Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza

27th Annual Pan-African Film and Arts Festival To Screen Aretha Franklin’s Amazing Grace Concert

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival announced that it will celebrate its 27th Annual Opening Night with a screening of Aretha Franklin’s cherished Amazing Grace concert documentary at the Directors Guild of America. The festival, which presents an impressive slate of over 170 new Black films from the US and around the world and exhibits more than 100 fine artists and unique craftspeople, starts on Thursday, February 7 through Monday, February 18 at the Cinemark Rave 15 Theatres (3650 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd) and the adjacent Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza    in Los Angeles, California. Aretha Franklin’s spine-tingling and uplifting Amazing Grace, produced by Alan Elliott, was originally directed by Sydney Pollack in 1972 at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, California. The film, a rare gem in the crown of the late musical genius, has not been seen before now due to technical and rights issues. 

‘La Vie Magnifique de Charlie,’ Makes Independent Magic in Los Angeles

Independent filmmaker Bobby Huntley II has been making the film festival circuit rounds with his smash hit “La Vie Magnifique de Charlie,” a tale about love lost, sibling sisterhood and Black girl friendships. Screening as a part of the 26th annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival last weekend, “La Vie Magnifique de Charlie,” made a lasting impression on the standing room only audience at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw plaza after racking up numerous feature length film awards from Baltimore International Black Film Festival, Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival and most recently, the Peachtree Village International Film Festival. “Coming-of-age stories are some of my favorites to watch and create. I’ve noticed a lack of those for or about Black women – without heavy trauma and drama,” says Huntley. “We wanted to show the ups and downs of life, including death, but keeping the audience’s spirits up throughout the ride. Also, as a male, I wanted to see a film about women that doesn’t center around, or necessarily, bash men. There’s space for those stories to exist, too.”

Pan African Film Festival

Feb. 8-19 The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) returns February 8-19 celebrating 26 years of great Black films and art at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw 15 Theatre and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza located at 3650 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA. Over 125 new Black movies, 100 fine visual artists and craftspeople. For general info, sponsorship, group sales, artist applications or to volunteer, please call (310) 337-4737 or email info@paff.org