Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
LOS ANGELES, CA- The 26th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) announced two exciting programming shifts this week, the addition of The Forgiven (Saban Films) as their new closing night selection, and the launch of their new #Talk4Reel panel series! Both moves are the perfect additions to an already must-see/must-do lineup of films, discussions, experiences and more!
“Our marquee film slate now stands anchored with the perfect beginning, middle and end,” shares PAFF Director of Programming, Asantewa Olatunji. ” Love Jacked” remains as our opening night, while The Forgiven gets added to closeout our festival experience. Nestled in-between is our centerpiece, which, this year, is a private screening event of 2018’s most anticipated film! Definitely not one to miss!”
All marquee films will feature a star-studded red carpet, a full screening, an informative Q&A with filmmakers and talent, and a happening after-party.
2018 MARQUEE FILMS
OPENING NIGHT – LOVE JACKED
(World Premiere – 2017/Canada/South Africa/US)
Directed By: Alfons Adetuyi
Date: Thursday, February 8
Time: 6PM Red Carpet | 7PM Screening
A warm family comedy centered around Maya, a headstrong 28-year-old with artistic ambitions and her father Ed, who wants a dutiful daughter to run the family store. Ed is shocked when Maya, asserting her independence, decides to travel to Africa for inspiration and returns with a fiancé. Stars Amber Stevens-West, Shamier Anderson, Lyriq Bent, Keith David, Mike Epps, Marla Gibbs, Angela Gibbs, Demetrius Grosse and Nicole Lyn. Cast members will be present.
CENTERPIECE
**PRIVATE RED-CARPET SCREENING**
(2018/US)
Date: Wednesday, February 14
PAFF will host a private screening of 2018’s most anticipated film for PAFF founders, sponsors, partners, friends and esteemed influencers. Stay tuned to for more details!
CLOSING NIGHT – THE FORGIVEN
(US Premiere – 2017/South Africa/UK)
Directed By: Roland Joffé
Date: Sunday, February 18
Time: 5:45PM Red Carpet | 6:45PM Screening
Academy Award® winner* Forest Whitaker and Eric Bana deliver riveting performances in this tense thriller based on real events. When Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Whitaker) is appointed to head a nationwide investigation, he’s summoned to a maximum-security prison by a notorious murderer seeking clemency (Bana). Inside the brutal prison walls, Tutu is drawn into a dangerous, life-changing battle with the cunning criminal in this captivating film from Oscar® nominated director** Roland Joffé.
SPOTLIGHT FEATURES
(2018/US/Narr)
Presented by TVOne
Directed By: Aric Avelino
Date: Friday, February 9
Time: 7PM Red Carpet | 8PM Screening
Behind the Movement is a unique and fast-paced retelling of how Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat launched the history-making Montgomery Bus Boycott. The film will reveal the untold story of how a group of everyday people decided this incident was the right time to take a stand for their civil rights and demand equal treatment.
King of the Stage: The Woodie King, Jr. Story
(World Premiere – US/Doc)
Directed By: Juney Smith
Date: Saturday, February 10
Time: 6PM Red Carpet | 7:15PM Screening | 9PM Lifetime Achievement Presentation
Woodie King, Jr. is an African-American director and producer of stage and screen, as well as the founding director of the New Federal Theater in New York City. The Pan African Film & Arts Festival will present him with their coveted Lifetime Achievement Award.
(World Premiere – US/Narr)
Directed By: Mark Harris
Date: Saturday, February 17
Time: 7:15PM Red Carpet | 8PM Screening
Having cancer and six months to live, sends Clayton Rockwell (William L. Johnson) a successful businessman, devoted husband and father on a journey to do the unthinkable. Clayton finds a replacement Wesley Madison (Richard Gallion) and grooms him to exactness to take over his business and family; all the while, Kenneth Swain (Darrin Henson) is working to take over his company.
*Dates and times are subject to change. For an exhaustive list of screening events and experiences, click here:
https://www.paff.org/pdfs/2018/Screening_Schedule-2018-2.pdf.
PAFF LAUNCHES NEW #TALK4REEL PANEL SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS THAT AIM TO MOVE CULTURE AND CAREERS FORWARD!
The Pan African Film & Arts Festival has always been more than just movie screenings. It also serves as a platform to amplify the voices of industry powerhouses, community influencers, sports figures, cultural icons, thought leaders and disruptors who seek to educate, inspire and empower those who desire personal and professional elevation.
With that in mind, PAFF has officially launched its new #Talk4Reel panel series that makes necessary conversations happen… and when these conversations happen, you definitely want to be in the building!
CHECK OUT OUR EXCITING #Talk4Reel LINEUP BELOW
Nate Parker Foundation Film Premiere Event
Sat, Feb.10 at 2:00pm-4:00pm
Through cinematic arts, the Nate Parker Foundation empowers young voices of African descent to advance social justice and revolutionize culture. Two films will be screened, #Hashtag and Baggage, followed by a discussion led by Nate Parker.
TV One: Social Justice Screenings and Community Forum
Sat, Feb.10 at 5:00pm
TV One will be screening two short films, Evidence of Innocence and Two Sides, followed by an intriguing panel discussion.
UMC Presents
Sat, Feb.10 at 8:00pm
A showcase of UMC original series featuring episodes and discussions with talent and content producers for four new shows.
Seed & Spark
Sun, Feb. 11 at 1:30pm
Join Seed & Spark founder, Emily Best, for a discussion on the future of filmmaking and distribution. Seed & Spark is an innovative new streaming service changing the way films are financed and distributed — equal parts streaming network and crowd-funding platform. Screening films: Kingsley’s Crossing, Across the Track and Matter of Black.
The Quad – Presented by BET
Sun, Feb. 11 at 4:00pm
Exclusive screening of an upcoming episode BET’s hit series followed by a discussion with the cast and crew.
Black Studio Executives Talk
Thu, Feb. 15 at 7:15pm
The gates of Hollywood finally appear open to more diversity in its business suites as well as its content. Black studio executives participate in an informative discussion on green-lighting, producing and distributing Black content in the digital age. Moderator: Effie T. Brown (Producer); Confirmed Panelist: Moira Griffin (Fox) and more to be announced.
Sports and Activism Panel – Presented By NAMIC
Thu, Feb. 15 at 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Panelist: Marc Spears (SR. NBA Writer, The Undefeated), Galen Gordon (VP, Talent Management, NFL Network), Ramona Shelburne (Sr. Writer, ESPN.com) and LZ Granderson (Sr. Writer at ESPN and ABC Contributor).
Canal Street
Fri, Feb. 16 at 7:00pm
A modern-day thriller telling the story of a teen, Kholi Styles, trying to get by in an unwelcoming new world. After the mysterious death of a classmate, all eyes fall on Kholi, and it’s up to his father, Jackie Styles, an up-and-coming lawyer from the slums of Chicago, to defend his son in court and battle an outraged public before time runs out. Jackie fights to keep his faith and prove his son is not the monster the world has made him out to be. Screening extended clips followed by discussion with director, cast and crew.
Talk4Reel: Secret Event
Sat, Feb.17 at 3:00pm
Extended movie trailer of a highly anticipated film followed by a discussion with the director, cast and crew. This is one major motion picture exclusive you won’t want to miss!
The Chi – Presented by Showtime
Sat, Feb.17 at 6:00pm
Exclusive screening of an upcoming episode of the SHOWTIME® Original Drama Series, THE CHI, from Emmy® winner Lena Waithe and Academy Award® winner Common.
TRAFFIK – Presented by Codeblack Films
Sat, Feb. 17 at 9:00pm
Screening select scenes of the upcoming suspense thriller movie, TRAFFIK followed by a discussion with special guests. Directed by Deon Taylor and starring Paula Patton, Omar Epps and Laz Alonso.
Black Lightning
Mon, Feb. 19 at 6:50pm
Screening followed by discussion with talent and above the line crew on the hot new CW hit series.
The 26th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival will take place Thursday, February 8 through Monday, February 19 at the Cinemark Rave 15 Theatres/Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (3650 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd) in Los Angeles, California.
To view the full schedule and complete lineups of PAFF Institute, StudentFest, Children’s Fest, ARTFest, PAFF Spoken Word, PAFF LOL and Senior Connections, click here: https://www.paff.org/pdfs/2018/Screening_Schedule-2018-2.pdf.
For more details, ticket information and group sales, log on to www.PAFF.org !
