July 29, 2024

Deadline to Submit for 2025 Pan African Film & Arts Festival Draws Near

Final Call for Entries: Showcase Your Film at One of the World’s Premier Black Film Festivals

LOS ANGELES, CA – The countdown has begun for the highly anticipated 2025 Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF), and filmmakers from around the world are reminded that the submission deadline is rapidly approaching. This year’s submission schedule will close earlier than in years past. The final date for regular submissions is July 31, 2024. The final deadline for all late submissions is August 30, 2024. All films must be received by the late submissions deadline to be considered. Filmmakers accepted will be notified in December 2024.

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival, one of the largest and most prestigious celebrations of Black cinema and art, is set to take place from February 4 to February 17, 2025, in Los Angeles, California. This annual event showcases a wide array of films, from feature-length narratives and documentaries to short films, representing the richness and diversity of the Pan African experience.

Celebrating Excellence in Film and Art

Since its inception, PAFF has been dedicated to promoting cultural understanding and artistic excellence. The festival serves as a platform for filmmakers and artists of African descent to share their stories, perspectives, and artistic visions with a global audience. Each year, PAFF attracts thousands of attendees, including industry professionals, critics, and film enthusiasts, making it a crucial event for networking and exposure.

Submission Categories

PAFF 2025 welcomes submissions in the following categories:

  • Feature Films
  • Short Films
  • Documentaries
  • Animated Films
  • Web Series
  • And more

Artists are also encouraged to check the PAFF website for the renowned PAFF ArtFest, which runs concurrently with the film festival and features a diverse range of visual art, from paintings and sculptures to mixed media and installations.

How to Submit

Submissions can be made through the PAFF website at paff.org. Detailed guidelines and requirements for each category are available online. Filmmakers are urged to submit their entries early to avoid any last-minute technical difficulties.

Why Participate in PAFF?

Participating in the Pan African Film & Arts Festival offers numerous benefits, including:

  • Exposure: Gain international recognition and showcase your work to a diverse audience.
  • Networking: Connect with industry professionals, fellow artists, and potential collaborators.
  • Awards: Compete for prestigious awards in various categories, including short film Academy Award eligibility, enhancing your profile and career opportunities.
  • Cultural Impact: Contribute to the representation and celebration of Pan African culture and heritage.
Join Us in Celebrating Pan African Art and Culture

As the deadline approaches, PAFF encourages all talented filmmakers to seize this opportunity to be part of a globally recognized festival that celebrates the beauty, complexity, and diversity of Pan African experiences.

PAFF 2024, which took place February 6-19, featured over 200 films from 54 countries, in 28 languages, including 68 World and 25 North American premieres. Of the films selected for the Festival, 49% were helmed by female, queer or non-binary filmmakers.

For more information on submissions, festival events, and sponsorship opportunities, please visit paff.org or contact the PAFF team at [email protected].

About the Pan African Film & Arts Festival

For over three decades, PAFF has presented and showcased a broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help to destroy negative stereotypes of Africans and African-Americans. PAFF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has remained dedicated to the promotion of Black stories and images through the exhibition of film, visual art, and other creative expression. Today, PAFF is one of the largest and most prestigious Black film festivals in the U.S. and attracts local, national, and international audiences. In addition, it is an Oscar-qualifying festival for animation and live-action films, and one of the largest Black History Month events in America.

For more updates on the 2025 Pan African Film & Arts Festival, follow @PAFFNow on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, or visit paff.org and sign up for the PAFF newsletter.