LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Pan-African Film and Arts Festival, originally planned for early February, has been postponed due to rising COVID-19 infections, organizers announced Friday.
“The decision to postpone this year’s PAFF was not easy because we were eager to celebrate our 30th anniversary in person with our community,” Ayuko Babu, PAFF Executive Director, said in a statement. “But we couldn’t consciously endanger the PAFF community.
“Our main concern is always the responsibility we feel towards our staff, artists, audiences and filmmakers who travel to Los Angeles from all over the world and for whom, without them, there is no PAFF,” said Babu. “We remain committed to the city of Los Angeles, where we have hosted the Pan African Film and Arts Festival for 30 years and will do so again when it is safe.”
Organizers said planning is already underway in hopes of holding the event from April 19 to May 1 at various venues, including the Directors Guild of America, Cinemark Baldwin Hills and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. They are also exploring possible online programming.
When it takes place, PAFF will feature more than 150 black films from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the South Pacific, Canada and Asia, organizers said.
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