from over 1000 submissions, with entries from nearly all 50 states and dozens of countries.

Returning programs this year include the 7th annual Critics Panel, in which top film critics will join both in person and virtually Zoom to cover the seismic changes in the industry this year; the sixth annual Golden Key for Excellence in Costume Design awarded to Paul Tazewell for his work in WEST SIDE STORY, making KWFF the only such festival to annual honor this art; Kibbitz with Critics series, in which the curating critic shares one of their favorite films from the last year over brunch. Aguilar will present the charming immigration story LIMBO; and the presentation of the prestigious Critics Prize, given each year to one film across the program as decided upon by participating critics. Past critics have included Kenneth Turan, Jen Yamato and Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times, Ann Hornaday of the Washington Post, Eric Kohn of Indiewire, Emily Yoshida of New York Magazine, David Fear of Rolling Stone, Joshua Rothkopf of Time Out New York and Amy Nicholson of KPCC-LA’s Film Week.

Founder and Chairman of Key West Film Festival Brooke Christian commented: "Commemorating 10 years of the Key West Film Festival is an exciting mile marker! Bringing the best in cinema to the Keys has been a great privilege. The founding principles of KWFF continue to shine brightly in 2021. Focusing on talent homegrown in Florida has been a hallmark throughout the festival’s history. From celebrating the art of Key West students to the accomplishments of a Bill Corben, to a breakthrough director like Clint Bentley, the state will leave a huge footprint on KWFF 2021. The 10th Anniversary will not only feature our best Florida lineup yet, but many of the year’s most acclaimed LGBTQ selections, documentaries, and feature films. It’s so exciting to head to November knowing the many gems that lay ahead for people to discover.”

ABOUT THE KEY WEST FILM FESTIVAL

Honoring creativity, diversity, sustainability and beauty, the Key West Film Festival is an annual celebration of film and filmmakers set to take place November 17-21, 2021.

For more information, visit our website: https://kwfilmfest.com
Twitter - @keywestfilmfest
Instagram - @keywestfilmfestival
Facebook - Key West Film Festival

#kwff #kwff2021 #tropiccinema

WILL PACKER TO PRODUCE THE 94TH OSCARS®

THE OSCARS SET TO AIR LIVE, MARCH 27, 2022, ON ABC

Emmy®-nominated producer Will Packer will produce the 94th Oscars®, Academy President David Rubin announced today. It will be his first involvement with the Oscars, which will air live on ABC and broadcast outlets worldwide on Sunday, March 27, 2022.

“Will is a powerhouse producer who has enjoyed success across all movie genres. He’s already bringing a boundless energy and a focus on innovation to this year’s Oscars, to entertain the widest spectrum of fans. Many wonderful surprises ahead!” said Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.

“The power, the beauty, the romance of the imagery in movies has always attracted me. I’m fully embracing the challenge of bringing an ode to one of the most iconic mediums in the world to life. What an honor!” said Packer.

“There is no one better than Will Packer to celebrate our collective love for cinema,” said Craig Erwich, president, Hulu Originals and ABC Entertainment. “Will is a world-class hitmaker and the ideal producer to capture the prestige of The Oscars and deliver a powerful and moving event.”

Packer has produced or executive produced a wide range of movies, including such films as “The Photograph,” “Little,” “What Men Want,” “Night School,” “Breaking In,” “Girls Trip,” “Ride Along 2,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “No Good Deed,” “Think Like a Man Too,” “Ride Along,” “Think Like a Man,” “Takers,” “Obsessed” and “Stomp the Yard.” His television credits include “That Girl Lay Lay,” “Blackballed,” “Ambitions,” “Bigger,” “Being Mary Jane,” “Uncle Buck” and the remake of “Roots,” for which he received an Emmy nomination. He is the founder and CEO of film production company Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, a television, digital and branded content company.

Shayla Cowan, chief of staff of Will Packer Productions and Will Packer Media, will serve as co-producer alongside Packer. Cowan manages and oversees all the operational activities of both companies, advises on marketing, communications and business strategies, and provides support on the development and production of the company’s films, television and digital programming.

The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and in more than 200 territories worldwide.

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ABOUT THE ACADEMY
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a global community of more than 10,000 of the most accomplished artists, filmmakers and executives working in film. In addition to celebrating and recognizing excellence in filmmaking through the Oscars, the Academy supports a wide range of initiatives to promote the art and science of the movies, including public programming, educational outreach and the upcoming Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.