Did you know each year a transformation happens in Los Angeles, CA? People from around the globe gather to attend the largest and most prestigious Black film festival in the United States. From 100 million dollar blockbuster premieres to newly emerging Hollywood talent, The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) showcases a broad array of Black creative works from the world over, highlighting those that reinforce positive images and help to destroy negative stereotypes. Nowhere else can audiences find this unique opportunity to come together through film and art to explore new worlds, meet new people and acquire new information and ideas.

PAFF is designated as an official qualifying film festival for narrative live action and animated short films for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Venerated by tens of thousands every year, PAFF screens more than 200 new films in state of the art digital projection to the delight of an audience of sophisticated movie lovers. PAFF’s audience loves PAFF and PAFF loves them. Each year PAFF becomes a pilgrimage for attendees who hail from all over the United States and the World! Known for its industry panels, special events and great parties, we invite filmmakers to take this one-of-a-kind opportunity to connect to their core audience and experience the special magic of PAFF.

Did we mention celebrities? Celeb sightings: Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Danny Glover, Idris Elba, Mo’Nique, Kevin Hart, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, Phylicia Rashad, Lou Gossett, Jr., Issa Rae, Taraji P. Henson, Trevor Noah, David Oyewolo, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Majid Michel, Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood, Kerry Washington, Nate Parker, Salli Richardson, Dorian Missick, Jesse Williams, Michael Ealy, Anthony Anderson, Omotola, Jonathan Majors, Amin Johnson, Thomas Q. Jones, Angela Lewis, Tessa Thompson, Boris Kodjoe, Whoopi Goldberg, Omari Hardwick, Chadwick Boseman, Malcolm Jamal Warner, CCH Pounder, Omar Epps, Regina King, Sanaa Lathan, John Legend, Tika Sumpter, Tim Roth, Van Vicker, Gabrielle Union, Alfre Woodard, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Wesley Snipes, Meagan Good, Loretta Devine, Bill Duke, Lisa Raye, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Hill Harper, Mario Van Peebles, Eriq LaSalle, Wale Ojo, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Kerry Washington, Regina Hall, Sharon Leal, Billy Dee Williams, Terrence Howard, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Omar Benson Miller, Joy Bryant, Regina Hall, Jussie Smollett, Robert Townsend, Ja'Net Dubois, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Djimon Hounsou, Glynn Turman, Vivica Fox, Kimberly Elise, Don Cheadle and the list goes on and on.

Jury Prizes:

Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary (Feature or Short)
Best Director - First Feature (Narrative)
Best Short Narrative (Live Action or Animation, Oscar Qualifier)

Audience Favorites:

Narrative Feature
Documentary (Short or Feature)
Narrative Short (Live Action or Animated, Featurette, Webseries)

Programmers' Awards:

Narrative Feature
Documentary Feature
Featurette (Narrative or Documentary)
Short (Narrative or Documentary)

Executive Awards:

Narrative Feature
Documentary Feature
Featurette (Narrative or Documentary)
Short (Narrative or Documentary)

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT TO PAFF?
• PAFF accepts films and videos made by and/or about people of African descent. (Filmmaker needn't be of African descent.) Preferably, films should depict positive or realistic images.
• Films can be of any genre -- drama, comedy, horror, adventure, animation, romance, science fiction, experimental, etc. PAFF accepts features, shorts and web series; narratives and documentaries.
• All submissions must be in English or have English subtitles.
• Films should have a copyright date of 2022, 2023 or 2024. Although films with a copyright date prior to 2022 can be accepted at the discretion of the PAFF programmers, they will not be eligible for a PAFF Award.
• Films with copyright dates prior to 2022 will not be eligible for Jury Awards.
• Film may not have streamed or screened in the Los Angeles area in 2024, prior to the beginning of PAFF.
• PAFF will accept the submissions of works in progress. However, your submission must be sufficiently complete to allow our programmers to follow the storyline and be able to make a decision. We will only accept one work-in-progress version of your film, so please make sure to make it your best shot. (If you expect your final version to be 90 minutes, a 45-minute rough cut is probably not acceptable.) Also, whenever possible, you should provide an on-screen description of missing scenes.

IF MY FILM IS ACCEPTED, WHAT PROJECTION FORMAT WILL PAFF ACCEPT?
• PAFF's host theatre is all-digital. The only accepted projection formats for Feature Films are DCP or online link. For Shorts or Featurettes (49:59 minutes or less) you will be asked to submit an online link.
• If there are any updates for projection formats, you will receive them with your acceptance notification.
• PAFF will not accept watermarked films for public presentation.
• After applicable Late Submission deadline, the submitter must contact submissions@paff.org to obtain permission to submit their film. Permission will depend on space availability.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • We were delighted that our client, Summer of Violence, screened at their 2024 edition. A festival who knows their audience and delivers. Thank you!

    March 2024
  • Maximina Juson

    The Pan African Film Festival was an opportunity of a lifetime. I was honored to be invited as a first-time director to world premiere my film, "One Person, One Vote?" It was a phenomenal mix of Hollywood royalty, indie, and international filmmakers. An open-minded environment with great networking and a kind and supportive community. The range and quality of the films I saw were super impressive. Finally, I was beyond honored to win the Programmers' Award for Best Feature Documentary and nominated for Best First Feature Documentary. THANK YOU, PAFF, for putting this first-time director on the map. I will be forever grateful.

    March 2024
  • Joe Njagu

    Had a really amazing experience at PAFF. Thanks to the entire team for such a wonderful and relevant festival for filmmakers especially giving a platform and chance to African Creatives. Salute. Till next time

    March 2024
  • Andrew Tyler

    Simply Amazing! Thank you for selecting my film into this amazing festival and thank you for the opportunity to network. Was very blessed to see over 30 years in the making and learned a few things via the panel discussions. I own The Tylerman International Social Awareness Film Festival that will be held in August, and I plan to glean from The Pan African Film Festival. Again, amazing festival!!! Andrew Tyler - No Knock - No Charge? The Amir Locke Story

    March 2024
  • Kenneth Gyang

    Absolutely loved PAFF! The festival cares about the filmmaker and the community. I will love to bring more of my projects here.

    March 2024