Prior to the beginning of each event, the PAFF board of directors appoints a jury who has the sole responsibility for choosing which films will receive the coveted PAFF filmmaker awards, with the exception of the audience favorite awards which are based on the results of ballots cast by festival filmgoers.

Jurors are chosen from a wide range of industry professionals based on their body of work and respect from their peers. 

2008 PAFF Film Competition Jury

Akudinobi, Jude
Barnett, Neema
Bedford, Cheryl
Caldwell, Ben
El Zabar, Kai
Fraser, Jadolphus
Frazier, Pamela
Gilliard, Carl
Hayden, Van
Henry, Norma
James, Sherri
Jones, Earl Richey
Jones, Todd
Lawrence, Carol
Northington, Angela
Norville, Michael
O’Neill, Bobby
Pryor, Darryl
Suber, Kevin J.
Winters, Tony
Wood, Beverly
Wright, Marceil
Wynter, Dianah 'Roneyah'