The 29th Annual Pan African Film Festival
Our Mission
It is PAFF's goal to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help destroy negative stereotypes. We believe film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time serve as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.
Our Story
Established in 1992, The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding among peoples of African descent. PAFF is dedicated to racial tolerance through the exhibition of film, art, and creative expression.
Since 1992, every year PAFF-LA showcases over one hundred fifty (150) quality new films and over one hundred (100) fine artists and unique craft persons from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, South America, Europe, the South Pacific and Canada, all showcasing the diversity and complexity of people of African descent. In addition to films and art, PAFF presents the SpokenWord Fest and PAFF Comedy LOL, presenting America's hottest wordsmiths and established and emerging comedians, respectively. PAFF includes special red carpet screenings and receptions as well as a variety of other special events such as PAFF Talks and the PAFF Institute, which feature Clips & Conversations, 1 on 1, workshops, and panels headed by industry professionals discussing various topics on acting, directing and other film industry-related topics.
PAFF collaborates with other festivals from around the world, giving us an audience that is truly local, national and international. Not only are we the largest and most prestigious black film festival in America but PAFF-LA is the largest Black History Month event in the US during the month of February. PAFF is the quintessential Black festival.