Pan African Film Festival

Thursday, August 15, 7:00 PM

This documentary film, chronicles the story of a vocal virtuoso. Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther tells his own story with assistance from his closest friends and musical collaborators including Mariah Carey, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack. The film relives the many stunning moments of Luther’s musical career, while exploring his unrequited love life, health struggles, and a lifelong battle to earn the respect his music deserved. Austin premiere.

PAFF pass holders and LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH ticket holders are invited to an opening-night reception in the AFS Cinema lobby from 9–10 PM.

Friday, August 16, 6:00 PM

FOLLOWING HARRY begins with Harry Belafonte at the age of 84, embarking on a deeply personal journey, disrupting injustice over the next ten years by passionately encouraging a diverse group of entertainers and activists to overcome soaring national unrest and anger, by believing that love has the power to redirect oppression into oblivion. Texas premiere.

Friday, August 16, 8:45 PM

In August 2021, the Wu-Tang Clan, backed by the 60-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra performed at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheater. Roughly 10,000 fans witnessed one of the most extraordinary concerts in Hip-Hop music history. Welcome to A Wu-Tang Experience. Texas premiere.

Saturday, August 17, 12:30 PM

Anthropologist and historian Jean-Yves Loude shares the results of his in-depth investigation into Mandinka Emperor Abu Bakr II, who set off from the Senegalese coast at the head of a fleet of two thousand boats in 1311 according to a written account recorded in an official 14th-century encyclopedia. In parallel, the voice of Cheick Tidiane Seck is our guide on a journey to the heart of the Mali Empire: where the great Battle of Kirina took place, leading to the advent of an empire that would keep growing until Emperor Abu Bakr II set off on his exploration. Austin premiere.

Preceded by the narrative short films INNER DEMONS, DEFINITELY NOT A MONSTER, and THE ORIGIN.

Saturday, August 17, 12:30 PM

Mya’s world takes a harrowing twist when anti-depression pills unwittingly unleash a nightmarish entity that embodies her inner turmoil, entangling her in a life or death battle against her own psyche. A chilling exploration of the human mind’s darkest corners. (11 minutes)

Screening before the feature film AFRICAN GLORY.

Saturday, August 17, 12:30 PM

Months after his death, but still dealing with the fallout of rape allegations against her famous-actor husband, a widow arranges a televised interview with a famed journalist to set the record straight. But things don’t go according to plan. Texas premiere. (19 minutes)

Screening before the feature film AFRICAN GLORY.

Director Brea Cola Angelo will join us for a post-screeing Q&A.

Saturday, August 17, 12:30 PM

Tep, one of the only legitimate heirs of an ancient extraterrestrial power, is forced to join forces with a wise sage and his tribal brother to fight off alien mercenaries sent to eliminate them. Texas premiere. (28 minutes)

Screening before the feature film AFRICAN GLORY.

Saturday, August 17, 4:00 PM

An absolute must-see for anyone who can vote for president in the United States, this eye-opening exposé of the origins and contentious history of the Electoral College gives context to current events recalling the often forgotten role of slavery in its creation and how throughout American history, it has dramatically impacted American politics and society particularly with respect to voter suppression and the devaluation of the minority vote. Commentary by scholars Jelani Cobb, Carol Anderson, Kelly McCreary, Boise Holmes, Tyee Tilghman, Veralyn Jones, Peter Jerrod Macon and featuring stunning animation by Pierre Bennu. Texas premiere.

Preceded by the narrative short film NEIGHBORHOOD ALERT.

Followed by a post-screening Q&A with director Maximina Juson.

Saturday, August 17, 4:00 PM

A Black mother who takes a job as a live-in nurse for an elderly woman in an affluent white neighborhood is forced to take extraordinary action to ensure the safety of her teenage son. Texas premiere. (31 minutes)

Screening before the feature film ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE?

Saturday, August 17, 7:30 PM

Tarrell Rodin (André Holland) is an admired American painter who lives with his wife, singer-songwriter Aisha (Andra Day), and young son, Jermaine. His artwork excavates beauty from the anguish of his past, keeping the deep wounds at bay. His path to success is derailed by an unexpected visit from his estranged father, La’Ron (John Earl Jelks), a recovering addict desperate to reconcile the past. La’Ron visits at the invitation of Tarrell’s mother, Joyce  (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), a pious woman with a profound and joyful spirituality. She hopes that Tarrell can open his heart to forgiveness, giving them all another chance, however imperfect, at being a family. Tarrell and La’Ron struggle and learn that forgetting might be a greater challenge than forgiving in this raw and deeply moving film.

Sunday, August 18, 4:00 PM at Austin Public

Join Austin Film Society and the Pan African Film Festival at Austin Public on Sunday, August 18, as we continue our informative panel series on best practices and tips for filmmakers. Receiving an acceptance notice is the highlight of a creative’s journey, but don’t rest on your laurels as the real work has only just begun. This segment will cover successful strategies to implement before, during, and after your festival exhibition. We’ll share ways to maximize your film’s impact and achieve the desired results of an Official Selectee making the rounds on the festival circuit. Our slate of panelists includes industry professionals, community thought leaders, and cultural disruptors who seek to educate, inspire and empower those who desire personal and professional elevation.

This panel is free and open to the public, but admission is not included in the PAFF pass. Register for the panel here.