Black Mozart, Race and Feminism Explored at Pan African Film Festival
February 17, 2012 by Dasha Black
Filed under Entertainment, Events, Film & TV, News
Los Angeles’ Pan African Film Festival(PAFF) closes this weekend with a look at Black Mozart and other expertly told stories of Africans in the diaspora:
Black Mozart (short documentary)
Black Mozart (Le Mozart Noir) tells the story of Joseph Boulogne, Le Chevalier de Saint-Georges, an ardent lover, renowned athlete, revolutionary and, above all, an extraordinary 18th-century composer and performer whose work has been neglected due to the prejudices of history.
Black Mozart In Cuba (short documentary)
Born in Guadeloupe from the love between a Black slave and a French nobleman, Boulogne became one of the most remarkable figures of the 18th century. Best fencer in Europe, violonist virtuoso and genius composer, but also the first Black free mason and general in the army, he influenced the music and the political life of his time. After his very existence had been erased from history by Napoleon for 200 years, he is now rediscovered by a few dedicated writers and musicians. In this documentary, Cuba, an exceptional island on the artistic level, dedicates a week of cultural activities to his memory and welcomes Saint Georges as “a great hero of the Caribbean.”
Both documentaries will be screened consecutively and a Q&A follows.
FunkJazzKafé: Diary of a Decade (documentary feature)
FunkJazzKafé: Diary of a Decade spans the late 1980s through the early 2000s, going deep into the fabric of soul music, its definitions, its pioneers, its offspring, its movements, the challenges with the “mainstream” industry and the evolution of the FunkJazz Kafé, a music and arts movement born of Atlanta’s diverse musical heritage. The documentary covers the decade when Atlanta’s underground music scene became established on the world stage and a new generation of soul singers and musicians emerged. Appearances by: Cornel West, Dick Gregory, Dallas Austin, Erykah Badu, Caron Wheeler, Larry Mizell, Joi Gilliam, George Clinton, Cee Lo Green, Jill Scott, Roy Ayers, Jamie Foxx, Raphael Saadiq, Lil’ John Roberts, The Chronicle, Goodie Mob, Doug E. Fresh, Janelle Monae, Meshell Ndegeocello, Chuck D, Professor Griff, Omar Lye-Fook, Mc Lyte, Talib Kweli, Common, Jamal Ahmad, Anthony David, Ray Murray, Andre 3000, N’dea Davenport, Algebra, Leronde Williams, Kevin Powell, Loose Ends, Bilal, Dionne Farris, Van Hunt, Eric Roberson, Donnie, Lady Alma, Bone Crusher, Sticman Of Dead Prez, Dj Kemit and Speech.
Dark Girls (documentary feature)
Examining an aspect of cultural and institutional racism in America that also runs deep in cultures around the world that have been affected by white supremacy, “Dark Girls” features poignant, unfiltered, and penetrating interviews with black women of the darkest hues about their emotional reaction to this racial/cultural dilemma. Two years in the making, “Dark Girls” pulls back a cultural curtain to reveal that the deep-seated biases and hatreds of racism within and outside of African American culture remain bitterly entrenched. Interviews with Soren Baker, Joni Bovill, Kirk Bovill, actress Viola Davis (The Help) and Emily Yang.
96 Minutes (dramatic feature)
96 Minutes is the harrowing story of four kids caught in the terrifying maelstrom of a carjacking. Intercutting between the car and the beginning of that day, we follow the separate stories of each kid: where they come from, who they are, and how they all ended up in one car on this fateful night. Their worlds are starkly divided along class lines, but their lives slam headlong into each other, becoming forever entwined, as they each struggle to survive the desperate reality they now share. Cast members will be present. Q&A to follow.
Established in 1992, the PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of cultural and racial tolerance and understanding through the exhibition of film, art and creative expression.
It is PAFF’s goal to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help to destroy negative stereotypes. We believe film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time, serve as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.
For screening times and full schedule of panels and exhibits, visit the PAFF website here.
Each year, PAFF presents: Over One Hundred Fifty (150) quality films from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the South Pacific and Canada, all showcasing the diversity and complexity of people of African descent.
One of America’s largest fine art shows featuring prominent and emerging Black artists and fine crafts people, including local, national and international poets, musicians and storytellers.
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