Pan African Film Festival Expands to Culver City for 2025
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A Festival for Everyone
PAFF’s expansion offers a wealth of exciting developments. Here’s a glimpse of what awaits:- New venues in Culver City,including the Westfield Culver City Shopping Center and The Culver Theater,will host a wider array of films,art exhibitions,panel discussions,and networking events.
- PAFF’s iconic ArtFEST will find its new home at the Westfield Culver City Shopping Center in 2025.
- The festival’s longstanding partnership with Cinemark continues, ensuring loyal attendees can still enjoy their favourite experiences at Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw and XD.
- An expanded schedule will offer even more screenings, panels, networking events, and community engagements aligned with the festival’s “Dream Beyond” theme.
- The addition of Culver City makes the festival more accessible to diverse neighborhoods, fostering greater inclusivity and participation from communities across Los Angeles.
Pan African Film & Arts Festival Expands to Culver City While Staying True to Los Angeles Roots
The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) is spreading its wings, adding a new location in Culver City while maintaining its strong presence in Los angeles. this expansion promises to bring PAFF’s powerful celebration of Black culture to an even wider audience. Los Angeles Councilmember Heather Hutt expressed her enthusiastic support for the festival’s growth, stating, “As a proud supporter of the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, I’m thrilled to see PAFF expanding into Culver City, bringing its powerful celebration of Black culture to an even wider audience. But I’m especially excited that PAFF is staying rooted in the City of Los Angeles, where it has been a cornerstone of our cultural landscape for decades. Congratulations on this incredible growth—here’s to many more years of inspiring,educating,and uplifting our communities!” los Angeles Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson echoed the sentiment,adding,“Art and storytelling are at the heart of thriving communities.The 2025 Pan African Film and arts Festival is not just a celebration of creativity—it’s a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to uplifting Black voices and fostering cultural pride right here in Los Angeles.”About PAFF
The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) is a renowned cultural event dedicated to showcasing the artistic achievements of the Black and African diaspora. Since its inception, PAFF has served as a dynamic platform for filmmakers, artists, and performers to share their stories, celebrate their heritage, and inspire audiences through powerful and thought-provoking works. For more information, visit paff.org.Media Credentials for 2025
Apply for media credentials for the 2025 festival today: Here.## Archyde exclusive: hope Blooms as Pan African Film festival Expands
Welcome back to Archyde. Today, we’re diving into the exciting news surrounding the Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF), a staple celebration of Black creativity and culture in Los Angeles.
Joining us today is Oduduwa Olatunji,the Executive Director of PAFF. Oduduwa, thank you so much for being with us.
**Oduduwa:** It’s my pleasure. I’m excited to be here.
**archyde:** Let’s jump right in! PAFF is expanding to Culver City in 2025. What prompted this exciting move for the festival?
**Oduduwa:** this expansion is fueled by the immense growth and support we’ve seen from our community. there’s a contagious passion for the stories and artistic expressions coming from the Black diaspora. Culver City provides a fantastic opportunity to reach even more people and broaden our impact.
**Archyde:** The theme for the 33rd PAFF is ”Dream Beyond.” How does this theme resonate with the festival’s expansion and what can audiences expect?
**Oduduwa:** “Dream Beyond” perfectly encapsulates this moment in PAFF’s journey. It speaks to the limitless potential of Black creatives and our aspirations to continue pushing boundaries. Audiences can look forward to an even richer experience with more film screenings, captivating art exhibitions, thought provoking panel discussions, and vibrant networking events.
**Archyde:** You’ve partnered with exciting new venues in Culver City including the Westfield Culver City Shopping centre and The Culver Theater. What opportunities do these new spaces offer?
**Oduduwa:** These venues expand our capacity to showcase a wider and more diverse range of artistic voices. Westfield Culver City will be the new home of our iconic ArtFEST, while The Culver Theater offers a beautiful setting for screenings and special events.
**Archyde:** A core part of PAFF is fostering a sense of community. How will this expansion enhance that aspect of the festival?
**Oduduwa:**
This is so critical to us. Bringing PAFF to Culver City makes the festival more accessible to diverse neighborhoods across Los Angeles, ensuring greater inclusivity and participation from communities representing the tapestry of Black experiences.
**Archyede:**
Oduduwa, thank you for giving us this invaluable insight into the exciting future of PAFF. We look forward to experiencing the magic of “Dream Beyond” come February 4th-17th!!
**Oduduwa:** We can’t wait to welcome you all!