The 14th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) today announced the 2006 roster for official feature, documentary and short film selections, as well as special screenings, panels and workshops. The twelve-day event will be held on February 9-20, 2006 in Los Angeles. The PAFF, which will screen 160 films this year, including 64 documentaries, 54 short films, and 47 feature films. PAFF is America’s largest Black history month event and is an official event of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s African American Heritage Month 2006.

Highlights of PAFF 2006 will include the red carpet opening night gala on February 9 hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, South Africa Consul-General Jeanette Ndhlovu, and actor Forrest Whitaker, featuring South Africa’s official nomination for the 78th Annual Academy Awards® in the foreign language film category, TSOTSI. The PAFF Centerpiece (February 16) presentation features Reggie Gaskins’ suspense thriller RESTRAINING ORDER, starring Robin Givens, N’Bushe Wright, and James Avery. The comedy/drama ATL, starring Big Boi of Outkast and Tip “T.I.” Harris, will debut as PAFF’s closing night film. ATL tells the story of four friends preparing for life after high school when different challenges bring about turning points in each of their lives. The dramas unfold and resolve at their local roller skating rink, Jellybeans.

On February 18, the PAFF will honor legendary actor LOUIS GOSSETT JR. with the coveted PAFF Lifetime Achievement Award during their annual NIGHT OF TRIBUTE. Other distinguished honorees include JIM BROWN (Pioneer Award), HILL HARPER (Canada Lee Award), KIMBERLY ELISE (Beah Richards Awards), and the Honorable MERVYN M. DYMALLY who will receive the PAFF Community Service Award. The 2006 PAFF featured artist is DJIBRIL N’DOYE.

Other special screenings and events include the PAFF AFRICA NIGHT screening of DELWENDE on February 10 hosted by CCH Pounder and Taraji P. Henson. FLIP THE SCRIPT, a romantic comedy starring Miguel A. Nunez Jr. and Robins Givens will screen on February 11. The TWELVE DISCIPLES OF NELSON MANDELA will screen on February 12 with a writer/director Thomas Allen Harris in attendance. THE WILL TO SURVIVE, a documentary about the island of Sapelo, Georgia and the hidden society of the last remaining intact Geechee communities will screen on February 16. February 17, New Orleans Mardi Gras Night, features a screening of MAKE IT FUNKY! Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne star in a sneak preview of AKEELAH AND THE BEE on February 18.

The annual PAFF SPOKENWORD FEST will be hosted by HBO Def Poetry poet Shihan on February 10 and 17. There will be a PAFF COMEDY NIGHT will feature a tribute to Richard Pryor on February 18.

The PAFF will offer a wide selection of PANELS AND WORKSHOPS that explore the complex world of Hollywood and Black cinema and provide resources to aspiring filmmakers.

Over 20,000 students from around Los Angeles are expected to attend PAFF’s STUDENTFEST and CHILDRENSFEST events.

The PAFF ARTFEST will host a major exhibit of Black fine art and quality crafts featuring the work of over 80 fine artists and artisans. The artistic works range in scope from oil paintings, watercolors, sculpture, mixed media, pen and ink drawings, glass painting and carvings to jewelry art and woven apparel. This year’s featured artist is the world renowned Senegalese artist Djbril Ndoye. The exhibit will be presented to the public free of charge at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, with fine art on the 1st level, and quality crafts and unique wearable art on the 2nd level.

“We are excited to showcase a line up of films that reflect the power and flexibility of Black cinema,” commented PAFF founder Ayuko Babu. “These outstanding films have been selected to illustrate the diverse and rich quality of the Black film experience. We’re grateful to the filmmakers, poets, comics and artists who are in this year’s festival and invite everyone to join us for a twelve-day celebration of the finest in Black works of art and cultural expression.”

A complete listing of films can be viewed at www.paff.org.

About the Pan African Film and Arts Festival:

PAFF, the largest Black history month event in the U.S., will be held from February 9-20, 2006 in Los Angeles at the Magic Johnson Theaters and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The festival was launched in February 1992 by founder Ayuko Babu. The 2006 PAFF program will showcase a diverse selection of Black films inclusive of features, shorts, documentaries as well as studio/network releases. The PAFF is dedicated to the promotion of cultural and racial tolerance and understanding through the exhibition of film, art and creative expression. The PAFF will feature panel discussions, industry workshops and seminars in addition to its film showcases.
The PAFF also presents one of America's largest fine art shows featuring prominent and emerging Black artists and fine craftspeople at the annual PAFF Artist Market held at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

The PAFF is supported by Hollywood’s leading black actors and filmmakers including: Jaime Foxx, Mo’nique, Ja’net Dubois, Danny Glover, Denzel Washington, Laurence Fishburne, Lynn Whitfield, Damon Wayans, Sanaa Lathan, Stan Lathan, Wesley Snipes, Forest Whitaker, Kasi Lemmons, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Blair Underwood, Alfre Woodard, Eriq LaSalle, Angela Bassett, Diahann Carroll, Ernie Hudson, Hill Harper, Michael Beach, CCH Pounder, Neema Barnette, Debbie Allen, Sharif Atkins, Penny Johnson Gerald, Carl Lumbly, Taj Mahal, Euzhan Palcy, Sydney Tamia Poitier, Sinbad, Lorraine Toussaint and Malcolm Jamal Warner.

The 2006 PAFF is sponsored in part by: Magic Johnson Theatres, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Union Bank of California, Starbucks, Urban Coffee Opportunities, Magic Johnson Enterprises, Target, South African Airways, Rolling Out Magazine and the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs.