2023 Pan African Film and Arts Festival Film Guide

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Over 150 films from 40 countries, in 19 languages, including 50 World and 22 North American premieres!

Today, the PAFF announced its full lineup for its upcoming in-person festival Feb. 9-20, 2023. Now in its 31st year, the Festival is returning to the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and XD and the adjacent Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza will host its renowned fine art show featuring over 100 established and emerging fine artists and quality craftspeople from all over the Black Diaspora. This year’s film festival features over 150 films from 40 countries, in 19 languages, including 50 World and 22 North American premieres. Of the films selected for the Festival, 39% are helmed by female, queer or non-binary filmmakers.

The Festival film guide is available here.

Passes on sale now and can be purchased here.

Individual tickets go on sale on January 31, 2023.

 

Bill Russell’s Impact on me and The Pan African Film Festival

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I am Ayuko Babu, Executive Director of the Pan African Film Festival. Brother Bill Russell had a profound impact on my life. When I played center on my high school team in Cheyenne, Wyoming, we won the Wyoming State Championship and I won a full scholarship to the University of Wyoming and Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado (where the new Laker head coach Darvin Ham played before he moved on to Texas Tech and pro ball.) I moved on to play at LA City College and joined the civil rights/Black Power Movement. I had patterned my whole basketball game after Brother Bill, especially in defense. At that time, Cheyenne had no television station, so I religiously listened to the broadcasts of all Bill's games when they aired on the radio in Cheyenne. When able, I watched Bill and the other bad brothers on the Boston Celtics on television by antenna from Denver, Colorado.  He had a major impact on me. The way he looked and carried himself was noble. With his goatee and mustache and his 6’10” muscular frame, he looked like an African chief.

When I came out to Los Angeles in July 1962, I went to see Bill and the Boston Celtics play the Lakers at the old Sports Arena, which was new at the time. A friend of mine, Gene Wiley, was playing center for the Lakers. Brother Gene was from Amarillo, Texas, where I was born and lived until my family moved to Cheyenne. Gene got me tickets to see that game. Needless to say, it was an incredible game. I learned many invaluable basketball lessons that night watching Bill and Gene battle.  

Even at that time, I knew Bill was very much into Pan Africanism; not only basketball. He had bought a rubber plantation in the Republic of Liberia (West Africa). After the game, I was hoping to talk to Bill for a few minutes. So my brother Jaheed and I waited outside the locker room for him to come out. When he finally came through the door and into the hallway, I spoke to him and he smiled. I asked him about his rubber plantation in Liberia. He was happy to know that I knew about it. He stood there and talked to me and my brother for about an hour about the plantation and its operation. He proudly told us he had 200 workers and when he realized that his workers needed a school to increase their education and level of development, he built a school for them. It was my first experience speaking with someone who actually had a successful project and a program on the Continent. I was spellbound. During our encounter, Bill never spoke about the game we had just seen or basketball in general. His entire enthusiastic conversation was about the plantation and the incredible possibilities that these kinds of projects could open up for Black folks. 

Needless to say, he fueled my determination and drive to be a part of the Pan African experience. He became the role model that led me to facilitate Brother Stevie Wonder’s first trip to Africa to perform at the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977. The Grammy organization flew to Nigeria to broadcast Stevie's performance and to present his Grammys in Lagos. The performance, directed and produced by Stan Lathan, was broadcast to a worldwide TV audience of 90 million people. Stevie performed his famous song Sir Duke with his band and Duke Ellington’s band and the George Faison dancers. It was Bill's influence and that early conversation after the Laker/Celtic game that spurred me on to bring the world-famous dance company Les Ballets Africains from the Republic of Guinea to perform at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Bill's impact was so inspirational to me that I, along with actress, singer and composer Ja’Net DuBois and actor Danny Glover, was able to create The Pan African Film Festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2022. This is the kind of impact that Pan Africanist Bill Russell had on my life and will continue to have on my life.

Pan African Film & Arts Festival Announces 2022 Jury and Programmers’ Awards

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The Pan African Film & Arts Festival’s (PAFF) 30th edition concluded on Sunday, May 1st.  Held both in person at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills 15 and XD and online, PAFF announced its 2022 juried film award winners during their annual Awards Brunch in Los Angeles on Monday, May 2nd.  Three groups determined the winners: 1) an external panel of judges, 2) the PAFF Programmers, and 3) the audience.  PAFF took place in Los Angeles from April 30-May 1, 2022. 

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.”

Olatunji continued, “I predict this is just the beginning of the melting of the system’s iceberg that once limited access and the types of stories that are being told. Not only are these films Black films from the world over, but they are also films being made by Black women and LGBTQ+ filmmakers that authentically reflect their world. These are films by people who never had a seat at the table let alone a voice in the conversation. 

 

"As programmers, myself and the other PAFF programmers are happy to be a part of this process of helping to shift the paradigm of what stories are told and by whom. To present these stories and provide access for both filmmakers and their audiences is a great privilege.”

The 2022 PAFF featured 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% were helmed by female, queer or non-binary filmmakers, and 80% were directed by filmmakers of African descent. 

For additional information about PAFF visit paff.org.

2022 PAFF AWARD WINNERS

Jury Awards

 

Best Feature Narrative  - Lingui, the Sacred Bonds (Chad) – Directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun 

 

Best First Feature Narrative  - Queen of Glory (US) – Directed by Nana Mensah 

 

Best Feature Documentary - Buddy Guy: the Blues Chase the Blues Away (US) -- Directed by Charles Todd & Devin Amar 

 

Best First Feature Documentary - Africa and I (South Africa) -- Directed by Othmane Zolati & Chris Green

 

Best Short Narrative - Slow Pulse (US) – Directed by Marshall Tyler 

 

Best Short Documentary - Cuba in Africa (Cuba/US) -- Directed by Negash Abdurahman 

 

Programmers’ Awards

 

Programmers’ Award: Narrative Feature - Ayinla (Nigeria) – Directed by Tunde Kelani

Programmers’ Award: Documentary  - Race Today (UK) -- Directed by Wayne G Saunders

Programmers’ Award: Short Narrative - 2 Eye Drops from Normal (US) -- Directed by Mora Carew 

Programmers’ Award: Short Documentary  - For Love & Legacy (US)--Directed by A.K. Sandhu 

 

Audience Awards

 

Audience Favorite: Feature Narrative - Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (US) -- Directed by Denise Dowse

Audience Favorite: Feature Documentary (tie) - The Dream Whisperer (US) – Directed by Eric Drath and Ferguson Rises (US) – Directed by Mobolaji Olambiwonnu 

 

Audience Favorite: Short Narrative - Contraban (US) – Directed by Chelsea Hicks

 

Audience Favorite: Short Documentary - Crawford - The Man the South Forgot (US) – Directed by Carol Devoe

 

Ja’net Dubois Awards

 

Narrative - A Brother’s Whisper (US) -- Directed by Jacinto Taras Riddick

 

Documentary- Grandpa was an Emperor (US/Canada/Ethiopia/France/Germany/Jamaica/UK) -- Directed by Constance Marks 

 

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.

 

Additional sponsors include:  ALLBLK, University of Southern California (USC), Procter & Gamble (P&G), Showtime, Paramount+, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA), Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), Union Bank, Sony Pictures Entertainment, STARZ, Unilever (Dove), Kaiser Permanente, Bank of America, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), Los Angeles Lakers, Directors Guild of America, Motion Pictures Association, West Basin Municipal Water District, SAGindie, Water Replenishment District, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Theater, Film & Television, 100 Black Men of Los Angeles, IKEA, Cinemark, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Warner Media, TV One.

 

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.

The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival Closing Night Screening TV One’s “STALKER”

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Tanya Moore (Meta Golding) is a well-known Hollywood actress, who is tormented by a stalker, who calls her one night, telling her to search her soul and fix her past.

Tanya goes home to the house she grew up in, where her estranged younger sister Shelly (Tationna Bosier) is living; visiting his parents’ empty house next door is Tanya’s high school boyfriend Damon (Christian Keyes). 

Tanya, Shelly and Damon are on a mission to figure out who is tormenting Tanya from a slew of suspects including a menacing cop, to Tanya’s ex or a married teacher that Tanya was involved with in high school.

Stalker” is produced for TV One by Swirl Films, with Eric Tomosunas and Robert A. Boyd II, serving as Executive Producers. James Seppelfrick, Ron Robinson and Keith Neal serve as Producers for Swirl Films. Bobby Yan serves as Director for TV One, Jason Ryan and Robyn Greene Arrington are Executive Producers in Charge of Production, Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Susan Henry is Senior Director of Original Programming and Production.

WHAT:
Join the cast and producer of “Stalker” for an exclusive screening, followed by a Q&A, on the closing night of the 30th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival

WHO:
Christian Keyes (Damon), Tationna Bosier (Shelly) and Keith Neal (producer).

WHEN:
Sunday, May 1, 2022

 TIME:
Red Carpet: 6:00 pm PST
Program: 7:00 pm PST
Panel to follow directly after screening.

WHERE:
Pan African Film Festival
Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD
4020 Marlton Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90008

Basketball Legend Dick Barnett’s Long, Challenging, And Historic Journey to Get His College Team Inducted into The Hall Of Fame is the Subject of Inspiring New Documentary

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Dick Barnett spent three seasons with the Lakers before helping the Knicks beat L.A. twice in the NBA finals.

In 1957, nine years before Texas Western's NCAA title victory over Kentucky, there was the Tennessee A&I (now known as Tennessee State University) Tigers.  And while Texas Western became the first team to win the NCAA title with an all Black starting lineup, Tennessee A&I was the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to win a national championship tournament.  Led by Hall of Fame coach John McLendon, and future NBA players Dick Barnett and John Barnhill, Tennessee A&I closed out the 1950s winning the NAIA Tournament in 1957, 1958, and 1959, the first college team, on any level, to win three consecutive national titles.

 Fittingly, in the 65th anniversary year of the Tigers' first national championship of that historic run, comes the 2022 release of The Dream Whisperer (The Dream Whisperer Trailer - YouTube).  Eleven years in the making, the documentary chronicles New York Knicks legend Dick Barnett's long and often frustrating journey to have his team recognized for its achievement at the highest level -- induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.  The Dream Whisperer, which will first be playing the festival circuit, is a not only a homage to a historic team from a small HBCU school which won three consecutive national championships in the midst of segregation in the Jim Crow South, but a testament to Barnett's persistence and perseverance to make sure the Tigers' legacy would be honored and remembered.

 "This is a story about the first college basketball team to win three consecutive national championships.  A team that almost was lost to history until I decided to do something about it," said Barnett, who is now 85.  "It's about a legacy that needs to be protected and passed on."   

Narrated by Dr. Barnett, The Dream Whisperer features interviews with: John Thompson, Hall of Fame coach; Julius Erving, Hall of Fame NBA player; Walt Frazier, two-time NBA Champion; Bill Bradley, two-time NBA Champion; Phil Jackson, Hall of Fame coach;  David Stern, Hall of Fame NBA Commissioner; Joanna McLendon, Coach McLendon's widow; Jim Satterwhite, Tennessee A&I championship team member; Harry Carlton, Tennessee A&I championship team member; Howard Gentry, former Tennessee State University Athletic Director; Dr. Harry Edwards, Civil Rights activist; John Doleva, President, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame; and George Willis, sports journalist.  

 Barnett, known as the Skull during his college days, was selected by the Syracuse Nationals in the first round (No. 5 overall) of the 1959 NBA Draft.  The Nationals made the playoffs in Barnett's first two years before he jumped to the American Basketball League in 1961, where he led the Cleveland Pipers, owned by George Steinbrenner, to the ABL title.  Barnett and his Fall Back Baby jump shot returned to the NBA in 1962, playing for the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that made it to the NBA Championship Finals in two of the three years he played for them.

He was traded to the New York Knicks in 1965 and was a member of the 1970 and 1973 NBA Championship teams.  The Knicks retired his No.12 jersey, which hangs in honor with those of his teammates inside Madison Square Garden.  Barnett, who holds a master's degree in public administration from New York University and a PhD in education administration and supervision from Fordham University, continues to champion the battles for equity and social justice by telling his story, and the story of the courageous and talented Tennessee A&I team, on which he played, to students, of all ages, around the country.

The Dream Whisperer is executive produced by Ed Peskowitz, Penelope Peskowitz, Eric Drath, George Willis, and Grammy Award-winning hip hop producer 9th Wonder, produced by Danielle Naassana, Aaron Cohen, and directed by two-time Emmy winner Eric Drath.   

The Dream Whisperer will have its world premiere at the 30th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival on Sat., Apr. 30th at 7 p.m. with Dick Barnett in attendance.

Tickets are available here.

Who:  Pan African Film & Arts Festival and Dick Barnett

What:  The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival

When: Saturday, April 30, 2022, Red Carpet at 6 p.m., Screening at 7 p.m., Q&A to follow screening

Where: Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD, 4020 Marlton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90008 

PAFF30 is taking place in-person through May 1, 2022, at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The Festival will showcase nearly 200 films, as well as a slew of accompanying filmmaker Q&As and audience engagement opportunities. In addition, PAFF’s renowned Black art show will take place at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

For additional information about PAFF visit paff.org.

CAST OF ACCLAIMED FILM ‘SOUTH CENTRAL’ TO REUNITE FOR SPECIAL SCREENING OF FILM ON 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF 1992 CIVIL UNREST

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South Central is a critically-acclaimed 1992 American crime-drama film, written and directed by Stephen Milburn Anderson. This film is an adaptation of the 1987 fictional novel, The Original South Central L.A. Crips by Donald Bakeer, a former high school teacher in South Central Los Angeles. The film stars Glenn Plummer, Byron Minns, Carl Lumbly, and Christian Coleman. South Central was produced by Oliver Stone and released by Warner Bros.

South Central tells the story of a man who is put into prison for 10 years. Coming out of prison he wants to live a normal life in South Central Los Angeles and stop with crime but his son has yet followed the criminal path of his father.

Who: Pan African Film & Arts Festival and Donald Bakeer, Glenn Plummer, Byron  Minns, Carl Lumbly, and Christian Coleman.

What: The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival

When: Friday, April 29, 2022, Red Carpet at 8 p.m., Screening at 9:10 p.m., Q&A to follow screening.

Where: Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD, 4020 Marlton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90008 

PAFF30 is taking place in-person through May 1, 2022, at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The Festival will showcase nearly 200 films, as well as a slew of accompanying filmmaker Q&As and audience engagement opportunities. In addition, PAFF’s renowned Black art show will take place at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

For additional information about PAFF visit paff.org.

THE NEW SHOWTIME® ORIGINAL SERIES, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH WILL PREVIEW THE FIRST TWO EPISODES AT THE 30TH ANNUAL PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL

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We are pleased to welcome back SHOWTIME® as a Gold Sponsor of the 30th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF). Presenting an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the new SHOWTIME original series, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH followed by a virtual panel discussion with Executive Producer Jenny Lumet; Cast Members Chiwetel EjioforNaomie Harris & Clarke Peters & Cinematographer, Tommy Maddox-Upshaw. Saturday, April 23, 2022, 6:45 pm at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD, 4020 Marlton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90008. Reserve your Complimentary Tickets HERE.

 Who:  Pan African Film & Arts Festival and SHOWTIME®

What Exclusive Sneak Peek of the new SHOWTIME Original Series, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH

When: Saturday, April 23, 2022, at 6:45 pm

Where: 4020 Marlton Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90008

PAFF30 is taking place in-person through May 1, 2022, at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The Festival will showcase nearly 200 films, as well as a slew of accompanying filmmaker Q&As and audience engagement opportunities.

For additional information about PAFF visit paff.org.

30th Annual Pan African film and Arts Festival Hosts SNOWFALL Season 5 Finale

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The 30th Annual Pan African film and Arts Festival hosted the season 5 finale of FX crime drama SNOWFALL at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD.

On the red carpet were the stars of the show Damon Idris sd "Franklin Saint", " Angela Lewis as "Aunt Louie" , Amin Joseph as "Jerome Saint" , Isaiah John as "Leon SImmons" , Michael Hyatt as "Cissy Saint", Devyn A. Tyler as "Veronique".

Supporting the cast on the red carpet were Dave Andron, executive producer and writer Walter Mosley.

Created by Los Angeles’ own John Singletonm Eric Amadio, and Dave Andron, SNOWFALL tells the story of the lives of Mexican luchador Gustavo "El Oso" Zapataa, CIA operative Teddy McDonald, drug dealer Franklin Saint, and Lucia Villanueva, a relative of a Mexican crime boss, as the crack epidemic begins it devastating toll in 1983.

It’s a Hit! The 30th Pan African Film and Arts Festival’s Opening Night Screening “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story”

Cast of "Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story" at 30th Pan African Film Festival Opening Night. Photo: Pan African Film Festival
Cast of "Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story" at 30th Pan African Film Festival Opening Night. Photo: Pan African Film Festival

The Stars shined bright last night as the Pan African Film and Arts Festival celebrated its 30th Anniversary with an in-person screening of “Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story”, directed by Denise Dowe and written by Ericka Nicole Malone. Last night at the Director Guild of America on April 19th.

On the Red Carpet were the stars of the film GRAMMY® winning Ledisi as Mahalia Jackson,  Columbus Short as Martin Luther King Jr., Janet Hubert, Vanessa A. Williams, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Keith David, Corbin Bleu and Keith Robinson.

Ayuko Babu, Executive Director of Pan African Film Festival and actor Danny Glover, both co-founders. Photo: Pan African Film Festival
Ayuko Babu, Executive Director of Pan African Film Festival and actor Danny Glover, both co-founders. Photo: Pan African Film Festival

In attendance was the film’s writer Ericka Nicole Malone, who is also an executive producer and director Denise Dowse, who also shined bright.

The night was hosted by actor, activist and Pan African Film and Arts Festival co-founder Danny Glover and Executive Director and co-founder Ayuko Babu.

Proud sponsors of tonight’s 30th Pan African Film and Arts Festival are Stocker Street Creative, Glassdoor and FX Networks.

The 30th Pan African Film and Arts Festival will take place through May 1, 2022, at the Cinemark Theatre and in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Columbus Short starring as Martin Luther King Jr. in "Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story" Opening Night Pan African Film Festival. Photo: Pan African Film Festival
Columbus Short starring as Martin Luther King Jr. in "Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story" Opening Night Pan African Film Festival. Photo: Pan African Film Festival

REMEMBER ME is a poignant look into the life and rise of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson (Ledisi). Set in New Orleans, Louisiana, this provocative story explores the tumultuous relationship Mahalia shared with her mother’s sister “Aunt Duke” (Janet Hubert) legally named “Mahala” who was Mahalia’s namesake, after her mother Charity unexpectedly passes away. REMEMBER ME is a journey into Mahalia’s pursuit to go beyond the early childhood trauma she faced and detail how although her early childhood trauma shook her, it did not break her.  Mahalia was not only an iconic gospel singer breaking racial and gender barriers she was also a Civil rights activist who understood the power of her position in the movement. REMEMBER ME explores Mahalia’s unbreakable relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Columbus Short) and her integral role in the Civil rights movement. REMEMBER ME brings Mahalia’s fight for freedom into the spotlight while highlighting Mahalia’s own personal search for love.

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 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

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.
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.