Outstanding cinema

The Pan African Film Festival rings solid with outstanding films. Judging from the films recently screened by OW you’re in for some of the finest viewing ever. Nearly 170 films from around the world will be waiting for you at the AMC Magic Johnson Theater in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Mall.
Robert Townsend is known for his creative genius and very funny comedic skits. But this time we see a more serious and very heroic Townsend in the Carl Seaton film “Of Boys and Men.” Townsend plays the father of two boys and a little girl who is mourning the death of his loving wife played by Angela Bassett.
Townsend’s character was busy making a living before his wife’s untimely death and left most of the childrearing to her, much to her dissatisfaction. After her death, his sister played by Victoria Rowell comes to stay for a while to help him raise his three grief stricken children, but anger engulfs the once loving and stable family leading to an unimaginable crisis of the spirit and heart.
Told through the narrative of his youngest son, we watch a family in turmoil turn their lives around through love, understanding and coming to terms with their great loss.
“Of Boys and Men” make sure you see it, Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to make an independent film? In “All About Us” we share the journey of a very loving couple as they struggle to keep their filmmaking dream alive and raise a family.
Boris Kodjoe stars as a film producer forced to work temp jobs to bring money into his home, while his wife played by Ryan Michelle Bathe stays at home, cares for their baby and attempts to write a the script they plan to produce. All is not well in the loving household until they decide on an outrageous plan to not only get their film made, but to land a top notch A-list star, none other than Morgan Freeman.
All roads lead to home in the south and that’s where Latanya Richardson-Jackson and Academy Award ® nominee Ruby Dee come into the picture, not to mention a cameo of Freeman. We even get to see how Freeman spends his leisure time in his club and his fancy restaurant just around the way.
This romantic comedy is based on a true story; director Christine Swanson gives us a first rate lesson in following your dreams wherever it may lead. This film shows on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb.10 at 3:30 p.m. A question and answer will follow.
What gives a man confidence, and a style all his own? An African proverb says when that man can look in the mirror and see a well-dressed man looking back at him. And that’s the basis of the truly delightful film “Kings of the Evening” directed by Andrew P. Jones. This is an amazing film with an all-star cast; Lynn Whitfield, Glynn Turman, Tyson Beckford, Reginald T. Dorsey and Linara Washington.
It’s the depression era, jobs are hard to come by, spirits are low and everybody’s scraping for a living, leaving their dreams behind. But one night a week blacks can go to a local social hall and watch men strut their stuff to win the coveted prize of “King” for the week. Along with the title you get respect, a live chicken or whatever else the 1st prize maybe.
The story unfolds in a boarding house run by Whitfield; her tenets are either fighting for their dreams, trying to understand what they want out of life, or have just given up completely. It takes the “King of the Evening” contest and a very bad man to rally them altogether, and they find in helping one, they are helping each other. Drama, excitement and a lot of ‘oohs & aahhs,” await you in this truly outstanding film you don’t want to miss. This film will premiere Sunday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the AMC Magic Johnson Theater.
– Gail Choice is a producer/writer/director. gcprods@aol.com
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PAFF is sponsored and supported by grants from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles, and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Arts Commission as well as support from the Namibia Film Commission, Pan Afrikan Centre of Namibia, Directors Guild of America, African Ancestry, The Africa Channel, South African Consulate L.A., AMC Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15 Theaters, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, 8th District Los Angeles City Councilmember Bernard Parks, 9th District Los Angeles City Councilmember Jan Perry,10th District Los Angeles City Councilmember Herb Wesson, 47th District of CA, Assembly Member Karen Bass, South African Airways, Union Bank of California, Macy’s, Starbucks & Urban Coffee Opportunities, Wells Fargo Bank, Sony Pictures, Water Replenishment District of Southern California, Twentieth Century Fox, Target, PXP, UPS, Comerica Bank , French Embassy in the US, Film & TV Office in LA., TV5 Monde, Starr African Rum, Adam Tour & Cruises, Four Points by Sheraton, Budget Car Rental, eHealth Records, Black Business Association, The African Diaspora Foundation, Hip-Hop Association, African Red Tea Imports, Our Weekly Newspaper, KPFK 90.7 FM, The Electronic Urban Report, The Immigrant Magazine, African Vibes Magazine, Save the Date Media Group, LLC, Google, LaHitz Media, Sparkletts, Queen Aminah’s Clothing, Valana Minerals, Simply One, Hobo Bodi-Sense International, Myemagine, Universal Music Distribution, Soft Sheen – Carson and Artists Interactive.