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Media Advisory: Centerpiece – John Singleton Short Film Competition

On the third anniversary of acclaimed filmmaker John Singleton’s death, three young filmmakers will premiere their films paying homage to the first Black filmmaker — and youngest person ever — to get an Oscar nomination for Best Director.
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For Immediate Release
April 26, 2022

Media Contact:
[email protected]

ON THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF ACCLAIM FILMMAKER JOHN SINGLETON’S DEATH, A NEW CROP OF SOUTH LA FILMMAKERS PAY TRIBUTE TO THE MAN WHO SHARED SOUTH CENTRAL’S STORY

John Singleton Short Film Competition Winners Get Red Carpet for Film Premiere at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival

On the third anniversary of acclaimed filmmaker John Singleton’s death, three young filmmakers will premiere their films paying homage to the first Black filmmaker — and youngest person ever — to get an Oscar nomination for Best Director.  The winners of the John Singleton Short Film Competition will premiere their films as a part of the Centerpiece for the 30th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) on Wed., Apr. 28 at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD. Singleton’s mother, children, and friends including Mario Van Peebles, Vivica Fox, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Kym Whitley, Joe Tory, and Antwone FisherCouncilmember Herb Wesson, who sponsored the competition will also attend.  The red carpet is at 6 p.m and the screening is at 7 p.m.  Media wishing to cover should RSVP to [email protected]

Inspired by the legacy of the late Los Angeles-born legendary African American filmmaker, John Singleton, the John Singleton Short Film Competition is the result of a partnership between the City of Los Angeles and the Pan African Film Festival under former L.A. City Council President Herb Wesson’s embRACE L.A. initiative and is designed to honor Singleton’s cinematic legacy while simultaneously celebrating his unapologetic approach to filmmaking. Filmmakers were invited to submit their live-action short narrative scripts and three winners were awarded $20,000 each for the production and completion of a live-action narrative short film.

Click here for more information on the winning films. 

Who:  Pan African Film & Arts Festival and the winners of the John Singleton Short Film Competition, the family of John Singleton, Mario Van Peebles, Vivica Fox, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Kym Whitley, Joe Tory, Antwone Fisher, and Councilmember Herb Wesson.

What:  The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival

When: Wednesday, April 27, 2022, Red Carpet at 6 p.m., Screening at 7 p.m., Q&A to follow screening

Where: Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza 15 and XD, 4020 Marlton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90008 

PAFF30 is taking place in-person through May 1, 2022, at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The Festival will showcase nearly 200 films, as well as a slew of accompanying filmmaker Q&As and audience engagement opportunities. In addition, PAFF’s renowned Black art show will take place at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

For additional information about PAFF visit paff.org.

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Festival Press Contact:
[email protected]

About the Pan African Film & Arts Festival

Taking place February 9-20, 2023, in Los Angeles, the Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) presents and showcases a broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help to destroy negative stereotypes of Africans and African-Americans. Since 1992, PAFF has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression. Today, PAFF is one of the largest and most prestigious Black film festivals in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. In addition, it is an Oscar-qualifying festival for animation and live-action films, and one of the largest Black History Month events in America.

PAFF is sponsored in part by the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell through the Department of Arts and Culture, LA Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, LA Councilmember Curren Price, LA Councilmember Heather Hutt, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, LA Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund with the California Community Foundation, and the LA County COVID-19 Arts Relief Fund administered by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture.  

This year’s PAFF is presented by Stocker Street Creative, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, and FX Networks.

The Pan African Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

For more information, please visit paff.org.