PAFF Announces the World Premiere of “Remember Me” The Mahalia Jackson Story As Opening Night Selection

The 30th Pan African Film and Arts Festival will kick off its in-person return and 13-day run with the world premiere of REMEMBER ME, The Mahalia Jackson Story as its opening night selection on April 19 in Los Angeles.

Starring GRAMMY® winning singer Ledisi and Columbus Short, REMEMBER ME is a poignant look into the life and rise of gospel singer Mahalia Jackson (Ledisi). Set in New Orleans, Louisiana, this provocative story explores the tumultuous relationship Mahalia shared with her mother’s sister “Aunt Duke” (Janet Hubert) legally named “Mahala” who was Mahalia’s namesake, after her mother Charity unexpectedly passes away. REMEMBER ME is a journey into Mahalia’s pursuit to go beyond the early childhood trauma she faced and detail how although her early childhood trauma shook her, it did not break her.  Mahalia was not only an iconic gospel singer breaking racial and gender barriers she was also a Civil rights activist who understood the power of her position in the movement. REMEMBER ME explores Mahalia’s unbreakable relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Columbus Short) and her integral role in the Civil rights movement. REMEMBER ME brings Mahalia’s fight for freedom into the spotlight while highlighting Mahalia’s own personal search for love.

REMEMBER ME was directed by Denise Dowse and written by Ericka  Nicole Malone. The film’s cast includes Ledisi, Columbus Short, Janet Hubert, Vanessa A. Williams, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Keith David, Corbin Bleu,  Keith Robinson.

Tickets to Opening Night at Directors Guild of America are $125 per person. The evening includes the 7:00 PM screening of the film in the DGA Theater, as well as a post-film reception with a hosted bar.

The 30th Pan African Film & Arts Festival Opening Night is sponsored by Stocker Street Creative.

A second screening will take place on Friday, April 29 @ 5:15 p.m. at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills. Tickets are on sale here.

PAFF30 will take place in-person April 19 – May 1, 2022, at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The Festival will showcase nearly 200 films, as well as a slew of accompanying filmmaker Q&As and audience engagement opportunities.

PAFF is sponsored in part by the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell through the Department of Arts and Culture, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson (8th District), Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price (9th District), Los Angeles’ 10th Council District, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, LA Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund with the California Community Foundation, and the LA County COVID-19 Arts Relief Fund administered by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture.