PAFF: Stars Shine Bright at the 34th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival
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Celebrating Black Creativity, Culture, And Connection Through Film and Art
The 34th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) wrapped up its exciting run in Los Angeles on Sunday with a clear message: Black storytelling is not a fleeting moment, it is a powerful movement. With packed theaters, standing ovations, and red carpets that blended artistry with activism, this year’s event once again proved why PAFF is the nation’s largest and longest-running Black film festival.
Hip-hop pioneer, producer, and filmmaker RZA opened the 2026 festival with a special screening of his action-thriller One Spoon of Chocolate. West Coast rap icon, entrepreneur, and actor Ice Cube also made an appearance, supporting his longtime friend, Chicago music legend George Daniels, at the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary Uncle George The Music Man. His appearance highlighted the festival’s deep influence on music, film, and pop culture.
Other notable attendees included actor, producer, and activist Jimmy Jean-Louis, a dedicated PAFF ambassador who attended opening night and the red carpet screening of his classic film Phat Girlz, celebrating its 20th anniversary. Actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery brought his trademark energy to the West Coast premiere of his new comedy The Class Reunion.
From start to finish, PAFF transformed Los Angeles into a global hub for Black cinema and art, welcoming filmmakers, actors, industry executives, visual artists, poets, and audiences from across the African diaspora. The festival featured a curated lineup of features, documentaries, shorts, and animated works exploring themes of identity, resilience, innovation, and the complexity of the global Black experience.
The red carpets captured the full range of Black excellence, uniting established creators with rising talent in a space that valued culture over spectacle. Throughout the festival, filmmakers connected with audiences during post-screening Q&As and industry panels, reinforcing PAFF’s ongoing mission to promote education, access, and professional growth.
“For 34 years, PAFF has been a platform where our stories are centered, protected, and celebrated,” said PAFF Executive Director Oduduwa. “The continued support from artists, industry leaders, and audiences shows that authentic Black storytelling resonates around the world and remains vital to our culture.”
Beyond film, the festival’s multi-day Artfest and live events created opportunities for artists and small businesses while encouraging deep cultural exchange within the community.
As this year’s celebration comes to a close, the Pan African Film & Arts Festival remains a cornerstone of culture in Los Angeles and beyond, amplifying voices from Africa, the Caribbean, the United States, and throughout the diaspora.
Planning has already begun for the 35th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival.
For more information, visit www.paff.org. About the Pan African Film & Arts Festival
The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) is the nation’s largest and longest-running Black film festival, dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding and racial tolerance through the exhibition of film, art, and creative expression from the global African diaspora. For more information, visit paff.org.