The Austin Film Society Announces the Second Annual Presentation of the Pan African Film Festival in Texas
For more information on AFS’s presentation with PAFF, click here or visit austinfilm.org. Full festival passes are available here, and AFS members will receive additional discounts on tickets.
The opening-night film on August 15 will be the Austin premiere of the new documentary Luther: Never Too Much about the life and career of Luther Vandross, and it will be followed by a reception in the lobby of AFS Cinema with complimentary light bites. This year’s closing-night film on August 17 will be the narrative feature Exhibiting Forgiveness, the directorial debut of renowned artist/painter Titus Kaphar and starring André Holland (Moonlight) and Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday). This year’s lineup also includes the Texas premiere of A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, featuring a concert performance by the famed hip-hop collective backed by a 60-piece orchestra.
PAFF is an annual, LA-based film and arts festival that brings together the work of creatives across the African diaspora to celebrate their work in one place. PAFF is also the largest Black film and arts festival and Black History Month activation in the US. PAFF leadership will be in attendance for the Austin presentation, including General Manager Asantewa Olatunji, Assistant General Manager Linda Bronson-Abbott, Senior Programmer Melissa Randle and Director of Special Operations J’Tasha St. Cyr along with newly appointed Executive Director Oduduwa Olatunji to introduce the films.
On August 18 at 4 p.m., PAFF leadership will also participate in a free panel at Austin Public called “Don’t Rest on Your Laurels — How to Successfully Navigate Film Festivals” about how to successfully maximize one’s experience at festivals as a filmmaker. The panel will feature Melissa Randle, Medea Brown, Sherrese Moise and J’Tasha St. Cyr from PAFF in a discussion moderated by AFS’s Director of Community Education Rakeda L. Ervin.
More information on the PAFF panel can be found here or by visiting austinfilm.org.
This project is supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts. This project has been financed in whole or in part by the City of Austin’s Elevate Grant Program.
Programming Lineup for PAFF 2024 in Austin
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15
Luther: Never Too Much, dir. Dawn Porter
Luther: Never Too Much, the documentary film, chronicles the story of a vocal virtuoso. Using a wealth of rarely seen archives, Luther Vandross 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. This screening is the Austin premiere of this film.
Followed by an opening-night reception in the AFS Cinema lobby for all attendees of the film.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
Following Harry, dir. Susanne Rostock
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. This screening is the Texas premiere of this film.
A Wu-Tang Experience: Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, dir. RZA and Gerald K. Barclay
In August 2021, the Wu-Tang Clan, backed by the 60-piece Colorado Symphony Orchestra, performed at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Roughly 10,000 fans witnessed one of the most extraordinary concerts in Hip-Hop music history. Welcome to A Wu-Tang Experience. This screening is the Texas premiere of this film.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
African Glory, dir. Thierry Siegfried Bugaud
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. This screening is the Austin premiere of this film.
Preceded by the narrative short films:
Inner Demons, dir. Jasmine J. Johnson
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.
Definitely Not A Monster, dir. Brea Cola Angelo
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. This screening is the Texas premiere of this film.
The Origin, dir. Jorge Sanchez
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. This screening is the Texas premiere of this film.
One Person, One Vote?, dir. Maximina Juson
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. This screening is the Texas premiere of this film.
Followed by a post-screening Q&A with director Maximina Juson.
Preceded by the narrative short film:
Neighborhood Alert, dir. Ngozi Onwurah
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. This screening is the Texas premiere of this film.
Exhibiting Forgiveness, dir. Titus Kaphar
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. This screening is the Texas premiere of this film.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18
Don’t Rest on Your Laurels — How to Successfully Navigate Film Festivals
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.
The panel includes Pan African Film Festival programmers and alumni filmmakers, featuring Melissa Randle (Senior Programmer & Film Traffic Controller), Medea Brown (Senior Programmer), Sherrese Moise (Special Programs Coordinator), and J’Tasha St. Cyr (Director of Special Operations, PAFF Alumni Filmmaker). The panel will be moderated by Rakeda L. Ervin, Director of Community Education at Austin Film Society.
About PAFF
Established in 1992 by Hollywood veterans Danny Glover (The Color Purple, Lethal Weapon), the late Ja’Net DuBois (Good Times), and Ayuko Babu (Executive Director), the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression. For over 30 years, PAFF has been the international beacon for the African diaspora film and arts communities.
About Austin Film Society
Founded in 1985 by filmmaker Richard Linklater, AFS creates life-changing opportunities for filmmakers, catalyzes Austin and Texas as a creative hub, and brings the community together around great film. AFS is committed to racial equity and inclusion, with an objective to deliver programs that actively dismantle the structural racism, sexism and other bias in the screen industries. AFS supports filmmakers from all backgrounds towards career leaps, encouraging exceptional artistic projects with grants and support services. AFS operates Austin Studios, a 20-acre production facility, to attract and grow the creative media ecosystem. Austin Public, a space for our city’s diverse mediamakers to train and collaborate, provides many points of access to filmmaking and film careers. The AFS Cinema is an ambitiously programmed repertory and first run arthouse with broad community engagement. By hosting premieres, local and international industry events, and the Texas Film Awards, AFS shines the national spotlight on Texas filmmakers while connecting Austin and Texas to the wider film community. AFS is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. More at austinfilm.org.
Media Contact
Will Stefanski
will@austinfilm.org
