HERO, a film inspired by the extraordinary revolutionary life and times of Trinidad and Tobago diplomat and Judge Ulric Cross, the most decorated West Indian of World War II is set to take the center stage at the 28th annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF).
The festival, themed “20/20 Vision: Kicking off the decade with a fresh lens and solidifying commitment to telling diverse stories with a global, luminous view will kick off with a star-studded Opening Night Gala at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA), located at 7920 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. It will also feature a Trinidad and Tobago live steel drum band, Caribbean cuisine.
According to Ayuko Babu, Executive Director of PAFF, it is an honour for PAFF to present this great, important, enriching and entertaining story.
“We are very excited to screen “Hero” and share the triumphs and victories of Judge Ulric Cross and his Pan African brothers, which led to the creation of our modern world. It is truly an honor for me personally, as well as the Pan African Film Festival, to present and create awareness about this great, important, enriching and entertaining story” he said.
Hero, directed by Caribbean filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon tells the story of Cross, the most decorated West Indian of World War II. He was a member of the highly-decorated group of Caribbean pilots who flew combat missions for the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF) in World War II. This Caribbean group was the equivalent of the Tuskegee Airmen – that is, African American military pilots who flew combat missions for the U.S. Air Force in World War II. After his service, Cross went on to play an active and important role in the Pan African Movement, which led to the creation of the 28 modern Caribbean and 54 modern African nations. This Pan African Movement influenced U.S. domestic policy towards African Americans and inspired the Civil Rights movement. It also inspired Black Power movements in the Americas as well as the rise of Black consciousness that swept around the world and resonates to this day.
In the words of Solomon who leads a pack of women screening films at PAFF in record numbers, the 2020s promise to be an amazing time.
“As a woman of colour in this ferocious industry, I have had to work relentlessly to circumvent the barriers that stood in my way. As a proud new member of the Academy, I believe our time has come, and the world now will reap the magic that we have sown over the past years. The 2020s will be amazing for all our voices” she enthused.
“HERO” also boasts an all-star international cast that includes Trinidad and Tobago’s Nicolai Salcedo, in the lead role of Ulric Cross, along with UK stars Joseph Marcell (“Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”), Fraser James (“Resident Evil”), Pippa Nixon (“John Carter”), Canada’s Peter Williams (“Stargate SG1”), and Ghanaian superstars John Dumelo, Adjetey Anang and Prince David Oseia.
PAFF has cemented its role as a hub for breakthrough and award-winning Black films and filmmakers from around the world and is dedicated to the cinematic promotion and cultural exploration of peoples of African descent. It is PAFF’s goal to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help destroy negative stereotypes. 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.
The festival will hand out juried prizes for Best Narrative Feature, Best First Feature Film, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Best Narrative Short as well as audience favourite awards at the close of the festival. This year, PAFF has selected films, representing 40 countries in 26 different languages.
PAFF is sponsored by Los Angeles City Council President Herb J. Wesson Jr.; Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; Los Angeles City Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson (District 8); Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza; Cinemark 15; the Directors Guild of America (DGA); FilmLA; Sony Pictures; Brotherhood Crusade; as well as the City of Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.
