L.A.’s Pan African film fest set to roll

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival bills itself as one of the largest Black History Month events in the U.S. The L.A.-based festival annually features more than 100 films from around the world made by people of African descent, as well as art exhibits, music and spoken-word performances, panel discussions, workshops and parties.

The 14th annual festival opens Thursday at the Directors Guild of America with a screening of the South African drama “Tsotsi.” Nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign language film, it tells the tale of a young Johannesburg gang leader. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, South African consul-general Jeanette Ndhlovu and Forest Whitaker will host.

After the opening, the 12-day festival moves to Magic Johnson Theatres and the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles.

Festival highlights include the world premiere on Feb. 15 of “Restraining Order,” a drama written and directed by Reggie Gaskins, featuring Robin Givens and James Avery; “Make It Funky!,” Michael Murphy’s documentary on New Orleans’ rich musical heritage, screening Feb. 17, and the closing night program, Chris Robinson’s “ATL,” a drama with music about four teenagers coming of age in Atlanta, on Feb. 19.

Several noted African Americans will be honored Feb. 18 at the Night of Tribute, including Oscar-winner Louis Gossett Jr., state Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton) and actors Jim Brown, Kimberly Elise and Hill Harper. Also set for that evening is a tribute to the late Richard Pryor at the Comedy Union on Pico Boulevard.

The festival also features sneak previews of the romantic comedy “Flip the Script,” with Miguel A. Nunez Jr. and Robin Givens on Saturday and Feb. 19, and the family drama “Akeelah and the Bee,” with Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne on Feb. 18.

Ghana, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Tanzania, Egypt and New Zealand are among the countries that have films represented in the festival.

Among the panel discussions scheduled are “How Does an Independent Film Make Money?” and “Show Me the Money: Packaging Your Film for Funding.” A conversation with Reginald Hudlin, director of “House Party” and “The Ladies’ Man,” is set for Feb. 13.

Families can attend free screening and events Saturday mornings during the festival. The festival concludes with an awards breakfast Feb. 20.

For information, call (323) 634-2171 or go to www.paff.org.