PAFF 2025 expands, but cancels fine arts component due to raging fires in LA

The Pan African Film and Arts Festival 2025 forges ahead to celebrate its 33rd year of growing success, although the recent fires in the Los Angeles basin caused the festival management to curtail the fine arts program in this year’s presentation. 

Rising star Johnathan Majors has made a remarkable comeback since being dropped by Disney/Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2023 after his arrest and conviction over a domestic dispute with his former girlfriend. Majors was in line to become the next superhero of the Disney film series but was eventually dropped from the studio’s plans and faced a somewhat gloomy future in the industry. The Searchlight Pictures film “Magazine Dreams” about the sometimes darkly violent world of bodybuilding competition had debuted at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival amid a lot of favorable buzz, but it was shelved after Majors’ legal entanglements were made public.

Fast forward to January 2025, Majors now free of legal troubles and in an ardent relationship with his fiancée, actress Meagan Good, has found favor with the critics as the star of PAFF 2025’s opening night feature “Magazine Dreams.” 

The Pan African Film and Arts festival, world-famous for its cultivation of Black films and the fine arts, has selected the Majors’ film to open the 33rd edition of its annual celebration in Los Angeles that began February 4 and runs through Feb. 17. 

“Opening PAFF 2025 with ‘Magazine Dreams’ was a statement,” said PAFF Executive Director Oduduwa Olatunji. “This film embodies the depth, complexity, and power of Black storytelling that PAFF was built to celebrate. The energy in the room was electric, and it was a perfect start to what promises to be an incredible festival.”

The Hollywood Reporter, one of the entertainment industry’s top critical publications,  said of “Magazine Dreams” on Jan. 23: 

“Jonathan Majors’ incredible transformation to play bodybuilder Killian Maddox in ‘Magazine Dreams’ is breathtaking, first seen in godlike glory in a daydream, striking the requisite professional competition poses, caressed by shafts of golden light….It’s an all-in performance for the ages, layered with as much vulnerability as anger, and it’s to Majors’ credit that our hearts ache for Killian even – or perhaps especially – when he’s out of control.”

Variety, the other titan of critical reviews, said of “Magazine Dreams” in its Jan. 21 review: “At certain points Killian goes ‘crazy,’ yet Majors’ brilliant performance cues us to the grander note of despair that’s always driving the explosion. Travis Bickle, in ‘Taxi Driver,’ was crazy too, but the beauty of that movie is that his disconnected, pent-up fury expressed something that’s there in a lot of us. ‘Magazine Dreams’ creates a character haunting in his extremity. But his dream becomes ours, as does the heartbreaking prospect of it being snuffed before our eyes.”

ARTS FEST CANCELLED

The cancellation of the fine arts component of the nation’s largest and most prestigious celebration of Pan African culture came after weeks of deliberation over whether the overall festival might be affected by the fire hazards that were raging across hundreds of square miles in the greater Los Angeles area.

The decision to cancel the ArtFest came in response to unforeseen challenges caused by the recent fires, which significantly impacted planning and logistics, PAFF announced. 

“We are committed to delivering the highest quality experiences for our audience, and in light of these challenges, we felt it was necessary to take the time to ensure the ArtFest meets the exceptional standards our audience expects and deserves,” said Executive Director Olatunji.

“Nevertheless, the 2025 Pan African Film Festival itself remains a full-scale celebration of Pan African art and storytelling, featuring an extraordinary lineup of films, events, and cultural experiences.”

Despite the alteration in the arts component of its schedule, PAFF’s other signature events continued: The International Black Film Festival featuring over 150 films, the fun-filled Children’s Fest, a free event showcasing kid-friendly films and activities; the Student Fest program consisting of films addressing today’s social issues and topics that matter most to young people for students in grades 6-12; the Spoken-Word Fest, the showcase of spoken word artists that celebrate culture, identity, and expression; the LOL Comedy Show, an unforgettable night of laughter featuring top comedians from across the diaspora; and the robust lineup of panel discussions that make up the PAFF Institute.

PAFF EXPANSION

PAFF announced in December 2024 that it will expand into Culver City while continuing its long-standing tradition at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills Crenshaw. This expansion reflects the festival’s growth, increasing popularity, and unwavering community support. By balancing tradition with growth, Olatunji says, PAFF ensures its loyal audiences have access to the experiences they love while welcoming new communities into the fold.

Under the inspiring theme “Dream Beyond,” this year’s expansion into Culver City marks a significant milestone, signaling the festival’s commitment to reaching new audiences, fostering cultural exchange, and creating more opportunities for artists and filmmakers to shine, the PAFF director said.

 SPECIAL FEATURES:

Feb. 8: Immigration: The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) steps forward to provide a critical platform for the stories of Black immigrants, offering a bridge of understanding through the power of film and art.

For over three decades, PAFF has sustained its partnership with the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) by hosting a special screening of select short films entitled “Black Immigrants: Telling Our Stories & Visioning the Future.” The Feb. 8 screening was followed by a discussion exploring the needs, challenges, and aspirations of Black immigrants. Through storytelling, PAFF seeks to dismantle stereotypes, foster empathy, and ignite dialogue about the intersections of race, migration, and resilience.

Feb. 10: Women’s Stories: PAFF continues to focus on women’s stories – both in front of and behind the camera. This year, an unapologetic showcase of films that challenge, inspire, and push boundaries is presented. From stirring documentaries to genre-defying narratives, PAFF is amplifying the voices that have long been overlooked and the stories that demand to be told. One of the most anticipated films of the festival is “The Bucket Wish,” a deeply personal and transformative documentary by director Ericka Nicole Malone. Through an intimate and unfiltered lens, Malone, who also stars in the film, takes audiences on a journey of self-discovery, fear-conquering, and dream-chasing. The film asks a simple yet profound question: What is your Bucket Wish? This is not just a documentary – it’s a wake-up call, an invitation to rewrite your story, and a rallying cry for those ready to take charge of their own destiny.

Feb. 16: Closing Night Feature. “MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE” is a dark comedy drama that follows the journey of Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green), a U.S. Army Afghanistan veteran who is at odds with her family thanks to the presence of Zoe (Natalie Morales), her dead best friend from the Army. Despite the persistence of her VA group counselor (Morgan Freeman), the tough love of her mother (Gloria Reuben) and the levity of an unexpected love interest, Merit’s cozy-dysfunctional friendship with Zoe keeps the duo insulated from the world. That is until Merit’s estranged grandfather (Ed Harris) – holed up at the family’s ancestral lake house – begins to lose his way and needs the one thing he refuses – help. At its core, this is a buddy film about a complicated friendship, a divided family, and the complex ways in which people process grief.

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) is one of the longest-running and most respected cultural events dedicated to showcasing the artistic achievements of the Black and African diaspora. Since its inception in 1992, PAFF has provided 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 further information on access to and the schedule of PAFF 2025 films, go to: paff.org.