he 34th Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) will kick off in Los Angeles on February 7, positioning Pan-African cinema as both a soft power instrument for African countries and a commercial platform for the diaspora. The festival will run until February 22, showcasing films, art, and cultural programming that celebrate Black and African storytelling.
Recognized as an Oscar-qualifying event by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, PAFF allows selected short films to compete in three Academy Award categories: Best Live Action Short Film, Best Documentary Short Film, and Best Animated Short Film. This status underscores the festival’s influence in promoting African creative expression on the global stage.
“The largest Black film festival in the United States,” according to the Los Angeles Times, PAFF anchors its 2026 edition within global Black History Month celebrations. This year, the festival adopts “PAFF Soul” as its central theme, highlighting the emotional, spiritual, and cultural depth of Black creative works.
Thematic programming will recognize films addressing identity, perseverance, memory, affection, resistance, and liberation, reflecting PAFF’s ongoing commitment to moving audiences beyond passive consumption toward deeper engagement with meaning, truth, and social cohesion.
Among the 2026 film lineup is Amazing Grace Yoruba Worlds (2025), directed by Haitian-American filmmaker Raynald Leconte. The film traces Yoruba cultural influence across the African diaspora, including its imprint on Afro-Brazilian traditions, and retraces the life of Wole Soyinka, the first Black writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.
Beyond film screenings, PAFF also functions as a significant economic platform through ArtFest, a flagship marketplace that brings together visual artists, designers, and artisans from the African diaspora. Attendees can explore home décor, artistic clothing, jewelry, and wellness products inspired by traditional practices, creating direct commercial opportunities for exhibitors and fostering cross-cultural trade and collaboration.
The festival annually draws participants from over 40 countries, spanning Africa, the United States, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, the South Pacific, Canada, and, increasingly, Asia. In total, more than 200 films are featured, offering a wide lens on the experiences, creativity, and identities of the African diaspora worldwide.
Founded in 1992 by actor Danny Glover, the late Ja’Net DuBois, and activist Ayuko Babu, PAFF emerged from a mission to elevate African and Afro-descendant voices on the global stage. Over three decades, the festival has grown into an influential platform, combining cultural diplomacy with opportunities for economic empowerment, professional networking, and creative collaboration.
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Festival organizers emphasize the dual role of PAFF as a vehicle for both cultural soft power and economic engagement. By spotlighting the diversity and richness of Pan-African arts, PAFF not only fosters international understanding of African culture but also provides tangible benefits to creative communities, particularly within diasporic networks.
In addition to film screenings and ArtFest, PAFF features panel discussions, workshops, and networking events designed to support filmmakers, artists, and entrepreneurs. The festival serves as a conduit for emerging talent, while also celebrating established creatives whose work shapes global perceptions of African identity and artistry.
As PAFF 2026 prepares to open its doors in Los Angeles, organizers say the event reaffirms its role as a bridge between African heritage and global audiences, demonstrating the cultural, economic, and diplomatic potential of Pan-African cinema and arts.
