Reviews and Events
31st Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) “Call for Entries”

The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) has announced its “Call for Entries” for its 31st international film festival taking place in Los Angeles in February 2023.
PAFF 2023 is planned as a hybrid festival--both physical and virtual--with the majority portion of physical activities and all live-audience screenings being held physically in Los Angeles. In past years, PAFF has hosted its live film festivals with more than 40,000 in attendance, which has long been a highly anticipated event in Los Angeles attended by local, national, and international guests.
PAFF accepts only online applications and submissions. Filmmakers wanting to submit to PAFF can apply by going to the PAFF website www.paff.org and clicking on “Submit Film.” Filmmakers can also submit to The Pan African Film Festival directly through FilmFreeway.com or Festhome.com.
ELIGIBILITY:
PAFF accepts applications for films and videos made by and/or about people of African descent. (Please note: the filmmaker need not be of African descent.) Preferably, films should depict positive and realistic images and can be of any genre — drama, comedy, horror, action/adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental, historical/epic, etc. PAFF accepts features and shorts, both narrative and documentary.
COMPETITION:
The PAFF competition categories are: Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Best First Feature - Director, plus a variety of Audience Favorite Awards. Submitted films must be copyrighted no earlier than 2021. With the exception of Audience Favorite Awards, films are judged by Industry professionals. In addition to competition awards, other programming and festival special prizes will be awarded.
SUBMISSION PERIODS:
Early Submissions: June 1 through July 5, 2022
Regular Submissions: July 6-September 12, 2022
Late Submission Period for all films begins: September 12, 2022
Final Submission Date for Short Films: October 31, 2022
Final Submission Date for Feature Length Films: November 14, 2022
After November 14, the submitter must contact submissions@paff.org to obtain permission to submit their film. Permission will depend on space availability.
For submission instructions, registration and information including fees, kindly go to www.paff.org and click on “Submit a Film”.
ABOUT THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
Looking forward to its 31st year, the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), is America’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, it screens more than 150 films made by and/or about people of African descent from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Latin America, Europe and Canada and increasingly Asia. In conjunction with its simultaneous Arts Showcase, PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the US.
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For more information, please visit https://www.paff.org/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paffnow
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paffnow
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThePanAfricanFilmFestival
‘END OF THE LINE’ Will Be Released on Digital and Cable On Demand Platforms in the U.S. on June 14th


Director, Editor and Produced: Emmett Adler
Executive Producer: Emmett Adler, Ian Mayer
Producers: Emmett Adler, Ian Mayer; Co-Producer Mariah Wilson
Genre: Feature Documentary
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Run time: 1 hour 5 minutes
OFFICIAL SELECTION: DOC NYC
'End Of The Line' On Digital and Cable On Demand Platforms in the United States On Tuesday, June 14.
VOD PLATFORMS INCLUDE: Apple/iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, Vudu, Microsoft and more.
Award-winning filmmaker Emmett Adler's feature documentary END OF THE LINE is a character-driven political drama about the New York City subway crisis and a long overdue reckoning on infrastructure.
Establishing the vital economic importance and grandeur of New York City’s historic subway system, the film dives into its dire modern-day troubles picking up in the late 2010s when flooding, overcrowding, power failures, and derailments have become commonplace. After a particularly bad spate of disasters in the summer of 2017, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proclaims a state of emergency and hires a new international wunderkind executive named Andy Byford to save the subways. Byford, an earnest Briton with an impressive resume, enters as a charismatic would-be hero.
As the political turmoil behind the subway’s decline comes into sharp focus, scenes in barbershops, bodegas, and bakeries show the frustration and devastation among business owners and residents who are caught in the middle.
Ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic furthers this, and brings to light America’s need to shore up its infrastructure in cities across the country and the inequality struggles that are central to this debate. A heartfelt and scrupulous exploration, this film poses the question: what happens when the lifeline of a city goes flat?
This film is dedicated to the heroic New York City transit workers who lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic.
EMMETT ADLER is an Emmy-winning filmmaker who has taught art in Shenzhen, China, was once a chess champion in the state of Illinois and can juggle pins while walking on stilts. He has over a decade of experience as a freelance documentary and commercial film editor. In 2021, he made his directorial debut with the feature documentary END OF THE LINE which premiered to sold out audiences at DOC NYC film festival.
ABOUT GRAVITAS VENTURES
Gravitas Ventures is a leading all rights distributor of independent feature films and documentaries. Founded in 2006, Gravitas connects independent filmmakers and producers with distribution opportunities across the globe. Working with talented directors and producers, Gravitas Ventures has distributed thousands of films into over a hundred million homes in North America - over one billion homes worldwide. Recent releases include Queen Bees directed by Michael Lembeck, Our Friend directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, starring Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson, and Jason Segel,Vanguard, directed by Stanley Tong and starring Jackie Chan, The Secret: Dare to Dream, directed by Andy Tennant and starring Katie Holmes; For more information, please visit www.gravitasventures.com, and follow @GravitasVOD on Twitter and @gravitasventures on Instagram.
ABOUT ANTHEM SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company with offices and studios in Los Angeles, Denver, Nashville, New York, Kansas City and Toronto. Anthem's portfolio includes AXS TV, a leading music, entertainment and lifestyle television channel and digital media company; global film distribution company Gravitas Ventures; Fight Network, the world's premier combat sports channel; IMPACT Wrestling, one of the world's leading wrestling organizations specializing in original programming and live events; Invicta Fighting Championships, the world’s premier all-women mixed martial arts promotion; Game+, the leader in Esports and gaming content; GameTV, the home of game shows and competition-based reality series; and HDNET MOVIES, which features theatrically released films and documentaries. Anthem also has a significant ownership interest in Pursuit Channel, one of the top outdoor channels in the U.S. For more information, please visit anthemse.com .
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PR CONTACT:
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‘THE QUEST: Nepal’ Movie Review

Year: 2022
Director and Writer: Alex Harz
Starring: Alex Harz, Tashi Sherpa, Hanuman Baba, Russell Brice, Mike Hamill, and more,
Genre: Documentary
The Many Rewards in Fulfilling a Childhood Promise
Harz said, “often, the best way to get to know the true essence of a city, is walking its streets and talking to its people.”
He is true to his word as he explores the villages and the people of the city of Kathmandou and the country of Nepal, that call it home, as he prepares to take on the Himalayan mountain’s Mt. Everest.
It includes stops along the Bagmati River, a holy river to both the Hindu and Buddhist religions, where cremations are performed for Hindu believers. The Sherpa culture is explained. He visits the town of Namche Bazaar, in the north-eastern area of Nepal, that is a major trading hub for the area.

We see the memorial for all those who lost their life in their own quest to climb the mountain
The beauty of the environment and the primitive natural of so much of daily life in the Khumka Valley and the Sherpa culture that required to make the climb, stands out in the film. Human, animals and helicopters are the only mean of transportation for people and transporting of goods.
The cinematography provides a fantastic background and setting for the harrowing climb. The dialogue provides a great opportunity to learn about the people and the history of the region. Hart's editing gives a nice flow from the first the last scene.
‘THE QUEST: Nepal’ is a good film that accomplishes a promise that is rewarding by itself, when combined with the introduction of the people of Kathmandou and the history of their city and country of Nepal, beauty of Mt. Everest and the surrounding Himalayan mountain adds to magnificence of Harz's journey.
Release May 2022
Distributor: Gravitas Ventures (2022) (USA) (all media), The Quest (2021) (USA) (all media)
Executive Producer: Alex Harz
Producer: Tate Zandstra
Production Co: The Quest
Run time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Starring: Hanuman Baba as Hindu Sadhu, Russell Brice as Expedition Operator, Mike Hamill as Expedition Operator. Alex Harz Alex Harz as Host, Ang Tshering Lama as Mountain Guide,Erlend Ness as Everest Climber,Lama Nawang Paljor as Tibetan Buddhist Monk, Caroline Pemberton as Everest Journalist,Kumar Rupakheti as Nepalese Historian,Lakpa Rita Sherpa as Basecamp Manager,Mingma Chiri Sherpa as Everest Climber,Pasang T. Sherpa as Sherpa Barista,Pasang Temba Sherpa as Puja Monk, Phunjo Lama Sherpa as Mountain Guide,Riten Jangbu Sherpa as Expedition Sirdar, Tashi Sherpa as Trekking Guide, Tshering Sherpa as SPCC Director, Tshering Sarg Sherpa as Expedition Manager
Director and Writer: Alex Harz
Cinematographers: Alex Harz, Ang Tshering Lama, Manish Maharjan, Samuel Emerson Morgan, Alex Schauer, Riten Jangbu Sherpa, Ryan Waters
Editors: Greg Bartlett, Alex Harz, Nicholas Orris, Tate Zandstra
’18 1/2′: Review

Year: 2021
Director: Dan Mirvish
Starring: Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Vondie Curtis Hall, Catherine Curtin, Richard Kind, Sullivan Jones, Alanna Saunders, Claire Saunders, Ted Raimi, Jon Cryer, Bruce Campbell
Genre: Comedy/Thriller
Run time: 1 hour 28 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
When You Don’t Know What Happened, Let Your Imagination Run Wild
Director Dan Mirvish’s comical thriller “18 1/2” is about, what was, the biggest political crime in American history, until January 6th, t the erased 18 ½ minutes of Richard Nixon’s Watergate tapes.
Using his vivid imaginations to create a narrative and characters that never existed, it is a White House transcriber, who works for OMB (U.S. Office of Management and Budget), Connie Lashley (Willa Fitzgerald) who, while transcribing her final tape of the day, hears the voices of Nixon (Bruce Campbell) and Haig (Ted Raimi). This leads to a great discovery.

Realizing the importance of what she has heard, she teams up with New York Times reporter Paul Marrow (John Magaro) and they both decide to listen to the tape together, in private, In order to listen to the tape together, Connie and Paul rent a room from Jack (Richard Kind) at a local hotel. A creepy and dreary place that provide a great backdrop for the what is to follow.
Having the tape with the missing 18 ½ minutes creates a paranoia of being watched and conversations listened to, leading to Connie and Paul looking over their shoulder at every turn. Which can not be missed as they encounter a group of hippies and their leader Barry (Sullivan Jones), and staying in the cottage next door, Samuel (Vondie Curtis-Hall) and Lena (Catherine Curtin) that leads to many funny encounters that eventually turn dark.

“18 1/2” transports you right into the 1970s with its authentic costumes, set designs and photography. Every detail of Costume designer Sarah Cogan is realistic of clothes worn during this period, giving the impression of a film made in the 1970s.
“18 1/2” is a must see and very entertaining comedic thriller that feeds into the many conspiracy theories about Nixon, his secretary Rose Mary Woods and the missing 18 ½ minutes of the Watergate tape.
Release Date: May 27, 2022
Distributor: Adventure Entertainment
Co-executive Producer: Dana Altman, Frédéric Forestier
Production Co: 101 Films International, Bugeater Films and Kyyba Films, Syncopated Daydreams and Terry Keefe Media.
Run time: 1 hour 28 minutes
Starring: Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro, Vondie Curtis Hall, Catherine Curtin, Richard Kind, Sullivan Jones, Alanna Saunders, Claire Saunders, Ted Raimi, Jon Cryer, Bruce Campbell
Director: Dan Mirvish
Story by: Daniel Moya, Dan Mirvish
Cinematography: Elle Schneider
Editor: Dan Mirvish
Music: Luis Guerra
Run time: 1 hour 28 minutes
GUIDANCE Released in U. S. on VOD June 17


Director: Neysan Sobhani
Cast: Sun Jia (Han Miao), Harry Song (Mai Zi Xuan) and Francesco Chen (Su Jie)
Country: China
Language: Mandarin Chinese with English subtitles
Year: 2021
Run Time: 1 hour 33 minutes
GUIDANCE on all major platforms including: Apple TV/iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, XFinity Cable, and more on June 17th
In the not-too-distant future, humanity slowly rebuilds itself a decade after The Great War. Believing that the ability to lie is the root cause of the devastating conflict, a tech entrepreneur creates a pill containing a nanotechnology app known as “Guidance” that allegedly will make everyone more enlightened. Once swallowed, an A.I. “installs” in the person’s nervous system and aids their ability to detect deception in other people among other enhancements.
A young couple goes on a weekend retreat to the countryside, and they begin to use Guidance. However, recent events have potentially compromised their trust in one another. With the tech in their bodies, the couple tries to subvert Guidance in the hopes of saving their relationship before it’s too late.
About Neysan Sobhani, Writer/Director/Producer
Writer/Director Neysan Sobhani is an award-winning writer and director making short films and now his feature debut, GUIDANCE, in Asia. Raised in Asia and North America and at times officially stateless, his identity was shaped by the diverse places he lived, having fled war and conflict twice while young.
As a diaspora filmmaker, Sobhani’s films have flavors of Asian and Western cinema, with his short films appearing in over 40 international film festivals around the world. Reframing audience perceptions of Chinese films through a blended genre approach, his feature film, GUIDANCE (2021), was released in cinemas across China in late 2021.
ABOUT GOOD DEED ENTERTAINMENT
Good Deed Entertainment (GDE) is an Ohio based independent studio dedicated to producing, financing, and distributing quality entertainment for under-served audiences. Its distribution slate includes recent releases Summertime, Ma Belle, My Beauty, and Lucky Grandma, in addition to the Academy Award nominated, Loving Vincent, and Spirit Award nominated, To Dust.
“THE QUEST: Nepal” Release Today, May 24th Across All TVOD/Digital Platforms Throughout North America


Gravitas Ventures will release “THE QUEST: Nepal” across all TVOD/Digital platforms throughout North America – beginning today, May 24th, 2022, perfectly timed to International Everest Day.
“THE QUEST: Nepal” is like combining Werner Herzog with Anthony Bourdain and a bit of Bear Grylls on an extraordinary Quest to deeper understand and climb the most iconic mountain in the world, Everest, while unveiling the fascinating culture, history and nature of Nepal. Become enthralled by one of the most surreal cities on earth, Kathmandu, before embarking on an expedition up the sacred valley of the indigenous Sherpa people during a spectacular 9-day trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp situated at a staggering height of 17,500 feet / 5334 meters above sea level.

Feel what life is like to climb and survive for 43 more grueling days at 17,500 feet and above as we continue our epic Quest upward to try to reach the daunting 29,032 foot / 8849 meter summit of planet earth. From experiencing Mt. Everest like never before to witnessing remarkable rarely seen stories from one of the most unique countries in the world, “THE QUEST: Nepal” is truly a one-of-a-kind cinematic journey like no other, and one which embodies the incredible human spirit of adventure that lives inside us all.
Film Threat Award This! Announces 2022 The Best of Independent Film Winners
Film Threat Celebrates The Best of Indie Filmmaking at Live In-Theater Ceremony
Film Threat,led by founder and filmmaker Chris Gore, and in conjunction with their partner Magical Threads, are thrilled to announce the Award This! 2022 winners. Award This!! nominees were selected from the nearly 2,000 indie films reviewed on Film Threat in 2021 (this year we extended our deadline into the first quarter of 2022 due to the pandemic). Award This! returned for its fourth year with a live in-person, in-theater event on Saturday, May 21st at non-profit arthouse cinema the Frida Cinema to honor the best and brightest in independent film. Film Threat’s Award This! has become an independent film industry staple celebrating the best in independent cinema.
“This years’ incredibly diverse Award This! nominees made deliberations brutal for our team. Amid two years of literal pandemic struggle, we saw the independent spirit in all its glory. We are honored to share our winners and encourage you to watch this years’ nominees,” said Chris Gore.
This years’ Award This! bold and diverse categories including Indie Sci-Fi, Indie Horror, Indie Comedy, Indie LGBTQ+ Film, Indie Action/Thriller, WTF Indie, Indie Romantic Comedy, Indie Drama, Music Documentary, Pop Culture Documentary, Socially-Relevant Documentary, Best Director, Best Directress, Indie Made for Less Than the Contents of an Oscar Gift Bag (Under $100K), and Indie Movie of the Year. The nominating board of Award This! is comprised of the staff of Film Threat’s editors and critics which number 30+ worldwide along with an advisory board of media figures and independent film luminaries.
Below please find this years’ winning films along side the complete list of independent films nominated for the Film Threat’s 2022 Award This! event.
Award This! Film About Movies or Filmmaking
Clapboard Jungle
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters
Clerk.
Film Fest
Sam and Mattie Make a Zombie Movie – WINNER
Award This! Music Documentary **(This Category was a tie)**
Holding These Moments – WINNER
The Jesus Music
Miss Angela
Rock Camp the Movie
The United States of Insanity – WINNER
Award This! Socially Relevant Documentary **(This Category was a tie)**
Bastards' Road – WINNER
The Boys in Red Hats – WINNER
Finding Kendrick Johnson
Pharma Bro
Rebel Hearts
The Reunited States
Stronger For Life
Award This! Pop Culture Documentary
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters
Clerk.
Lily Topples the World
More Than Miyagi – WINNER
Satoshi Kon: The Illusionist
Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini
Award This! Documentary
Bastards' Road – WINNER
Clerk.
Finding Kendrick Johnson
Pharma Bro
Sam and Mattie Make a Zombie Movie
The United States of Insanity
Award This! Short Film
ASMR for White Liberals
Billy Kills the Internet – WINNER
BoxLife
Heavy Petting
KIA Summer Sales Event
Snake Dick
Award This! Indie Sci-Fi
The Changed
Glasshouse
God of Dreams – WINNER
Man Under Table
Nebulous Dark
Repeat
Award This! Indie Horror
Agnes
The Great And Terrible Day Of The Lord – WINNER
The Nest
Night At The Eagle Inn
Psycho Goreman
Slashening: The Final Beginning
Award This! Indie Comedy
Donny’s Bar Mitzvah
Golden Arm
Kitty Mammas
Spirit Quest
Tango Shalom – WINNER
Win a Trip to Browntown!
Award This! Indie LGBTQ+ Themed Film
HipBeat
Road Head
Shit & Champagne
Swan Song
X –WINNER
Award This! Indie Animation
Cryptozoo
Flee
The Spine Of Night – WINNER
Award This! Indie Action/Thriller
100 Days to Live
The Beta Test
Delicate State
How To Deter A Robber
Mafia Inc.
Shut In – WINNER
Award This! WTF Indie Like “What The Fuck Is This Move Even? **(This Category was a tie)**
Baby Oopsie
Donny’s Bar Mitzvah
I, Challenger – WINNER
Mother Schmuckers
Road Head
Willy’s Wonderland – WINNER
Award This! Indie Romantic Comedy
Borrelia Borealis
Christmas On The Carousel
Honesty Weekend – WINNER
Lost At Christmas
Threebound
Win a Trip to Browntown!
Award This! Indie Drama
The In-Between
Lola
Shiva Baby
Single Mother By Choice – WINNER
Sweet Thing
Weekenders
Award This! Indie Made for Less Than the Contents of an Oscar Gift Bag (Under $100k)
Delicate State - WINNER
God of Dreams
Lola
Road Head
Tango Shalom
Win a Trip to Browntown! – WINNER
Award This! Director **(This Category was a tie)**
The Beta Test (Jim Cummings, P.J. McCabe)
The Changed (Michael Mongillo)
Donny’s Bar Mitzvah (Jonathan Kaufman) – WINNER
God of Dreams (Jurian Isabelle)
Lola (Antonie Allen)
Shit & Champagne (D'Arcy Drollinger)
Shut In (D.J. Caruso)
Single Mother By Choice (Dan Levy Dagerman) – WINNER
Award This! Directress **(This Category was a tie)**
Borrelia Borealis (Kathryne Isabelle Easton) – WINNER
Delicate State (Paula Rhodes) – WINNER
Glasshouse (Kelsey Egan)
Golden Arm (Maureen Bharoocha)
Honesty Weekend (Leslie Thomas)
How To Deter A Robber (Maria Bissell)
The In-Between (Mindy Bledsoe)
Shiva Baby (Emma Seligman)
Award This! Indie Movie of the Year
The Beta Test
Borrelia Borealis
The Changed
Delicate State
Donny’s Bar Mitzvah – WINNER
Night At The Eagle Inn
Repeat
Shiva Baby
Shut In
The Spine Of Night
Check out the official Award This! site for more information, including eligibility requirements for next year and don't forget to follow Award This! on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
“U Ý R A THE RISING FOREST ” World Premiere at the 2022 Frameline Film Festival

Run time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Genre: Documentary, Environmental, LGBTQIA+
A STORY BY UÝRA SODOMA
DIRECTED BY JULIANA CURI
Uýra, a trans-indigenous artist travels through the Amazon forest on a journey of self-discovery using performance art and ancestral messages to teach indigenous youth and confront structural racism and transphobia in Brazil.
UÝRA - THE RISING FOREST is directed by Juliana Curi, and written by Curi and Martina Sönksen. Produced by João Henrique Kurtz, Juliana Curi, Lívia Cheibub, Martina Sönksen, and Uýra Sodoma. Edited by Lívia Cheibub, Lucas Camargo De Barros, and Renan Cipriano. Cinematography by Thiago Moraes. Music by Nascuy Linares, featuring Josyara and Zahy Guajajara. A Story by Uýra Sodoma. A Production of Azores Filmes (Brazil) and Mama Wolf (USA), in co-production with Abou Farman with the support of Doc Society and BRIC Brooklyn.
Wednesday, June 22nd at 8:30pm
The New Parkway Theater, Oakland, CA
June 24 - June 30
Streaming Encore - Available Online (U.S. Only)
Tickets +Passes Available Soon
Uýra, a trans-indigenous artist, travels through the Amazon on a journey of self-discovery using performance art to teach indigenous youth that they are the guardians of ancestral messages of the Amazon forest.
The Race to Alaska” in Theatres Today, Friday, May 20th

The Race to Alaska”, a feature film debut from director Zach Carver, has its theatrical release today in over 40 markets across North America.
“The Race to Alaska” spans 750 miles. Icy water. No motors. No support. Described as “the Iditarod on a boat with a chance of drowning or being eaten by a Grizzly bear,” this epic endurance race attracts the intrepid and unhinged who find their edge along a coastline that is as punishing as it is beautiful.
Directed by Zach Carver produced by Carver, Ian Morland (“Dear White People”) and Liv von Oelreich (“The Girl in the Spider’s Web”), with an original score by Spencer Worth-Davis and edited by Greg King (“Lessons”).
About Adventure Entertainment:
Sydney-based, and operating in 28 countries on 5 continents, Adventure Entertainment is making literal and metaphorical waves in the adventure film world with over 10 film touring platforms, and dozens of feature films in recent distribution. Specializing in producing live, eventized, theatrical film screenings, AE is leading the way in innovative, community-based marketing and generating pre, and post-show buzz in the entertainment industry. In addition to "Rookie Season", other 2021/22 titles include National Geographic's" Torn", Red Bull Media House's " La Liste: Everything or Nothing", and "Buried", from Oscar-winning producers Evan Hayes and Michael Sugar.
See more at adventureentertainment.com