The world’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival, the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), has opened submissions for its 30th-anniversary edition. PAFF has been recognised as an official qualifying film festival for live-action and animated short films by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Filmmakers interested in participating in PAFF2022 can find submission procedures at www.paff.org or by emailing submissions@paff.org.
PAFF only accepts online applications and submissions. Alternatively, Filmmakers can submit their work directly to The Pan African Film Festival via FilmFreeway.com or Festhome.com. PAFF also accepts applications for films and videos made by or about persons of African descent, regardless of genre. The festival also welcomes narrative and documentary features and shorts. Best Narrative Feature, Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary (Short or Feature), Best Director — First Feature, and a variety of Audience Favourite Awards are among the competition categories.
According to Asantewa Olatunji, the director of programming for PAFF, “filmmakers in the world over have become more sophisticated in telling their stories.” However, he continues to note that “in our ever-shrinking world, it is important to comprehend the experiences and points of view of all people and cultures.” As a result, the festival showcases about 150 films made by and about individuals of African descent from all over the world each year, including Angola, Nigeria, Jamaica, Rwanda, Canada, Mozambique, Egypt, Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya, Fiji, Mexico, the United Kingdom, South Africa, England, Japan, France, and, of course, the United States.
Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, PAFF2021 was hosted virtually and drew a global audience while staying true to its roots. PAFF plans to present a hybrid festival (both physical and virtual) with most physical activities and all live-audience screenings in Los Angeles.
The festival has been one of the most anticipated events in Los Angeles for local, national, and international visitors over the years, hosting over 40,000 people. PAFF will take place in Los Angeles from February 8 to 21, 2022, and be live-streamed worldwide.
