19th Annual Pan African Film Festival Premieres “35 and Ticking”

Columnists, Events, Kim's Kronicles — By on January 1, 2011 at 6:08 am
 
 
 

Kim Whitley. Photo by Kim Webster.

By Kim Webster

The opening night of the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) was a buzz at the Culver Plaza Theatre with the premiere of “35 and Ticking,” written and directed by radio personality/comedian/actor Russ Parr. This comedy/drama tells the intimate story of four friends navigating thru romance, marriage, and children while getting older. Featured cast includes: Nicole Ari Parker, Tamala Jones, Kevin Hart, Keith Robinson, Meagan Good, Mike Epps, Clifton Powell, Jill Marie Jones, Dondre Whitfield, Aaron D Spear, Luenell, and Kym Whitley, who is also executive producer.

Every year the festival honors artistic and literary accomplishments. This year “A Special Night of Tribute” honored award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Also honored were: classical soprano/Civil Rights activist Hope Foye-Lifetime Achievement Award; film/stage/television rising star Tessa Thompson –Beah Richards Rising Star Award; actor Lamman Rucker-Canada Lee Award; 9th District Los Angeles Councilwoman Jan Perry-Community Leadership Award; South African actor/producer/director Hlmola Dandala – The Africa Channel’s Creative Achievement Award; novelist/essayist/social activist/2010 nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature Ngugi wa Thiong’o-The Africa Channel’s Literary Achievement Award.

The world premiere of writer/director Van Elder’s “DWB: Dating While Black” was presented on closing night of the festival. For more information about special screenings from the festival, please go to www.paff.org.

 

Writer/Director Russ Parr and wife Darnell. Photo by Kim Webster.

Mega Comedienne Luenell. Photo By Kim Webster.

Nicole Ari Parker and Husband Boris Kodjoe. Photo by Kim Webster.

Comments are closed.