Posted by | Ray Cornelius

The 26th Annual Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is back for another year and RC is excited to share with you this year’s impressive lineup of films and premieres.  Festivities will begin Thursday, February 8 through Monday, February 19 at the Cinemark Rave 15 Theatres/Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles, California.

This year’s slate of premieres includes the Paula Patton led thriller “Traffik” as well as TV One’s new original movie “Behind the Movement” starring Isaiah Washington, Meta Golding and Loretta Devine. It will also include the all-star comedy “Love Jacked” featuring Amber Stevens-West, Shamier Anderson, Lyriq Bent, Keith David, Mike Epps and Marla Gibbs.

“The Pan African Film and Arts Festival has been recognized as one of the largest celebrations of Black culture and Black films,” mentions Ayuko Babu, PAFF Executive Director. “For 26 years, we have presented diverse and inclusive programming that features the creative work of leading disruptors in film and entertainment. The 2018 PAFF experience aims to step outside the ‘business as usual’ film festival norms and move the needle forward by amplifying the game-changing voices of influential, ethnic, millennial and LGBTQIA storytellers.”

Additionally, PAFF shares reign as one of two international film and art festivals that screen a large selection of new Black films and exhibit fine art and unique crafts from around the world. What’s more, as an official Oscar-qualifying festival for shorts and live-action films, PAFF will hold special screenings for several works that are up for consideration for the 90th Annual Academy Awards ®.

Check out some of the lineup below:

 

OPENING NIGHT

Love Jacked (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.

 

CLOSING NIGHT

Traffik (US)

Directed By: Deon Taylor

Date: Sunday, February 18

Time: 5:45PM Red Carpet | 6:45PM Screening

Journalist Brea and her boyfriend John are off for a romantic weekend in the mountains. On their way up the coast they stop in a small town and are accosted by a group of men on motorcycles. Barely avoiding a fight, Brea and John continue on their trip, unaware that they have inadvertently come into possession of a cell phone–a cell phone that the bikers are desperate to retrieve. Now, alone in the mountains in an isolated rental home, Brea and John must defend themselves against the bikers who will stop at nothing to get the phone, destroy the evidence it holds and kill anyone who would tell their secrets. Stars Paula Patton, Omar Epps and Laz Alonso. Cast members will be present.

 

SPOTLIGHT SCREENINGS

Behind the Movement (US) – Presented by TVOne

Directed By: Aric Avelino

Date: Friday, February 9

Time: 7PM Red Carpet | 8PM Screening

 

King of the Stage: The Woodie King, Jr. Story (US) – World Premiere

Directed By: Juney Smith

Date: Saturday, February 10

Time: 6PM Red Carpet | 7:15PM Screening | 9PM Lifetime Achievement Presentation

 

Nothing Like Thanksgiving (US)

Directed By: Mark Harris

Date: Saturday, February 17

Time: 7:15PM Red Carpet | 8PM Screening

 

UP FOR OSCAR CONSIDERATION

Félicité (Senegal) – Oscar Short List

Directed By: Alain Gomis

Screening Dates & Times:

Friday, February 9 @ 8:50PM

Saturday, February 17 @ 9PM

 

The Train of Salt and Sugar (Mozambique) – LA Premiere

Directed By: Licínio Azevedo

Screening Dates & Times: 

Wednesday, February 14 @ 7:30PM

Saturday, February 17 @ 8PM

 

The Wound (Inxeba) (South Africa) – Oscar Short List

Directed By: John Trengrove

Screening Dates & Times:

Saturday, February 10 @ 7:05PM

Tuesday, February 13 @ 6PM

Monday, February 19 @ 9PM

 

Woodpeckers (Dominican Republic) 

Directed By: José Maria Cabral

Screening Dates & Times:

Saturday, February 10 @ 8:40PM

Friday, February 16 @ 1:25PM

 

Click here to see the full schedule!

Photo Credit: PAFF.org

Share