The 31st Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) took place from February 9-20, 2023. PAFF presents films that showcase the diversity and complexity of people of African descent. The DGA has served as a sponsor of the festival for more than a decade. On February 10, filmmakers with projects in this year’s PAFF attended a gathering hosted by the DGA at the Los Angeles Headquarters.
Following welcomes from DGA Special Assignments Executive Jennifer Peat and PAFF Executive Director Ayuko Babu, DGA African American Steering Committee (AASC) Co-Chair and Western Directors Council Member Gina Prince-Bythewood — who has previously had films at the festival — spoke about community, finding your people through the work of creation and the role of the DGA in helping you protect your vision. DGA Director-member Danny Glover — one of the co-founders of the Festival — remarked on the energy of the filmmakers, shared some defining moments in his career and expressed his enthusiasm for all of their projects.
After the speakers, each attendee was invited to introduce themselves and their projects and reveal when they were being shown during the Festival. Then AASC Co-Chair Princess Monique closed out the brunch with words of encouragement and staying true to the path of filmmaking. She then invited all the attendees to come together in the courtyard for a commemorative group photo.
About the Festival
Dedicated to promoting racial tolerance through the exhibition of film, art and creative expression, PAFF presents films and the works of fine artists and craft persons to showcase the diversity and complexity of people of African descent from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, South America, Europe, the South Pacific and Canada. The DGA has served as a sponsor of the festival for more than a decade. For more information about PAFF visit their website at http://www.paff.org.