The Panafrican film festival featured at least 150 films from Africa and The Diaspora. Attendees were presented with a great opportunity to learn of social and political issues that affect folks of African descent worldwide and learn about our cultural similarities and differences.

Here is the list of the 2015 Panafrican Film & Arts Festival Winners:

Best Feature Narrative:
Difret (Ethiopia), Director: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari

Special Jury Recognition-Feature Narrative:
Imperial Dreams (US), Director: Malik Vitthal

Best Director-First Feature Narrative:
Unsound (US), Director: Darious Britt

Special Jury Recognition-Director – First Feature Narrative:
Christmas Wedding Baby (US), Director: Kiara C Jones

Best Documentary:
The Case of the Three Sided Dream (US), Director: Adam Kahan

Special Jury Recognition-Documentary:
Tales of the Grim Sleeper (US), Director: Nick Broomfield

Best Narrative Short:
The Bravest, The Boldest (US), Director: Moon Molson

Special Jury Recognition-Short Narrative:
Love Thyself (US), Director: Chris Bailey

Festival Programmers’ Award-Narrative Feature:
October 1 (Nigeria), Director: Kunle Afolayan

Festival Programmers’ Award-Documentary:
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band (US), Director: Carol Bash

Festival Founders’ Award- Narrative:
Triangle-Going to America (Sost Maezen) (Ethiopia), Director: Theodros Teshome Kebede

Festival Founders’ Award-Documentary:
The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (US), Director: Stanley Nelson

CAPRI Capital Partners Award:
The Man in 3B (US), Director: Trey Haley

Audience Award—Documentary
Bound: Africans vs African Americans (US), Director: Peres Owino

Audience Award—Narrative Feature (tie):
The Two of Us (Thina Sobabili) (South Africa), Director: Ernest Nkosi and Imperial Dreams (US), Director: Malik Vitthal

BAFTA LA PRIZE (Pan African Film Festival-British Academy of Film and Television Arts/LA Prize):
Gone Too Far!, (UK) Director: Destiny Ekaragha

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This documentary is released 20 years after Nas’ first album release “Illmatic” considered one of the best Hip Hop albums of all-time. It focuses on Nasir Jones’ upbringing in the Queensbrige housing projects and how his childhood environment and parents’ background influenced his mind state at the time and thereby the lyrics of this classic album. Nas relates how his successful aims were to paint a vivid picture of NYC street life and put Queens “back on the Map” after one of its pioneering MCs “MC Shan” was “defeated” by “KRS ONE” from the South Bronx. The documentary also emphasizes his success as he’s considered one of the greatest of all-time. Nas, a high-school dropout, is not only enjoying commercial success but has also been embraced as a writer and poet by his contemporaries and by renowned academic institutions such as Harvard. This documentary is a must-see for any avid or moderate Hip Hop fan.

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Bound explores the relations between Africans and African-Americans. Counterparts from America and Africa including actors Isaiah Washington and Bambadjan Bamba are interviewed in group settings and individually to discuss issues ranging from cultural differences to dating, in an attempt to bridge the gap and improve relations and mutual understanding. This documentary is directed by Kenyan-born Peres Owino and has won Women In Film, Lena Sharpe and Seattle International Film Festival awards.

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This documentary reveals how “Freeway Rick Ross” (Not to be confused with Rapper Rick Ross who utilizes his name as a moniker), a South Central teenager with humble beginnings and aspirations to become a tennis player, made his start as a drug dealer and introduced crack cocaine to the streets of Los Angeles and consequently America during the 80s Reaganomics era. His cocaine deals with Nicaraguans, seeking to use these funds to finance the Contras revolution in that country, allow Rick Ross with the help of childhood friends Cornell Ward and Norman Tillman to name a few, to rise to the rank of almost Billionaire King Pin. The latter two along with Film Director Marc Levin and Rick Ross’ mother Anne attended the event for support and Q&A since he did not participate in it. Ex Corrupt Narcotics officer Roberto Juarez also attended the event to further expose the CIA corrupt tactics and participation in the drug trade. Check Afrocentric Shirt Designs: https://woloftimes.wordpress.com/baby-f-dada-custom-clothing-www-babyfdada-com/

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  The “City of God – 10 years later” documentary produced by Carla Osorio focuses on the post-movie lives of the actors in the classic Brazilian movie “City of God” directed by Fernando Meirelles and Katia Lund. The documentary is somewhat similar to the movie as it takes place in the slums called favelas where most of the actors still reside. Though the movie is critically-acclaimed worldwide with numerous awards and oscar nominations, the main actors such as Leandro Firmino (Li’l Ze) and Alexandre Rodrigues (Rocket) still live in the favelas and are still confronted to the struggle, poverty and crime of these areas. Now adults, some of the actors such as Douglas Silva (Li’l Ze as a child) are now living their lives as parents who must fend for their families but luckily starring in the subsequent TV series “City of Men”. Meanwhile, Alice Braga (Angelica) has starred in blockbusters such as “I am Legend” with Will Smith and Elysium with Matt Damon while Seu Jorge (Mane Galinha) a talented singer/rapper is enjoying local as well as international success. Therefore, the movie served as a stepping stone to some but also as a new burden to others who suffer being typecasted or not being able to find regular employment as they’re now associated with acting due to the popularity of the movie, considering most of them were amateurs shooting their first movie. The documentary gives us a glimpse of the harsh realities brazilian actors endure daily not only because of their profession but also because of their race, it also triggers mixed emotions linked to humor, hope, sadness, despair and success.

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Gala Night took place after the showing of the festival’s introductory documentary “Black Panthers – Vanguard of The Revolution” at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. A live band performed older and newer R&B tunes (Isleys, Stylistics, Cameo, Janet Jackson etc…) and Chicken Masala, Tilapia, green beans and pasta were served on the menu, not to mention the cocktail bar. In attendance were Stanley Nelson executive producer of the documentary, original Black Panthers Mohammed Mubarak and Michael McCarthy, singer Sandra Izsadore (Fela) and Jimmy Jean-Louis (Actor, Toussaint Louverture) just to name a few as there were several Hollywood personalities that came out to show support to the African-American film community. In attendance were also local and international filmmakers and actors involved in the festival.

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PAFF opening night was star-studded and featured the Black Panther – Vanguard of The Revolution cast including its executive producer Stanley Nelson and original Black Panthers Mohammed Mubarak and Michael McCarthy. In attendance were also Black celebrity actors Isaiah Washington, Loretta Divine and Jimmy Jean-Louis who attend every year. The lovely Seraya McNeil of the new popular Fox show “Empire” was also in attendance. The documentary relates the impact the Black Power movement had on American Society since its inception in the late 60s, its history and struggles. The documentary provides much valuable information about its most pivotal members Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Eldridge Cleaver and Fred Hampton to name a few and their stand-offs on the streets with the police, the CIA and armed protests at Congress halls. The Black Panther Movement’s history is rather impressive especially because of its members’ relative young ages (17-25), their political awareness and level of education, as well as their roles in protecting (Vigilante) and feeding the community of Oakland.

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