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Media Alert: Closing Night

The 31st annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival’s Closing Night will feature the Los Angeles premiere of To Live and Die and Live starring Amin Jospeh from “Snowfall”.
Amin Joseph appears in To Live and Die and Live by Qasim Basir, an official selection of the NEXT section at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute. All photos are copyrighted and may be used by the press only for the purpose of news or editorial coverage of Sundance Institute programs. Photos must be accompanied by a credit to the photographer and/or 'Courtesy of Sundance Institute.' Unauthorized use, alteration, reproduction or sale of logos and/or photos is strictly prohibited.

PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL CLOSES
WITH PREMIERE OF TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE
STARRING AMIN JOSEPH FROM FX’S SNOWFALL

Indie film is directed by Qasim Basir and produced by Forest Whitaker and Amin Joseph

  • The 31st annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival’s Closing Night will feature the star-studded Los Angeles premiere of TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE starring AMIN JOSEPH “Snowfall” on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2023 at 5:15 p.m. at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills & XD.

  • While the Festival’s closing night gala is Sunday, February 19, films and the ArtFest will continue through President’s Day, February 20 at both the Cinemark theater and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Tickets to the closing night gala can be purchased at paff.org. Screening is expected to sellout.

  • In TO LIVE AND DIE AND LIVE, Muhammad (Amin Joseph), a strong, handsome Hollywood film director, makes his way through the gorgeous and alluring landscapes of a rebuilt Detroit — the glistening legacy of his newly deceased stepfather Khalid, a beloved and highly regarded building contractor. Muhammad has returned for the funeral, but his own battle with addiction, which he hides from the world, drives him to immediately fade away into the sultry, late-night, drug-saturated after-hours of Detroit and an equally intoxicating romantic relationship. As he struggles to cope, Muhammad’s family and friends look to him as a leader and provider, and he forges ahead shouldering all of their needs, claiming he’s got this, even though it’s a lot — maybe too much.

  • TO LIVE AND DIE LIVE is produced by FOREST WHITAKER, QASIM BASIR, AMIN JOSEPH, CORY HARDRICT, and OMARI HARDWICK

     

  • TO LIVE AND DIE LIVE is directed by QASIM BASIR whose most recent film, A Boy. A Girl. A Dream, (Omari Hardwick, Meagan Good), premiered at Sundance and was acquired by Samuel Goldwyn for a nationwide theatrical release. His second film, Destined, premiered at the LA Film Festival and won several awards. Basir’s first feature, Mooz-lum, starring Danny Glover, Nia Long, and Evan Ross, was an NAACP Image Award nominee.

WHO:
The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)

WHAT:
Closing Night – To Live and Die and Live

WHEN:
Sunday, February 19, 2023
5:15 p.m. – Red Carpet Arrivals
6:30 p.m. – Screening
Afterparty to follow

WHERE:
Cinemark Baldwin Hills & XD
4020 Marlton Avenue, Los Angeles

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Qasim “Q” Basir is an award-winning filmmaker. He directed his first feature film in 2010, MOOZ-lum, starring Nia Long, Evan Ross and Danny Glover. The coming-of-age tale about a Muslim boy going to college around the September 11 attacks received much critical acclaim, with nominations from the NAACP Image Awards and the Black Reel Awards. It won Best Narrative Feature at the 14th Annual Urban World Film Festival in New York. The film also gained international momentum, opening in over 25 countries. His 2016 film, Destined, won Best Director at the American Black Film Festival. Basir’s 2018 film A Boy, A Girl, A Dream starring Omari Hardwick and Meagan Good was selected for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival where it was nominated for an Audience Award.

Film Stills

Film Poster

CREDITS

DIRECTOR(S)QASIM BASIR
SCREENWRITERQASIM BASIR
PRODUCER

SAMANTHA BASIR
DANA OFFENBACH

PRODUCED BY

FOREST WHITAKER
QASIM BASIR
AMIN JOSEPH
CORY HARDRICT
OMARI HARDWICK

PRINCIPAL CAST

AMIN JOSEPH
SKYE P MARSHALL
OMARI HARDWICK
CORY HARDRICT
DANA GOURRIER
MARYAM BASIR

RUN TIME

105 MINUTES

 

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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.