Unspool Hollywood

Restrictions Lifted, Hollywood Reopens

Oscar Marquee. Photo credit: Yevette Renee

Because of the commitment of President Joe Biden, he has exceeded his goal of 100 million shots in the arms in his first 100 days in office, which has greatly help in the decline in COVID cases.

And after a year of lockdowns, with no movie premieres, music, television or film productions, Los Angeles County has been moved into the "Orange Tier" of the State's Blueprint for Safer Economy framework, and some of the restrictions will be lifted for the music, television, and film productions. To meet the requirements, the county of Los Angeles must report 3.9 or fewer daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate under 5%.

And, beginning on April 15th, Los Angeles and Orange County, will be able to lift restrictions on indoor concerts, theater performances and other indoor music, television and film productions. If you want to attend any of these indoor events, you will have to show a negative COVID-19 test result or proof that you have completed ALL vaccination requirements.

Restaurant and movie theaters can increase their indoor capacity from 25% or 100 people to 50% or 200 people. This also also applies to museums, zoos, and places of worship. Bars can open at 33% capacity.

Amusement Parks
Six Flag Magic Mountain reopened on April 3rd.
Universal Studio Tourswiil reopen to California residents only on April 16th.
Disneyland will reopen on April 30th

Education
Los Angeles Unified School District is scheduled to return preschool
and elementary school students to in-class instruction instruction in the middle of April. Middle and high school students scheduled for the end of April.

Film Festivals
Sun Valley Film Festival April 14-18, online
Hot Docs, April 29-May 9
True/False Film Festival, May 5-9, in-person and online
Tribeca Film Festival, June 9-20
Mountainfilm, May 29-31, in-person; May 31-June 6, online
Provincetown Film Festival, June 16-25, in-person and online
Comic-Con, July 22-25
CinemaCon, August 26-30
Telluride Film Festival, September 2-6
Indigo Moon Film Festival, October 8-10 is in-person, October 9-15, online
AFM-American Film Market, November 2-7

Movie Theaters that have reopened in Los Angeles County:
AMC Theatres in Century City, Santa Monica and Burbank
Cinemark at the Promenade at Howard Huges Center, Westchester
El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood
Laemmle Theatres In Santa Monica, North Hollywood, Glendale, West L.A. and Pasadena
Landmark Theatres in Westwood opened on March 26th
Nuart Theatre in Santa Monica
Pacific Theaters in the Grove, Pacific Northridge Center, Americana Glendale
Regal Cinema reopened with the April 2nd limited release of Godzilla vs. Kong.
Regency Theatres in Van Nuys, Granada Hills, Agoura Hills
TCL Chinese Theatre reopened on March 29th with the limited release of Godzilla vs. Kong

ArcLight Cinemas -Hollywood has not reopened

Museums
Have opened at 25% capacity.
The Autry Museum of the American West
California African American Museum
California Science Center
LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened on April 1st
Los Angeles Zoo
The Hammer Museum
Natural History Museum of Los Angels Countym La Brea Tar Pits, and William S. Hart Museum
Skirball Cultural Center

Museum to reopen soon
The Broad to reopen in May
GRAMMY Museum no reopening date announced
MOCA no reopening date announced
Travel Town Museum

Governor Newsom is scheduled to phase-out the four-tiered, color-coded system that has been used as the guide for the state's reopening during the year-long closure, and open up the California economy on June 15th. This is subject to change based on the trend of COVID cases.

The Los Angeles County health protocols, called Appendix J, must be agreed to in order to receive a film permit from FilmLA. This includes Employers must provide all personal protective equipment (PPE).

All productions that are one or limited-time special event or performances must submit an event safety plan for review at least 10 business days before the planned event. You must submit your event plant via email to the Public Health department at: LiaisonCOVID19@ph.lacounty.gov. It is required to include the details of the event, a completed Department of Public Health Appendix J Protocol Checklist, schematics and any additional information that PDH may need to ensure the safety of all.

All productions for live outdoor events and performances mut also follow the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health "Protocol for Outdoor Seated Live Events and Performances.

Additional requirements for music, television and film productions are as follows:
Restaurants and bars
Retail Operations
Office Spaces
Warehouse and Manufacturing
Construction

Each productions is required to provide information on how they will protect employees health, with social distancing and infection control, how they will communicate with their employees and the public and how they will ensure fairness to all their employees and their ability to access services.

See Appendix J here

12th African American Film Critics Association Awards Virtually Tonight, April 7

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), the world’s largest group of Black film critics, will hold its twelfth annual awards ceremony virtually on Wednesday, April 7th, sponsored by Nissan and Morgan Stanley. “Judas and the Black Messiah” was named the year’s Best Film, in addition to winning Best Supporting Actor for Daniel Kaluuya and Best Supporting Actress for Dominique Fishback.

“It is an honor to help present an award to ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ because I am from Chicago where we have a tradition of community advocacy,” said RogerEbert.com publisher Chaz Ebert. “Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till Mobley, lived here; the Rev. Jesse Jackson lives here; and former president Barack Obama was a community advocate here. I lived on the West Side of Chicago, and I met Fred Hampton, and I know he aspired to be a lawyer. After his death, his brother contacted me as the head of the Black American Law Student Association to help establish the Fred Hampton Scholarship at DePaul Law School for African-American students. So this film was particularly meaningful to me.”

“Serving alongside an all-Black producing team, “Judas and the Black Messiah” director Shaka King created a project that permanently enshrines pivotal Black Panther leader Fred Hampton as an American hero. Released against the backdrop of the present-day Black Lives Matter movement, the film’s message of commitment and sacrifice to social justice is empowering,” says AAFCA President/Co-Founder Gil Robertson. “Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton is literally on fire and is supported well by Dominique Fishback who increasingly has become an actress to watch. Our members are thrilled to award the film with our highest honor.”

Andra Day won Best Actress for her harrowing portrayal of the title role in “The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” while Chadwick Boseman posthumously won Best Actor for his stunning performance in “Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.”

“Our Best Actress winner Andra Day was phenomenal as Billie Holiday,” continues Robertson. “Director Lee Daniels has a terrific knack for bringing out the very best from his actors and Day is no exception as she delivered a performance that serves as an impressive launch to an acting career we feel has great promise. The members of AAFCA are excited to see even more of her range in the future. In ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ Chadwick Boseman again showcased a great understanding and execution of the acting craft. In what is the final performance of his career, he confirmed why he will forever be considered one of the best actors of his generation. AAFCA is tremendously pleased to honor him for this extraordinary performance.”

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture: “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)
Best Director: Regina King, “One Night In Miami” (Amazon Studios)
Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (Netflix)
Best Actress: Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday” (Hulu)
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)
Best Supporting Actress: Dominique Fishback, “Judas and the Black Messiah” (Warner Bros.)
Best Screenplay: Kemp Powers, “One Night in Miami” (Amazon Studios)
Best Ensemble: “One Night In Miami” (Amazon Studios)
Best Foreign Film: “Night of the Kings” (Neon)
Best Documentary: “All In: The Fight For Democracy” (Amazon Studios)
Best Animation: “Soul” (Pixar/Disney)
Best Short Film: “Two Distant Strangers”
Breakout Performance: Radha Blank (Netflix)
Breakout Director: Shaka King (Warner Bros.)

The organization, whose membership spans the U.S., the Caribbean, Europe and Africa and is the largest of its kind, also announced its Top 10 films of the year (listed here in ranked order): “Judas And The Black Messiah,” “One Night In Miami,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Nomadland,” “Night Of The Kings,” “American Skin,” “Da 5 Bloods,” “Minari,” “Miss Juneteenth” and “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday.”

“The common theme with all of our Top 10 Films this year is the grace of humanity. All of these films spotlighted different circumstances that put the human spirit to a test. During a year when COVID-19 forced everyone on this planet to unite against a common threat to our health and well-being, these films spoke to the resilience and courage we all possess to overcome challenging odds. The AAFCA members were deeply heartened and inspired by these amazing stories as we also look forward to a return to “going to the movies” with our family and friends,” said Robertson.

The public airing for the 12th Annual AAFCA Awards virtual ceremony will take place at 8pm CT on Saturday, April 17th. For updates on how to stream the ceremony, follow AAFCA on Twitter and Instagram. For more information, visit the official site of AAFCA.

“AFTER THE MURDER OF ALBERT LIMA’ Review No Justice, No Peace

Director: Aengus James (AMERICAN HARMONY, SCANDALOUS) Cast: Paul Lima, Judy Lima, Shannon Lima, Kent Crim, Art Torres, Zora Colakovic, Harley Lima, Cindy Crim
Executive Producers: Van Toffler, Floris Bauer, Jude Harris, Meredith Vieira
Producers: Amy Rapp, Aengus James, Colin King Miller, Paul Lima
Running time: 1 hour 37 minutes
Genre: Documentary, Drama
Language: English
Country: USA, Honduras

Director Aengus James' emotionally, compelling story, with a good dose of humor, "After the Murder of Albert Lima" is about the long journey of Paul Lima, who's love and commitment to his father, Albert Lima, brings him to Honduras to find justice for his murder.

Paul was just 20 years old when his father was murdered in 2000 and spent 13 years traveling to and from Honduras. A country with corruption, police pay-offs and every man for himself as the norm and . Despite all these dangers, Paul moves full steam ahead.

Enlisting the expertise of two bounty hunters, Art Torres and Zora Colakovic, to help him bring his father's murderer justice, the three of them travel to the island of Roatan, Honduras.

Paul said, " I am the lead investigator in my father's murder".

His master plan was to drug Oral, his father's murderer kidnap him to bring him to the mainland of Honduras. Just listening to their discussion about the plan, shows Paul's desperation. Fortunately, he has the real life experiences of Art and Zora to help keep him grounded in the realities of life and crime in Honduras.

No one is in a hurry and things move very slowly on the island that presents a huge challenge for him. His conviction to bringing his father's murderer justice is a source of power and strength". After being convicted of the crime, the murderer was able to roam free, literally, which added to Paul's and his mother's misery.

No justice, no peace, is evident in Paul's journey to bring his father's murderer to justice. It was not until his father's murderer was finally arrested and kept in jail ( he called the jail every Monday to make sure he was still incarcerated)

Paul and his mother finally got justice and some peace.

WEBSITE/ CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
www.crackle.com
#Crackle #freemovies #freemoviesonline #freemoviesstreaming
Twitter: @Crackle_TV
Instagram: Crackle_TV

Distributor:
Production Co.: CRACKLE PLUS, A CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
Executive Producers: Van Toffler, Floris Bauer, Jude Harris, Meredith Vieira
Producers: Amy Rapp, Aengus James, Colin King Miller, Paul Lima
Production Co.: A GUNPOWDER & SKY / THIS IS JUST A TEST/ MEREDITH VIEIRA PRODUCTIONS PRODUCTION
Runtime: 1 hour 37 minutes
Cast: Paul Lima, Judy Lima, Shannon Lima, Kent Crim, Art Torres, Zora Colakovic, Harley Lima, Cindy Crim
Director: Aengus James
Cinematography: Aengus James, John James
Editor: David Zieff
Composer: Adam Sanborne

EXECUTIVE ORDER: A Film by Lázaro Ramos

When Government officials will go to any lengths to continue the oppression of its citizens of African descent

Director: Lázaro Ramos
Writers: Lusa Silvestre, Lázaro Ramos, Aldri Anunciação and Elísio Lopes Jr
Starring: Alfred Enoch, Taís Araujo, Seu Jorge, Adriana Esteves, Renata Sorrah, Mariana Xavier
Santiago: Pablo Sanábio
Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes
Genre: Science Fiction, Drama
Country: Brazil
Language: Portuguese (English subtitles)

Renowned Brazilian actor, Lázaro Ramos, makes his directorial debut with his new compelling film EXECUTIVE ORDER.

Ramos tackles an age-old topic of compensation for the descendants of enslaved Africans. Slaves, whose forced labor built countries’ wealth around the globe, including his home country of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lawyer, Antônio, (Alfred Enoch) takes legal action against the Brazilian government demanding compensation for all the descendants of the countries’ African slaves. Taking on the government requires Antônio to seek help, so he enlist his cousin, André (Seu Jorge) and wife Capitu (Taís Araújo) to force the change the want to see.

The government’s response is to force a Back-to-Africa movement like those that took place in the 1700 and 1800s in the United States. The powers that be have never taking reparations seriously as evident by the continued discussion and no action. The topic also evokes varied responses from both sides of the issue. When talking about going back to Africa, Sierra Leone and Liberia, two African countries formed by former slaves. Here in the United States people are still waiting for their 40 acres and a mule, promised to freed American slaves, that have yet to be delivered.

Lázaro Ramos, “Its political significance is to put so many black actors, in great part, speaking freely bout themes that are important for them. “ We’re living a historical moment in the world where polarizing positions are dominating the narratives, where there’s an attempt of simplifying people as if they were only defined by a single adjective.

Based on that, criminalizing, discriminating, undermining, silencing them has become a central issue. The film is an attempt to show that we have more layers than the current narrative. That said, yes it is a criticism to the extremes and an attempt to foresee our next steps in order to avoid all this radicalism in which we all live in now.

The stars of the film are the following:

Antônio (Alfred Enoch) is an actor of Anglo-Brazilian descent whose mother was born in Rio de Janeiro. He established himself in the movie business as Dean Thomas in the “Harry Potter” movie series and playing Wes Gebbin in the ABC TV series, “How To Get Away With Murder”. Executive Order is his first Portuguese language film; his mother is from Rio de Janeiro, and he is fluent in Portuguese.

Capitu (Taís Araujo)
Got her start on the theater stage and crossed over to become a popular actresses in Brazil and other Portuguese speaking countries. Taís accomplished many first in Brazil starting in 1997, when she was the first black actress to take a leading role in a Brazilian soap opera called Xica da Silva and later becoming the first black TV host and named women's advocate for UN Brazil.

André (Seu Jorge)
An award winning singer and actor, who has won three Latin Grammy awards. He also won best actor for the feature “Marighella” at the Bari International Film Festival, in Italy. He became known to the world in the 2005 film by Wes Anderson “The Aquatic Life of Steve Zissou”. He has recorded more than 15 albums and has appeared in several films, Cidade de Deus, Tropa Elite 2 and Pelé. On TV, he has acted in the American series “Sleepwalkers” and in the Brazilian miniseries “Os Normais”, “Mandrake” and “Brasil, Brasil”.

Ramos’ process for working with actors is “not only in film but also in theater plays I make them have an opinion before everything happens, even before they study the script. I try to promote debates on the subjects it’ll be about so they get passionate for it and defend their points of view. I worked in partnership with two people in particular: one of them is a theater actress called Tatiana Tibúrcio and Flávia Lacerda, theater and TV director, that were beside me throughout the process of rehearsal where we brought provocative exercises for the actors. We’d never closed the process though, so the actors could have the freedom when on set to live the moment.”

Production Co: Lereby, Lata Filmes
Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Starring: : Alfred Enoch, Taís Araujo, Seu Jorge, Adriana Esteves, Renata Sorrah, Mariana Xavier
Santiago: Pablo Sanábio
Director: Lázaro Ramos
Writers: Lusa Silvestre, Lázaro Ramos, Aldri Anunciação and Elísio Lopes Jr
Producers: Daniel Filho and Tania Rocha
Cinematographer: Adrian Teijido
Art Director: Tiago Marques
Editor: Diana Vasconcellos
Sound Editor: Waldir Xavier
Executive Producer: Mariza Figueiredo
Original Soundtrack: Plínio Profeta, Rincon Sapiência and Kiko de Souza
Productions Companies: Lereby Produções and Lata Filmes
Co-Production Companies: Globo Filmes and Melanina Acentuada
Associate Producer: Claudia Bejarano

Angela Davis, Lee Daniels, Genius: Aretha, Queen Latifah, Nika King, and More Featured During Second Week of the Pan African Film Festival

Special screenings, conversations, panels, and events

LOS ANGELES - America’s largest Black film festival, the Pan African Film Festival, continues this week. Below are highlights of this week’s programming.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 29th Pan African Film Festival will run through March 14 on-line and on-demand only. The virtual component allows this year’s Festival to reach a global audience. More information and tickets can be found at www.paff.org.

SPECIAL SCREENINGS

CBS has partnered with PAFF to premiere episodes from The Equalizer (Mar. 9, 6 p.m. PT), The Neighborhood (Mar. 12, 6 p.m. PT), and Bob❤️Abishola (Mar. 12, 6 p.m. PT) along with exclusive Q&As with the cast of each show.

National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha starring Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, The Color Purple) will premiere during the PAFF on Mar. 11 at 6 p.m. PT.

Closing Night (Mar. 14, 6p.m. PT) will spotlight Lázaro Ramos’ directorial debut Executive Order. The film is set in a dystopian near future in Brazil where an authoritarian government orders all citizens of African descent to move to Africa – creating chaos, protests, and an underground resistance movement that inspires the nation. Director Lázaro Ramos’ and members of the cast will participate in a Q&A following the screening. Mar. 14, 6 p.m. PT.

Trade tells the story of two men, one a streetwise hustler, the other a strait-laced lawyer, who meet and form a relationship that brings to light who they really are. As their relationship deepens and their lives intertwine, the complexity and dangers of living their truths reveal themselves in ultimately tragic ways. Hosted by Better Brothers Los Angeles and In the Meantime Men’s Group, following the screening, there will be a discussion about the lives of transgender people and how to support and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. Mar. 12, 6 p.m. PT.

CLIPS AND CONVERSATIONS

A special conversation with director Lee Daniels and the cast of The United States Vs. Billie Holiday. Mar.10, 6 p.m. PT.

PANELS

Unless otherwise stated, panels are on-demand at paff.org.

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? - A powerful group of change-makers across multiple generations come together to discuss today’s Black Lives Matter Movement in the context of the struggle for Black Liberation. Panelists include activist and professor Angela Y. Davis, historian and scholar Dr. Gerald Horne, Black Lives Matter activist Dr. Melina Abdullah, and political strategist and journalist Jasmyne A. Cannick. The conversation is moderated by Pan African Film Festival co-founder Ayuko Babu.

Facebook Presents ‘We the Culture’ - PAFF and Facebook will host a roundtable discussion with filmmakers and digital creators from Facebook's We The Culture Program--a creative community fueled and curated by Black creators, dedicated to celebrating and championing Black culture and broader conversations important to the Black community. Panelists include: Dr. Mehret Mandefro, Lacey Schwartz Delgado, Wesley Armstrong, and James Bland. Mar. 12, 4 p.m. PT on Facebook.com/paffnow.

Showtime Presents ‘Inside THE CHI Writers' Room’ - Get an inside look into The Chi's Writers Room. Features panelists Justin Hillian, Showrunner, Writer, and Executive Producer, Jewel Coronel, Writer and Co-Executive Producer, Resheida Brady, Writer and Supervising Producer, and James Rogers III, Writer and Executive Story Editor.

The Intersectionality of Women of Color in Film & TV - Women of Color Unite (WOCU) hosts a discussion on the highs and lows of the intersection of Women of Color in film, the Women of Color run media and entertainment organizations that support them and the infrastructure that tries to erase them. Panelists include: Cheryl L. Bedford, Nikki Bailey, Tatiana Lee, Fanshen Cox, Diana Elizabeth Jordan, Twinkie Byrd, and Tonya Pinkins.

Other panels include: How to Get Your Kids Into Show Biz, Fix it in Post, Can't Stop, Won't Stop: Black Women Transforming the Industry, and By Any Means Necessary: Making Movies on Micro to No Budget.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Spoken Word - Hosted by poets Paul Mabon and LaLa Deville, PAFF will once again present its popular poetry slam featuring the best wordsmiths in Los Angeles. Premieres Wed. Mar. 10, 6 p.m. PT and then available on-demand.

LOL! Comedy Jam - PAFF’s annual comedy show featuring comics from around the world. Hosted by Nika King (Euphoria), this year’s featured comics include Jazmyn W (Tik Tok content creator), Marcus Smith (You Know Maacus), Zainab Johnson (100 Humans), Jonnae Johnson (Tru TV), and David Lucas (Freshest Fat Boy). Premieres Wed. Mar. 10, 6 p.m. PT and then available on-demand.

Children’s Fest - Free age-appropriate screenings for children 4 to 12. Feature films include Nigeria’s Lady Buckit and the Motley Mopsters and various Disney animation features. Sponsored by Union Bank. Mar. 13-14, 11 a.m. PT.

Black Lives Matter Centered at Pan African Film Festival with Selection of Nate Parker’s AMERICAN SKIN as Centerpiece

AMERICAN SKIN tells the story of a Black teenager shot to death by a white LAPD officer during a traffic stop in an affluent neighborhood

LOS ANGELES - The Pan African Film Festival today announced that Nate Parker’s American Skin (Vertical Entertainment) has been selected as the Centerpiece for the 29th edition of the Festival. The Centerpiece screening will be held virtually this year on Sunday, March 7 at 6 p.m. PT. A Q&A with the cast will follow the screening. The Pan African Film Festival is taking place globally online and on-demand through March 14.

Lincoln Jefferson is a Marine veteran who has served two combat tours in Iraq. Now stateside, he works as a custodian in a prestigious California high school- a job he secured only to ensure enrollment in the school to his 14-year old son KJ, following his divorce. One night, Lincoln and his son are stopped by police and an altercation leads to the fatal shooting of Lincoln’s unarmed son. Lincoln, hopeful the system will provide a trial, is dismayed to learn the officer responsible for pulling the trigger will go uncharged and will return to active duty without an indictment. Disillusioned by the fact he was denied a fair trial for the death of his only son, Lincoln desperately takes the matter into his own hands in a series of events he hopes will finally lead to justice for his son.

The film’s stellar ensemble cast includes Nate Parker, Omari Hardwick, Beau Knapp, Theo Rossi, Shane Paul McGhie, Milauna Jackson, AnnaLynne McCord, and Vanessa Bell Calloway.

Hashtags: #PAFFNow
Twitter: @paffnow
Instagram: @paffnow
Facebook: facebook.com/paffnow

Festival Sponsors and Partners

The 29th Pan African Film Festival’s sponsors include the City of Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (8th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price (9th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas (10th District); California State Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, 64th District; Commissioner Willard H. Murray, Jr., Water Replenishment District; U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass, 37th District; U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, 43rd District; Union Bank; Brotherhood Crusade, Groundwurk; FilmLA; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Showtime, Facebook, Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute; Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Woodford Reserve, Los Angeles Sentinel; The Wave; KPFK; Black Cultural Events; Immigrant Magazine; KJLH; Our Weekly; okayafrica; L.A. Focus; Envoi, Miss Everything Entertainment, Girl In Charge Public Relations and Empowerment Justice Strategies.

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival is supported, in part, by a grant provided by: 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.

About the Pan African Film Festival

Gearing up for its 29th anniversary, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) is America's largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, it screens more than 200 films made by and/or about people of African descent from around the world. PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the country. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has designated PAFF as an official qualifying film festival for live-action and animation short films.

PAFF is a non-profit corporation, founded in 1992 by award-winning actor Danny Glover (“The Color Purple,” “Lethal Weapon” movie franchise), 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, an international legal, cultural and political consultant who specializes in Pan African Affairs. PAFF is dedicated to the promotion of ethnic and racial respect and tolerance through the exhibit of films, art, and creative expression.

The goal of PAFF is to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images, help to destroy negative stereotypes and depict an expanded vision of the Black experience. PAFF believes film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, ethnicities, and lifestyles in an entertaining way while at the same time, serving as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.

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PRESSROOM
MEDIA ASSETS

Pan African Film Festival
Festival Public Relations
February 28 - March 14, 2021
press@paff.org
paff.org/pressroom

The Pan African Film Festival Kicks Off 14-Day Virtual Festival with David Oyelowo’s “The Water Man”

Festival set to host World Premiere of “Coming 2 America” with Amazon Studios Mar. 3

March 1, 2021 (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) -

Sunday, Feb. 28, actor, activist and festival co-founder Danny Glover officially opened the 2021 Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) kicking off the 14-day festival with the U.S. Premiere of David Oyelowo’s (The Last King of Scotland, Lincoln) directorial debut The Water Man. The invitation-only virtual screening attracted 600 viewers and was followed by a Q&A discussion with Oyelowo and the film’s two stars Lonnie Chavis and Amiah Miller.

Over the next 14-days, the Pan African Film Festival’s line-up will feature stories that showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images, help to destroy negative stereotypes, and depict an expanded vision of the Black experience.

On Wednesday, Mar. 3, PAFF will join Amazon Studios in hosting the World Premiere of the highly anticipated sequel Coming 2 America.

Set in the lush and royal country of Zamunda, newly-crowned King Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his trusted confidante Semmi (Arsenio Hall) embark on an all-new hilarious adventure that has them traversing the globe from their great African nation to the borough of Queens, New York – where it all began. Original cast favorites from Coming to America return including King Jaffe Joffer (James Earl Jones), Queen Lisa (Shari Headley), Cleo McDowell (John Amos), Maurice (Louie Anderson) and the motley barbershop crew. Joining this star-studded ensemble are Wesley Snipes, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Jermaine Fowler, Bella Murphy, Rotimi, KiKi Layne, Nomzamo Mbatha and Teyana Taylor, making Coming 2 America the most anticipated comedy film of the year.

The Festival is accepting RSVPs for this invite-only event at www.paff.org.

Other highlights of this year’s festival include Nate Parker’s American Skin (Centerpiece) and a special conversation with director Lee Daniels and the cast of The United States Vs. Billie Holiday.

This year’s PAFF will feature four Academy Award Best Foreign Film submissions including the U.S. premiere of The Milkmaid (Nigeria), The Fisherman’s Diary (Cameroon), The Letter (Kenya), and This Is Not A Burial, It’s a Resurrection (Lesotho).

CBS has partnered with PAFF to premiere episodes from The Neighborhood, Bob❤️Abishola, Clarice, The Equalizer along with exclusive Q&As with the cast of each show.

Closing Night will spotlight Lázaro Ramos’ directorial debut Executive Order. Executive Order is set in a dystopian near future in Brazil, where an authoritarian government orders all citizens of African descent to move to Africa – creating chaos, protests, and an underground resistance movement that inspires the nation. Executive Order will screen globally on Sunday, March 14 at 6:00 pm. Director Lázaro Ramos’ and members of the cast will participate in a Q&A following the screening.

Festival favorites will take place online including PAFF’s Children’s Fest, Student Fest, Senior Connection, Spokenword poetry slam and comedy show.

This year, the festival features more than 200 films made by and about Black people from 83 countries, including 168 narrative films, 39 documentaries, 159 short and mini short films from 45 countries and in 43 languages.

The Pan African Film Festival will take place virtually. People can attend by purchasing a festival pass or screening ticket.

See the complete 2021 PAFF Program here, purchase festival passes and access to individual film screenings at paff.org.

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For photos and press materials visit paff.org/pressroom.

Hashtags: #PAFFNow
Twitter: @paffnow
Instagram: @paffnow
Facebook: facebook.com/paffnow

Festival Sponsors and Partners

About the Pan African Film Festival

Interviews/Media Contact: press@paff.org

Late Filmmaker’s Documentary on the LAPD and the Black Panther Party to Screen at the Pan African Film Festival

Gregory Everett’s Documentary '41st and Central' to Screen Virtually Feb. 20

February 14, 2021

Media Contact: press@paff.org

LOS ANGELES - The Pan African Film Festival announced today that 41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers will screen globally as a part of the Festival's pre-festival kickoff. The screening will be a fundraiser for writer and director Gregory Everett's family after he tragically passed away from complications of COVID-19 on January 24. Sponsored in part by The Cochran Firm California, the screening will take place virtually on February 20 at 5 p.m. P.T. followed by a Q&A with special guests. For tickets and more information, please visit www.paff.org. The 29th Pan African Film Festival will take place virtually from February 28 – March 14.

41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, winner of the 2010 Pan African Film Festival's Audience Favorite Documentary, features exclusive interviews from Black Panther party leaders Geronimo Ji Jagga, Elaine Brown, and Kathleen Cleaver, retired Los Angeles City Councilmember and former L.A.P.D. Police Chief Bernard Parks. The film was the first part of a documentary series by filmmaker Gregory Everett following the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. The film explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the U.S. Organization, and the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter.

Using exclusive interviews with former Black Panther Party members along with archival footage detailing the history of racism in Los Angeles, including the Watt's Uprising, 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, has been called the most in-depth study ever of the murders of L.A. Chapter founder Alprentice "Bunchy" Carter and John Huggins at U.C.L.A. The documentary includes first-hand accounts of the Party's formation as told by the original surviving members and eyewitness accounts of the murders at U.C.L.A. Also featured in the film are former Black Panther members Ericka Huggins, Roland & Ronald Freeman, Wayne Pharr, Jeffrey Everett, Long John Washington, US Organization member Wesley Kabaila, U.C.L.A. Professor Scot Brown, and Bernie Morris, oldest brother of Bunchy Carter.

The son of a Black Panther, Everett learned film and video through the Barnsdale Park Foundation, the Ebony Showcase, and Los Angeles City College. He launched a music career with the emergence of rap, establishing Ultra Wave Promotions (now Ultra Wave Media), and eventually directed over 30 music videos. Everett was also an accomplished editor, producer, and writer.

The Festival’s Odududwa Olatunji said, "Greg was a man of great talent. In addition to being one of the early ambassadors of hip hop, he was a noted filmmaker. His presence will be felt throughout L.A. as his work lives on."

The Pan African Film Festival is America's largest and most prestigious Black film festival and largest Black History Month event. Each year, it screens more than 200 films made by and/or about people of African descent from around the world. PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the country. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has designated PAFF as an official qualifying film festival for live-action and animation short films.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 29th Pan African Film Festival will run February 28 – March 14 on-line and on-demand only. The virtual component allows this year’s Festival to reach a global audience. More information can be found at www.paff.org.

Ticket Information
Tickets are available at www.paff.org.

Media Assets
Trailer
Hi-Res Photos
Poster

Screening Sponsors and Partners

This screening is sponsored in part by The Cochran Firm California.

Festival Sponsors and Partners

The 29th Pan African Film Festival’s sponsors include the City of Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (8th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price (9th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas (10th District); California State Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, 64th District; Commissioner Willard H. Murray, Jr., Water Replenishment District; U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass, 37th District; U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, 43rd District; Union Bank; Brotherhood Crusade, Groundwurk; FilmLA; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute; Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Los Angeles Sentinel; The Wave; KPFK; Black Cultural Events; Immigrant Magazine; KJLH; Our Weekly; okayafrica; L.A. Focus; Envoi, Miss Everything Entertainment, Girl In Charge Public Relations and Empowerment Justice Strategies.

About the Pan African Film Festival

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The 29th Pan African Film Festival Announces Competition Selections

Global Black Film Festival to Feature Over 65 World Premiere Titles

For Immediate Release: February 5, 2021

Media Contact: press@paff.org

LOS ANGELES - The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) announced today film nominations in its prestigious juried competition. The Pan African Film Festival is America's largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, the PAFF screens more than 200 films made by and/or about people of African descent from around the world. PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the country. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has designated PAFF as an official qualifying film festival for live-action and animation short films. The 29th Pan African Film Festival will take place virtually from February 28 – March 14.

This year, the competitions will include over 65 World premiere titles and over 29 US premieres.

Best Narrative Feature Competition

Back of the Moon (South Africa)
Director: Angus Gibson

Caged Birds (US)
Director: Fredrick Leach

Poppie Nongena (South Africa)
Director: Christiaan Olwagen

Red Pill (US)
Director: Tonya Pinkins

The Fisherman's Diary (Cameroon)
Director: Enah Johnscott

The Ghost and the House of Truth (Nigeria)
Director: Akin Omotoso

The Milkmaid (Nigeria)
Director: Desmond Ovbiagele

Best Documentary Competition

City On the Hill (US)
Director: Xavier Underwood

Disruptor Conductor (Canada, US)
Director: Sharon Lewis

Firestarter - The Story of Bangarra (Australia)
Director: Wayne Blair, Nel Minchin

Fresh Guide To Florence with Fab 5 Freddy (Italy, US, UK)
Director: David Shulman

Lake Women (Rwanda, Germany)
Director: Deve Shema

Raymond Lewis: L.A. Legend (US)
Director: Ryan Matthew Polomski, Dean Prator

Through the Night (US)
Director: Loira Limbal

Uprooted - The Journey of Jazz Dance (Canada, France, UK, US)
Director: Khadifa Wong

Best First Feature - Director Competition

Narratives
African America (South Africa, US)
Director: Muzi Mthembu

Caged Birds (US)
Director: Fredrick Leach

Executive Order (Brazil)
Director: Lázaro Ramos

Love Like Winter (US)
Director: Artel Great

Shaina (Zimbabwe, South Africa)
Director: Beautie Masvaure Alt

Documentaries

Finding Sally (Ethiopia, Canada)
Director: Tamara Dawit

Hollywood's Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (US)
Director: Royal Kennedy Rodgers, Kathy McCampbell Vance

Softie (Kenya, US)
Director: Sam Soko

The Letter (Kenya)
Director: Maia Lekow, Christopher King

The Patterson: Another Bronx Tale (US)
Director: Bahati Adrien Best

Who is Gatsby Randolph (US)
Director: Kobie Randolph

Best Short Narrative (Animation or Live Action)

#WeAreDyingHere (South Africa)
Director: Shane Vermooten

Antivirus (Greece)
Director: Anastasia Sima

Guillermina (Cuba)
Director: Aida Esther Bueno Sarduy

Junebug (US)
Director: Winter Dunn

Junior (US)
Director: Jehnovah Carlisle

London Arabia (UK)
Director: Daniel Jewel

Nazen (US)
Director: Shemar Yanick Jonas

Pure (US)
Director: Natalie Jasmine Harris

Sër Bi (Les Tissus Blancs) (Senegal, France)
Director: Moly Kane

Smell of Summer (US)
Director: Kris Wilson

The Cypher (US)
Director: Letia Solomon

The McHenry Trial – Don’t Judge a Kid by Their Hoodie (US)
Director: Ken Sagoes

The Power Of Hope (US)
Director: Kalia Love Jones

Till Death Do Us Part (Póki śmierć nas nie rozłączy ) (Uganda, Poland)
Director: Dolores Vunda

Tuk-tuk (Egypt)
Director: Mohamed Kheidr

Two Single Beds (UK)
Director: William Stefan Smith

Festival Sponsors and Partners

The 29th Pan African Film Festival’s sponsors include the City of Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (8th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price (9th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas (10th District); California State Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, 64th District; Commissioner Willard H. Murray, Jr., Water Replenishment District; U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass, 37th District; U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, 43rd District; Union Bank; Brotherhood Crusade, Groundwurk; FilmLA; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute; Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Los Angeles Sentinel; The Wave; KPFK; Black Cultural Events; Immigrant Magazine; KJLH; Our Weekly; okayafrica; L.A. Focus; Envoi, Miss Everything Entertainment, Girl In Charge Public Relations and Empowerment Justice Strategies.

About the Pan African Film Festival

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David Oyelowo’s ‘The Water Man’ Selected to Open 29th Pan African Film Festival

The fantasy-adventure film stars David Oyelowo and Rosario Dawson

For Immediate Release
February 12, 2021

LOS ANGELES - The Pan African Film Festival today announced that The Water Man, David Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut, will open the 29th edition of the Festival. The Opening Night celebration will be held virtually this year on February 28 at 6:30 p.m. PT. A Q&A with the filmmaker and actors will follow the screening. The Pan African Film Festival will take place virtually February 28 – March 14. Tickets are available at www.paff.org.

The Water Man is a fantasy-adventure film about a young boy named Gunner (Lonnie Chavis) who sets out on a quest to save his ill mother (Rosario Dawson) by searching for a mythic figure who knows the secret to immortality. Gunner enlists the help of a mysterious local girl (Amiah Miller) who has her own terrifying tale of meeting this figure, known as the Water Man, face-to-face. Together they journey into the remote Wild Horse forest, but the deeper they venture, the stranger and more dangerous the forest becomes. Back home, Gunner's father, Amos (Oyelowo), who has grown distant from Gunner over the years, will stop at nothing to find his son -- and in the process discovers who his son really is.

The film’s stellar ensemble cast also includes David Oyelowo, Rosario Dawson, Lonnie Chavis, Amiah Miller, Alfred Molina, and Maria Bello.

“We’re thrilled to be opening with David Oyelowo’s feature directorial debut,” said Ayuko Babu, the Festival’s Director. “Oyelowo is already a celebrated actor and known for his work in The Last King of Scotland, Lincoln, and Selma to name a few. In the face of these unprecedented times, we are grateful to be able to continue supporting Black filmmakers like Oyelowo and to continue presenting unique and fascinating films for our audiences—like The Water Man--that reinforce positive images, help to destroy negative stereotypes, and depict an expanded vision of the Black experience.”

Opening Night Ticket Information

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at www.paff.org.

The Water Man Assets
Hi-Res Photos
Poster

Festival Sponsors and Partners

The 29th Pan African Film Festival’s sponsors include the City of Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (8th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price (9th District); Los Angeles City Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas (10th District); California State Assemblyman Mike A. Gipson, 64th District; Commissioner Willard H. Murray, Jr., Water Replenishment District; U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass, 37th District; U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, 43rd District; Union Bank; Brotherhood Crusade, Groundwurk; FilmLA; Sony Pictures Entertainment; Mervyn M. Dymally African American Political and Economic Institute; Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Los Angeles Sentinel; The Wave; KPFK; Black Cultural Events; Immigrant Magazine; KJLH; Our Weekly; okayafrica; L.A. Focus; Envoi, Miss Everything Entertainment, Girl In Charge Public Relations and Empowerment Justice Strategies.

About the Pan African Film Festival

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