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The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is gearing up to once again take moviegoers on a cinematic world journey with international film screenings with the announcement of its “Call for Entries”.
The 29th Annual PAFF, America’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival, will be held in February 2021 either with a physical festival in Los Angeles, a world-wide virtual festival or a combination of both. Over the years, PAFF has showcased films from all parts of the world, representing such countries as the United States, Angola, Nigeria, Jamaica, New Zealand, Rwanda, Canada, Mozambique, Venezuela, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Ghana, Brazil, Kenya, Fiji, Mexico, the U.K., South Africa, England, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago, France and Canada.
With the pulse on the international film market, PAFF has opened the minds of its audiences, and transported them to far-away places and back home again.
“Over the years, filmmakers the world over have become more sophisticated in telling their stories,” says Asantewa Olatunji, the director of programming for PAFF. “In our ever-shrinking world, it is so important to understand the experiences and points of views of the world’s diverse peoples and cultures.”
Last year, more than 40,000 people attended the film festival, which has long been a highly anticipated event in Los Angeles attended by local, national and international guests. PAFF currently accepts only online applications and submissions. As of June 1, 2020 filmmakers wanting to submit to PAFF2021 can submit through FilmFreeway at filmfreeway.com and typing in the Pan African Film Festival or can go to the PAFF website www.paff.org and clicking onto the FilmFreeway button or the “Submit a Film” button on the menu.
ELIGIBILITY:
PAFF accepts applications for films, videos and webisodes made by and/or about people of African descent. (Please note: the filmmaker need not be of African descent.) Preferably, submissions should depict positive and/or realistic images and can be of any genre — drama, comedy, horror, action/adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental, historical/epic, etc. PAFF accepts narrative and documentary features, shorts and webisodes.
COMPETITION:
The PAFF competition categories are: Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary (Short or Feature), Best Director — First Feature, Best Web-Series, plus a variety of Audience Favorite Awards. Films in competition must be copyrighted no earlier than 2019. With the exception of Audience Favorite Awards, films are judged by industry professionals. In addition to competition awards, other programming and festival special prizes will be awarded.
SUBMISSION PERIODS:
Early Submissions (Reduced Entry Fee): Currently being accepted through July 15, 2020.
Regular Submissions: July 16-September 20, 2020.
Late Submissions: September 21- October 30, 2020.
Extended Late Submissions: October 31-December 10, depending on available space.
After December 10, the submitter must contact submissions@paff.org to obtain permission to submit.
For submission instructions, information, fees and registration kindly go to www.paff.org and click onto “Submit a Film”. For questions regarding submissions, email submissions@paff.org.
