Pan African Film & Arts Festival

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 11 February 2010 02:24

Written by L E Shannon

The 18th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF), America’s largest and most prestigious Black film and arts festival, runs from February 10 through 17, 2010 at the Culver Plaza Theatres, 9919 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, California.

The accompanying Fine Arts Show is being held February 12-15, 2010 at the Westfield Culver Plaza, 6000 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, California.

The Pan African Film and Arts Festival is an official event of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Black History Month Celebration. The 2010 Celebrity Host is acclaimed actress CCH Pounder (Avatar, Brothers, Warehouse 13).

The Opening Night feature is the world premiere of Blood Done Sign My Name, starring Nate Parker (The Great Debaters) as notable Civil Rights activist Dr. Ben Chavis, who is expected to attend, Other cast members include Lela Rochon, Omar Benson Miller, Afemo Omilami and Ricky Schroder. Jeb Stuart directed his own screenplay. This Opening Night Gala is being held at the Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles.

The 2010 PAFF Lifetime Achievement Award honoree is Glynn Turman (Cooley High, The Wire), presented at the PAFF Night of Tribute. This star-studded red carpet event is televised on the Africa Channel and shown throughout Africa, the Caribbean and Europe.

Other honorees:

Pioneer Award – director F. Gary Gray (The Italian Job, A Man Apart)
Beah Richards Award – Tatyana Ali (Love That Girl)
Canada Lee Award – Nate Parker (The Great Debaters, Blood Done Sign My Name)
PAFF/African Channel Visionary Award – Nigerian filmmaker and founder of the African Academy of Motion Pictures Peace, Anyiam-Fiberesima
Community Service Award – LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

The Centerpiece Presentation is the documentary 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, directed by Gregory Everett. The film explores the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. Despite the Party’s formation of free medical clinics and a successful breakfast program for children, the L.A. chapter was also known as the most violent Black political group in the United States.

The film includes both archival footage and many interviews with former Party members, including surviving original members, many of whom will be present for the panel discussion after the screening.

In addition, the PAFF is holding numerous screenings of the powerful film Haiti: the Sleeping Giant, directed by Love Joel Aryeetey, to raise money for Haitian relief efforts. 100% of the proceeds raised from ticket sales will be donated to the Haitian Emergency Relief Fund. The PAFF is encouraging attendees to make it a point to include this film in their must-see list. Aside from providing the highly needed assistance for Haiti, the film provides a comprehensive understanding of the historical and political history that has led to Haiti’s current condition.

The Closing Night presentation is Freedom Riders, directed by Stanley Nelson. This is the powerful, harrowing and ultimately inspirational story of eight months that changed America forever. From May until December 1961, more than 400 Black and White Americans risked their lives. Many endured savage beatings and imprisonment, often for simply traveling together on buses as they journeyed through the Deep South. Discussion will follow afterward with former Freedom Riders Dr. Robert Singleton, Helen Singleton and former Los Angeles City Councilman Bob Farrell, who will share their experiences.

Other features include:

All My Life / Toul Omry, directed by Yetnayet Bahru. When a young man’s longtime lover leaves him to marry a woman, and his best friends drift away, he comes face to face with the harsh realities of life as a gay man in Egypt.

Darfur, directed by Uwe Boll. American journalists in Sudan are confronted with the dilemma of whether to return home to report on the atrocities they have seen, or to stay behind and help some of the victims they have encountered. Starring Billy Zane, Edward Furlong, Hakeem Kae-Kazim.

From A Whisper, directed by Wanuri Kahiu.  A Kenyan family is caught up in the bombing of the American Embassy by Islamist terrorists. Abu, a Muslim intelligence officer investigating the bombing, has a deep, complex friendship with one of the terrorists. Winner of Best Picture in Africa last year at the Africa Movie Awards.

Documentary Features include:

Rwanda Beyond the Deadly Pit, directed by Gilbert Ndahayo.  A Rwandan aspiring filmmaker emotionally resurfaces to confront his parents’ murderers. Filmed over the course of three years, this is the first film ever made by a genocide survivor.

Stolen, directed by Violeta Ayala and Daniel Fallshaw. This film confronts the all-too-real issue of modern day slavery as Black Saharawis reveal to the filmmakers, despite the grave risks, that they are enslaved.

Sweet Crude, directed by Sandy Cioffi. This film examines the politics, the people and the spin surrounding the policies regarding oil in the Nigerian Delta, one of the most oil rich regions on Earth.

Shorts include:

Charity, directed by Lansana Mansaray. The film explores delicate family dynamics in desperate times, as a reflection of the mixed blessing of the massive amount of international support and assistance Sierra Leone received during the UN peacekeeping mission.

Killer Necklace, directed by Judy Kibinge. A young man from a sprawling Nairobi ghetto, trying to stay away from the enticements of crime, longs to buy his girlfriend the gold necklace that she covets.

Documentary Shorts include:

A Day Without Mines, directed by Adisa. In Sierra Leone, the filmmakers embark on a journey to excavate the children from the diamond mines by hosting an all day soccer tournament.

The Little Princess and the Sand School, directed by Stéphanie Gillard. In Mali, Tuaregs try to keep their traditional way of life as nomadic shepherds and at the same time to participate actively in contemporary social changes, so school has become a matter of survival.

Panels and workshops include:

A Directors Roundtable
It’s Legal…So Write, Right?
Breaking Into Reality TV
Hiring Film Composers: Avoiding 7 Common Costly Mistakes
Acting on the Web: Testimonies from the Frontlines of the Online Revolution
Creating for the Web: New Visions for a New Frontier
Promoting Your Independently Produced Film…The Right Way

One of PAFF’s most popular special programs is the StudentFest, which provides free arts education for over 10,000 students from the Los Angeles Unified School District and throughout Los Angeles County. Students view age appropriate specially programmed films and have discussions with film and community professionals in the morning and in the afternoon tour the fine arts market where they interact with the artists.

The PAFF also includes a Children’s Fest, which entertains over 1,000 children, ages 4-12, and their parents with Free film screenings, storytelling, refreshments and interactive activities. Among the films shown is The Princess and the Frog.

The Fine Art Show features over 100 fine artists and craftspeople from around The world showcasing The best in Black fine art, sculpture, photography, unique handmade crafts, home furnishings, designer jewelry, designer fashions and accessories that highlight The artistry and beauty of the African aesthetic.

For more information, visit www.paff.org.  

Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)
February 10-17, 2010

Culver Plaza Theatres
9919 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, CA


Fine Arts Show
February 12-15, 2010

Westfield Culver Plaza,
6000 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA

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