Pan African Film Festival accepting submissions

Thu, Oct 30th 2014, 11:32 PM

The call for submissions is open for the 23nd Annual Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), February 12 - 22, 2015, the largest and most prestigious Black film festival in the United States.
PAFF spans 11 days, and attracts 40,000-plus industry and public attendees, and schedules screenings of more than 150 films from around the globe. American exposure generates at-home press and even award recognition for international films. The diversity of PAFF is represented by its core value of Pan-Africanism in every feature selected and its community programming including an extensive fine art show and surrounding schools Black History Month curriculum.
"Through the years, our guiding principle of 'Pan-Africanism' as a movement remains to unify and provide a platform for the meaningful stories of all people of African descent worldwide -- African American, Caribbean, European, Latin American, South Pacific, and Aboriginal" said Asantewa Olatunji, the director of programming for PAFF.
PAFF broadens the horizon of the film market and opens the minds of its audiences. In recent years, the reception to "Django Unchained", "The Help" and "12 Years a Slave" by both Black and crossover filmgoers were culturally explosive, huge box office wins and proved to Hollywood and the world that films about the black experience were not only relevant but profitable.
"Any film from anywhere with a synopsis from Africa and the Diaspora is eligible," said Ayuko Babu, executive director of PAFF. "The perspective must be realistic and reflect the black experience. Our time is now, our stories are prime, and support of authenticity is vital."
Eligibility
PAFF accepts submissions for films and videos made by and/or about people of African descent. Filmmaker(s) need not be of African or African American descent. Films should preferably depict positive and realistic images and can be of any genre -- drama, comedy, horror, adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental, etc. Features and shorts both narrative and documentary may be submitted. The film festival will accept a single submission of a work in progress, however, the final version of the film must be completed no later than December 1, 2014. Submissions must be made online through the PAFF website, www.paff.org. Click onto the "Submit to PAFF 2015" button.
Submission
Late submission is Oct. 20 - Nov. 19 Features $75 | Shorts $55
For complete details on rules, restrictions, fees, deadlines, and online application, visit www.paff.org. Official selections begins December 3, 2014 with "roll-out" notification; final announcement will be posted to the website no later than January 5, 2015.

Competition categories:
Best Narrative Feature
Best Narrative Short
Best Documentary
Best Director
First Feature
Audience Favorite Awards for Narrative Feature
Audience Favorite Awards for Favorite Documentary
Films in competition must be copyrighted no earlier than 2014. With the exception of Audience Favorite Awards, all films are judged by industry professionals, selected by PAFF. In addition to competition awards, other programming and festival special prizes will be awarded.

About the Pan African Film Festival: PAFF was founded in 1992 by award-winning actor Danny Glover ("The Color Purple," "Lethal Weapon" movie franchise), Emmy Award-winning actress Ja'Net DuBois (best known for her role as Willona in the TV series "Good Times") and executive director, Ayuko Babu, an international legal, cultural and political consultant who specializes in African Affairs. PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of ethnic and racial respect and tolerance through the exhibit of films, art and creative expression. The goal of PAFF is to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images, help to destroy negative stereotypes and depict an expanded vision of the Black experience. PAFF believes 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.

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