The Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) has announced its dates for the 31st edition. The PAFF will take place during Black History Month (BHM) in Los Angeles, between February 9th and 20th, 2023.
In a statement made available to TCN, festival organizers are excited to once again bring black creatives, executives, and Black culture enthusiasts together in the heart of black Los Angeles for 12 days of what is “the largest BHM celebration in America.”
PAFF screenings will take place at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and XD Theatre, while its unparalleled black fine arts festival will return to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.
This year’s theme is “REimagine PAFF” for which attendees are expected to experience a new story of imagination.
“Ayuko Babu, Danny Glover, and Ja’Net Dubois envisioned a globalisation celebration to honor the genesis of imagination — the African story, then began to take steps toward making it a reality,” said Marc Brogdon, PAFF Director of Marketing.
“In 1992, The Pan African Film and Arts Festival was established to become the international beacon for the diaspora arts community to showcase our stories and preserve the cinematic creativity of Pan African Culture. Thirty-one years have passed since that soulful spark of invention. Today, the fire of ingenuity is rekindled to serve an emerging generation.”
Each year thousands of film and art enthusiast attend PAFF, including some of today’s top actors, directors, producers, and executives; many of which have gone on to win our industry’s top honors including the Golden Globes, Emmy’s and Oscars (We are a designated Academy Awards Short Film Qualifier).
Past Celebrity hosts and attendee’s include but are not limited to: Danny Glover, Idris Elba, Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, David Oyelowo, Alfre Woodard, Alfred Enoch, Blair Underwood, CCH Pounder, Damon Idris, Salli Richardson, Angela Bassett, Courtney B. Vance, Loretta Devine, Marla Gibbs, Ledisi, Common, Tyler the Creator, Taraji P. Henson, and Denzel Washington, just to name a few.
The festival will again be offering a special Early Bird discount to those who purchase their 2023 PAFF film passes by January.
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.
It is one of the largest and most prestigious black film festivals 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.
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 Heather Hutt, 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.