Staff
The 31st Annual Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is set for February 9 -20, in Los Angeles at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD, and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.
The festival will kick off with the world premiere of “Chevalier”, which was inspired by the incredible true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a virtuoso violinist, celebrated composer and champion swordsman. The son of an enslaved African woman and a French plantation owner, Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr. in a tour de force performance) rises to improbable heights in French society as a celebrated violinist-composer and fencer, complete with an ill-fated love affair and a falling out with Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) and her court.
Featuring over 200 films, PAFF titles represent 55 countries and 18 languages. Of the films selected for the festival, 80% are directed by filmmakers of African descent. The goal of PAFF is to showcase a broad range of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and depict an expanded, realistic vision of the Black experience.
Cofounded by Danny Glover , the late actress Ja’net DuBois, and Ayuko Babu, PAFF’s executive director, the festival events will include a vibrant red carpet filled with Hollywood A-listers and many of the who’s who in the world of art. The lineup will also include informative panels and workshops featuring top industry professionals,and will showcase rare cinematic works followed by Q & A sessions with filmmakers. Additionally, the John Singleton Short Film Competition honors Singleton’s cinematic contributions while also celebrating his unapologetic approach to filmmaking.
In conjunction with the film festival, there will also be an art showcase, “Artfest”, held at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The Artfest will feature more than 100 established and emerging fine artists and quality craftspeople from all over the Black Diaspora. Featured artists present their creative works using oil on canvas, watercolor and pastels, acrylic paper, glass, ceramics, metal, cloth, plastic, wax, wire, leather, and stone. In addition to fine art and one-of-a-kind crafts, the Artfest also features the best in designer and traditional fashions, jewelry, home decor, fashion accessories and so much more!
The full schedule and ticket information can be found at www.paff.org.