Pan African Film and Arts Festival 2009 -South African film takes the lead
The Pan African Film and Arts Festival is here once again and opening this year’s festival is the acclaimed South African drama “Jerusalema” directed by #Ralph Zinman at the star-studded red carpet opening night celebration on February 5th.
The movie is about the character Lucky Kunene who moves o the rough-and-tumble Hillbrow section of Johannesburg and transforms himself into a real-estate crime boss even as he tries to elude determined white cop Blakkie Swart, vengeful renegade Nazareth Mbolelo and Nigerian drug lord Tony Ngu.
#PAFF is America’s largest and most prestigious flagship black film and arts festival and will take place February 5-16, 2009.
With over 2,500 submissions, the 2009 PAFF features films from 42 countries and boasts a record attendance now topping a quarter of a million attendees over its twelve-day run. The festival has announced a change of venue to accommodate its ever-growing audience for its film festival to the Culver Plaza Theatres (9919 Washington Boulevard).
The PAFF Art Market, a highly anticipated and celebrated major exhibit of black fine art and quality crafts featuring the work of over 100 different artists and artisans, will remain at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (3650 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.). For more information and access to PAFF’s online box office, please visit www.paff.org.
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
Happy Sad (2008/Trinidad & Tobago/105min)
Dir: Dianah Wynter
After her mother is sent to prison, profound changes occur in the lives of several people when 17-year-old Mandy Graham goes to live with her father’s dysfunctional family who she never knew. Soon passions are unleashed, laying bare souls and revealing long-hidden secrets.
Joséphine (Le Mystère Joséphine) (2008/Martinique/142min)
Dir: Christian Lara
When a young history professor arrives in Martinique to research her doctoral thesis on Joséphine, Napoleon’s wife, she finds two conflicting death certificates that cast doubt on Joséphine’s true identity.
Nobody Smiling (2008/US/83min)
Dir: Jamal Dedeaux
A college teacher returns home to bury his murdered brother. While wrapping up his brother’s affairs, he is assaulted by gang members who give him 24 hours to pay his brother’s substantial debt. Given little choice, he is pulled into a world of illegal drugs, arms deals, gangsters, and underground pornography.
Prince of Broadway (2008/US/102min)
Dir: Sean Baker
The lives of two immigrants converge in the seedy side of New York’s wholesale district. Selling knock-off designer merchandise, Lucky’s world is turned upside down when a child is thrust into his life, while Levon struggles to save a marriage that is falling apart.
Rain (2008/Bahamas/93min)
Dir: Maria Govan
When her grandmother dies, a girl goes to live in Nassau with the mother who abandoned her when she was a toddler. As her mother’s destructive lifestyle becomes evident, the girl must struggle to find her own place in the world. Stars CCH Pounder and Calvin Lockhart.
Run Baby Run (2007/Ghana/117min)
Dir: Emmanuel Apea Jr.
Set against the backdrop of drug dealing and trafficking, a London-based student gets mixed up in the drug trade when his visiting little sister picks up the wrong suitcase at the airport. A dramedy in which the repercussions of a bad decision result in a frantic rescue throughout the Ghanaian countryside. Best Feature, AMAA (African Movie Academy Awards).
Sex, Gumbo & Salted Butter (Sexe, Gombo et Beurre Salé) (2008/France/81min)
Dir: Mahamat-Saleh Haroun
The story takes place in the African community in Bordeaux, France. Sexual issues, loneliness, tradition and modernity, interracial relationships, conflict of generations…all are depicted humorously.
Stolen Kisses (Kobolat Masroka) (2008/Egypt/120min)
Dir: Khaled El Hagar
The most-watched film in Egypt, Stolen Kisses is a film about the challenges faced by today’s youth. Exploring unemployment, sexual frustration, prostitution, and violence in Cairo, its progressive approach made it the number one box office film in Egypt in 2008. Winner of 8 international awards.
Yellow House, The (La Maison Jaune) (2007/Algeria/France/89min)
Dir: Hakkar Amor
After the death of his son in military service, a farmer journeys to collect the body. Upon his return, he realizes his wife has become withdrawn. Fearing her inability to overcome depression, he tries everything to bring a smile back to her face.
Zimbabwe (2008/South Africa/84min)
Dir: Darrell Roodt
A young girl named Zimbabwe finds that life gets even tougher in rural Zimbabwe after the death of her mother from an AIDS-related disease. Not only are she and her brother now orphaned, but she has her orphaned niece to look after and the village Chief tells her they must leave, that they can no longer support them.
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
Black Candle, The (2008/US/71min)
Dir: M.K. Asante Jr.
A landmark documentary uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore the African-American experience. Narrated by world-renowned poet Maya Angelou and directed by award-winning author and filmmaker M.K. Asante, Jr. (“500 Years”), this extraordinary, inspirational story celebrates the struggle and triumph of African-American family, community, and culture. Appearances by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Chuck D., Jim Brown, Amiri Baraka and Stic.Man of Dead Prez.
Cuba, an African Odyssey (France/118min)
Dir: Jihan El-Tahri
A chronicle of the crucial role that Cuba played in securing the independence of nations throughout Africa. At the very height of the Cold War, Cuba risked the enmity of both superpowers by its unwavering commitment to the principle that Africa should be governed by the genuine representatives of its peoples. Cuba provided invaluable support to liberation struggles throughout the continent. The film focuses on Cuban efforts in Congo, Guinea-Bissau, and during the war in Angola. It reveals incredible events that span thirty years, from Che Guevara’s covert mission to avenge the death of Patrice Lumumba, to Fidel Castro’s command of the decisive battle in Angola and the negotiations with Apartheid South Africa that finally ended the war.
End of Poverty? The (2008/US/104min)
Dir: Philippe Diaz
A phenomenal discourse on why poverty persists and why the majority of the world’s people live without adequate shelter, food, clothing, and little to no access to medical care and education. A must-see for anyone wanting to understand not only the US economic system but the foundations of today’s global economy. Narrated by Martin Sheen.
Kassim the Dream (2008/Uganda/US/88min)
Dir: Kief Davidson
Born in Uganda, abducted as a child, and forced to become a soldier, Kassim finds his ticket to freedom through boxing. Coming to the U.S., he finds the American dream after becoming the Junior Middleweight Champion of the world.
Milking the Rhino (2008/US/83min)
Dir: David E. Simpson
With memorable characters and spectacular locations, MILKING THE RHINO tells joyful, penetrating, and heartbreaking stories from Kenya and Namibia – revealing the high stakes obstacles facing Community Conservation today.
Nubian Spirit: The African Legacy of the Nile Valley (2008/Sudan/UK/73min)
Dir: Louis Buckley
A beautifully photographed documentary revealing the contribution of Ancient Sudan (Nubia) to the culture, history, and spiritual mythology of the people from the Nile Valley.
Number One with a Bullet (2008/US/105min)
Dir: Jim Dziura
A thoughtful and informative study of the current violence engulfing Urban America seen through the eyes of many of today’s biggest rappers, many of whom have been victims of violence. Interviews with Ice Cube, Mos Def, Young Buck, KRS-One, Jerry Heller among others.
Peace Mission (2008/Germany/80min)
Dir: Dorothee Wenner
In Nigeria, a whole new film industry developed during the early 1990s. With over 1,400 films produced each year, “Nollywood” is statistically the biggest film industry in the world. Peace Anyiam Fiberesima, the founder of the African Movie Academy, takes the audience on a tour of the vibrant production hub of Lagos and introduces key personalities of Nollywood along the way. Versatile and full of energy, they all share the vision of making Nollywood an important platform for re-telling Africa’s history from an African point of view.
Standing-n-Truth: Breaking the Silence (2008/US/78min)
Dir: Tim Daniels
Transcending differences of sexuality, class, and gender, the intimate experiences of stigma, shame, and silence of men, women, and children living in the face of the HIV/AIDS pandemic are punctuated by interviews with an array of popular opinion leaders including Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Michael Eric Dyson, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North (2008/US/86min)
Dir: Katrina Browne, Alla Kovgan & Jude Ray
Filmmaker Katrina Browne’s discovery that her New England ancestors were America’s largest slave-trading family compels her into an intriguing and emotional exploration of the legacy of slavery.
NARRATIVE SHORT COMPETITION-Pan African Film and Arts Festival
Dockweiler (2008/US/15min)
Dir: Nick J. Palmer
An ex-con heads up maintenance at Dockweiler Beach, seeing himself as a savior to the men he hires. Stars Tony Todd.
Happy Anniversary, Punk! (2007/US/30min)
Dir: Michael Ajakwe Jr.
Teen violence and the failure of the justice system form the center of this adaptation of an acclaimed one-act play.
Jump the Broom: A Musical (2008/US/32min)
Dir: Kena Tangi Dorsey
This refreshingly creative musical finds a woman about to be married having second thoughts when her rascal of an ex shows up at the church just before the wedding.
Kwame (2008/Ghana/US/25min)
Dir: Edward Osei-Gyimah
A Ghanaian cabdriver comes to terms with the reasons he immigrated to America.
Nora (2008/US/35min)
Dir: Alla Kovgan & David Hinton
A filmic journey into the life of Nora Chipaumire, choreographer and performance artist from Zimbabwe.
Panty Man, The (2008/US/6min)
Dir: Camrin Pitts
Set in the moody blues atmosphere of an underground poetry club, a married man admits his fetish for womens panties.
Premature (2008/US/15min)
Dir: Rashaad Ernesto Green
A streetwise teenager discovers she’s pregnant. Receiving no support from her community, she has nowhere to turn and is faced with the most difficult decision she will ever make.
Put it in a Book (2008/US/18min)
Dir: Rodrigo Garcia
“Put It in a Book” is about two brothers: when one is killed by gang violence, the other must choose between two paths, one of righteousness or one of revenge.
Second Half, The (2008/US/20min)
Dir: Jeffrey Elmont
To save the future of a young B-ball player, a former player now working as a janitor must come out of the shadows.
Seven Breaths (2008/US/19min)
Dir: Gershon Hinkson
Embarking on a mission to find the thief, the victim of an armed robbery finds his moral path has become blurred.
Tight Jeans (2007/UK/9min)
Dir: Destiny Ekaragha
As they sit on a fence waiting for their buddy, a comedic debate about race and culture is sparked between three Black teens when a white man wearing tight jeans passes by.
Warrior Queen (2008/Ghana/22min)
Dir: Hezekiah Lewis
With the King exiled, Queen Asantewa becomes the strength and protector of her homeland, fearlessly leading her people against British rule and proving that preserving one’s culture and tradition ensures its identity and pride.
DOCUMENTARY SHORT COMPETITION -Pan African Film and Arts Festival
4 Our Sons (2008/Bermuda/US/82min)
Dir: Vanz Chapman & Eric McKay
Young Black men from different walks of life speak on growing up Black and male in an oftentimes hostile inner city environment. With strength and perseverance they were able to build their own versions of the American dream. An empowering must see for Black youth.
African Underground: Democracy in Dakar (2008/Senegal/France/US/65min)
Dir: Ben Herson, Chris Moore & Magee McIlvaine
Bridging the gap between hip-hop activism and video journalism, this groundbreaking documentary explores the role of youth and musical activism on the political process during recent presidential elections in Senegal.
Disappearing Voices: The Decline of Black Radio (2008/US/65min)
Dir: U-Savior
An examination of the rise and fall of Black Radio discusses the many aspects that made it unique as an art form. Features interviews with prominent individuals in media and Black culture and rare air checks by some of the most famous Black jocks of all time.
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (2008/US/68min)
Dir: Dawn Logsdon & Lolis Eric Elie
The Tremé district of New Orleans is arguably the oldest black community in America…the birthplace of the Southern Civil Rights movement as well as the home of jazz. This fascinating historical tour of the Tremé becomes a riveting tale of hope, heartbreak and resilience, especially in light of Katrina.
Has God Forsaken Africa? (2008/Canada/52min)
Dir: Musa Dieng Kala
Each year, thousands of young Africans risk their lives to flee a continent scourged by war and endemic poverty.
It’s Time: African Women Join Hands Against Domestic Violence (2008/Canada/53min)
Dir: Steven Hunt
In a unique partnership, a Canadian agency and two African organizations work to combat the epidemic of domestic violence toward women and girls in South Africa and Ethiopia.
Neo African Americans, The (2008/US/58min)
Dir: Kobina Aidoo
The African American narrative is rapidly being transformed by immigration from Africa and the Caribbean.
Sampari (2008/France/52min)
Dir: Damien Faure & Jerome Bonnard
Every year indigenous leaders from the world over travel to New York to participate in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Viktor Kaisiepo comes to defend the rights of his people of Western Papua, who have been colonized by Indonesia since 1969.
Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre 1968 (2009/US/57min)
Dir: Judy Richardson & Bestor Cram
Over-shadowed by the killing of four white students at Kent State, the little-remembered police attack on South Carolina State College resulting in the murders of three black students is scrupulously researched, offering the definitive account of one of the bloodiest tragedies of the Civil Rights era.
Tulia, Texas (2008/US/54min)
Dir: Cassandra Herrman & Kelly Whalen
A lone undercover cop causes forty-six people, nearly all Black, to be arrested for selling cocaine in a small farming town. It was heralded as one of the biggest drug busts in Texas history, until a team of lawyers set out to uncover the truth.
BEST FIRST FEATURE -Pan African Film and Arts Festival
13 Months of Sunshine (2008/Ethiopia/US/101min)
Dir: Yehdego Abeselom
The American dream and the immigrant experience collide in this heartwarming comedy focusing on the romance between two Ethiopian immigrants.
Family (2008/US/113min)
Dir: Faith Trimel
A coming-of-age dramedy centering on the lives of a group of lesbian friends who all experience continual strife in their lives as a result of being closeted, causing them to make a pact to come out together.
Happy Sad (2008/Trinidad & Tobago/105min)
Dir: Dianah Wynter
After her mother is sent to prison, profound changes occur in the lives of several people when 17-year-old Mandy Graham goes to live with her father’s dysfunctional family who she never knew. Soon passions are unleashed, laying bare souls and revealing long hidden secrets.
Nobody Smiling (2008/US/83min)
Dir: Jamal Dedeaux
A college teacher returns home to bury his murdered brother. While wrapping up his brother’s affairs, he is assaulted by gang members who give him 24 hours to pay his brother’s substantial debt. Given little choice, he is pulled into a world of illegal drugs, arms deals, gangsters, and underground pornography.
Rain (2008/Bahamas/93min)
Dir: Maria Govan
When her grandmother dies, a girl goes to live in Nassau with the mother who abandoned her when she was a toddler. As her mother’s destructive lifestyle becomes evident, the girl must struggle to find her own place in the world. Stars CCH Pounder and Calvin Lockhart.
Run Baby Run (2007/Ghana/117min)
Dir: Emmanuel Apea Jr.
Set against the backdrop of drug dealing and trafficking, a London-based student gets mixed up in the drug trade when his visiting little sister picks up the wrong suitcase at the airport. A dramedy in which the repercussions of a bad decision result in a frantic rescue throughout the Ghanaian countryside. Best Feature, AMAA (African Movie Academy Awards).
Unequal (2009/US/94min)
Dir: John G. White
Due to her very vocal and public stance on celebrating the virtues not only of being celibate but a virgin who’s “saving herself for marriage”, Candace becomes playboy Urban’s newest challenge. But will the hunter get captured by the game?
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