{"id":62266,"date":"2012-01-11T22:55:10","date_gmt":"2012-01-11T22:55:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2012\/01\/11\/think-like-a-man-to-open-pan-african-film-festival\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T13:16:47","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T13:16:47","slug":"think-like-a-man-to-open-pan-african-film-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/think-like-a-man-to-open-pan-african-film-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Think Like A Man To Open PAFF"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve Harvey’s ‘Think Like A Man’ <\/a>Selected As Opener For Pan African Film Festival\u200f<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

January 11, 2012<\/p>\n

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The Pan African Film Festival<\/strong> (PAFF) will celebrate its 20th anniversary in grand style with a string of highly-anticipated films. The festival will kick off festivities with a star-studded Opening Night Gala on Thursday, February 9, 2012.<\/p>\n

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First up: The Los Angeles premiere of \u201cThink Like a Man,\u201d<\/a><\/strong> based on the New York Times best-selling book by radio host\/comic Steve Harvey. The ensemble cast includes Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union<\/strong> and Chris Brown<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The comedy follows four interconnected and diverse men whose love lives are shaken up after the ladies they are pursuing buy Harvey\u2019s book and start taking his advice to heart. When the band of brothers realize that they have been betrayed by one of their own, they conspire, using the book\u2019s insider information to turn the tables and teach the women a lesson of their own. The movie is directed by Tim Story<\/strong> and written by Keith Merryman<\/strong> and David A. Newman<\/strong>. It\u2019s produced by Will Packer<\/strong> in conjunction with Rainforest Films and distributed through Sony Pictures. The film is scheduled for theatrical release March 9, 2012.<\/p>\n

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PAFF, America’s largest and most prestigious international Black film festival, will take place February 9-20, 2012 at the new Rave Cinemas Baldwin Hills 15 (formerly the AMC Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15) at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The theatre is situated on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Marlton Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard)<\/p>\n

It has selected a total of 170 films, representing 30 countries, 106 feature length films (narrative and documentaries) and 64 short films. The festival will hand out prizes for Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, Best Narrative Short, Best Narrative Feature, and Best First Feature Film, as well as audience favorite awards at the close of the festival. For more information, including how to purchase tickets, please visit www.paff.org or call (310) 337-4737.<\/p>\n

\u201cI say this every year, and this year is no different: I am very excited about the film selections in celebration of our 20th anniversary\u201d says Asantewa Olatunji, the director of programming at PAFF. \u201cWe have an exciting lineup, and a few surprises, too. She continues, \u201cOver the years, the filmmakers from around the world have become more sophisticated in telling their stories. It\u2019s going to be really tough for our judges to pick winners in the film competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Again this year, PAFF will take its movie goers on a cinematic journey with screenings from around the world \u2013 that is, such countries as Angola, Bermuda, Canada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and of course, the United States. PAFF hopes these films with global appeal will open the minds of its audiences, and transport them to lands far away and back home again \u2026 without ever packing a suitcase.
\nHere are a few of the festival highlights:<\/p>\n

MAIN ATTRACTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Opening Night World Premiere<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\t\u201cThink Like a Man\u201d <\/strong>| February 9, 2012\u2013 directed by Tim Story and written by Keith Merryman and David A. Newman, the film is based on the best-selling book by Steve Harvey. The film is a romantic comedy about four friends who conspire to turn the tables on their women when they discover that the ladies have been using Steve Harvey\u2019s relationship advice against them. The ensemble cast includes Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Gary Owen, Gabrielle Union <\/strong>and Chris Brown<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Saturday Night Special, Part 1<\/strong>
\n\u2022\tSlavery By Another Name <\/strong>| Saturday February 11, 2012 \u2013 directed by Sam Pollard<\/strong> and developed by National Productions for PBS, the documentary is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Wall Street Journal journalist Donald Blackmon. The documentary challenges one of our country\u2019s most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery ended with Abraham Lincoln\u2019s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. The documentary recounts how in the years following the Civil War, insidious new forms of forced labor emerged in the American South, keeping hundreds of thousands of African Americans in bondage, trapping them in a brutal system that would persist until the onset of World War II.<\/p>\n

Centerpiece Presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\t\u201cThe Under Shepherd\u201d<\/strong> | February 16, 2012 — directed by Russ Parr<\/strong>. Best friends LC and Roland are two young, ambitious ministers, climbing the ranks at the First Baptist Church. Coming up under the leadership of Dr. Ezekial Canon, the church’s elderly pastor, Roland and LC have dreams of becoming the predecessors of the aging pastor. But, the feeble Dr. Canon stubbornly refuses to step-down, forcing the two young ministers to make pivotal decisions that ultimately fray the fabric of their deeply-woven friendship. \u201cThe Under Shepherd\u201d co-stars Isaiah Washington and Lamman Rucker, and features an all-star cast, including Oscar-winner Louis Gossett Jr., Elise Neal, Clifton Powell, Malinda Williams, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Keith David<\/strong> and Robinne Lee<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Saturday Night Special, Part 2<\/strong>
\n\u2022\t\u201cWe the Party\u201d <\/strong>| February 18, 2012 — directed by Mario Van Peebles<\/strong>. Set in Los Angeles, a cutting edge, hip-hop infused dramedy about the first generation of high schoolers to come of age during the Obama years. The film features some of the latest teenage bands and dance crews. This coming-of-age comedy stars Michael Jai White, Salli Richardson Whitfield, Tiny Lister, Orlando Brown and rappers Snoop Dogg, YG, the New Boyz <\/strong>and Pink Dollaz<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Closing Night World Premiere<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\t\u201cWoman Thou Art Loosed: On the 7th Day\u201d<\/strong> | February 19, 2012 — directed by Neema Barnette<\/strong>. Kari and David Ames have seemingly built the perfect life until Kari’s dark past is unveiled following the kidnapping of their 6-year old daughter. As the couple desperately searches for their child, Kari realizes she’s not the only one who has secrets. Forced to confront the truth, life spirals out of control for both of them in this independent psychological thriller. Pastor T.D. Jakes follows up his award-winning film of the same name with a sequel, co-starring Blair Underwood, Sharon Leal, Pam Grie<\/strong>r and of course, T.D. Jakes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Note: With the exception of the Opening Night Gala and world premiere, all PAFF screenings and panels will take place at the new Rave Cinemas Baldwin Hills 15 (formerly the AMC Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15) at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. The theatre is situated on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between Marlton Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard).<\/p>\n

For more information, please visit www.paff.org<\/a><\/strong> or call (310) 337-4737.<\/p>\n

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