National Black Arts Festival invites everyone to join us as we present the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) –the most prestigious showcase of black films in the United States on July 29^th through August 2^nd at the Woodruff Arts Center. With an amazing lineup of films produced by people of color from around the world, this year’s “In Retrospect” will recognize director, producer and actor extraordinaire Robert Townsend (right). Opening night reception for PAFF will begin at 7 p.m. on July 30, 2009 in the Rich Auditorium, Woodruff Arts Center.

A visionary, trailblazer and journeyman, Robert Townsend has produced groundbreaking work for the small and big screen, including the highly acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle, which is considered among the 50 most influential black films ever made. As part of the film festival, Townsend’s 1991 directorial hit The Five Heart Beats will be screened immediately following the Creatively Speaking conversation facilitated by Jelani Cobb, Associate Professor of History at Spelman College.

National Black Arts Festival will screen a portion of Disney’s new film, The Princess and the Frog for the Family Film Fest Friday, July 31^st and Saturday, August 1^st. Additional films being shown include:

Skin – The true story of a black child born in the 1950’s to white Afrikaners and raised as a little “white” girl. Starring Sophie Okonedo (“Secret Life of Bees”), this film has been recognized as the Winner Audience and Jury Favorite Awards by the 2009 Pan African Film Festival Los Angeles and Audience Award from the 2009 Santa Barbara International Film Festival just to name a few.

Run Baby Run – 2008 African Movie Academy Awards Winner for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Child Actor, this film tells the story of London-based Ghanaian schoolboy who, upon visitng his sister, picks up the wrong suitcase in the airport and does the unthinkable of selling drugs that do not belong to him and thereby endures a week of consequences plagued by the kidnapping of his sister.

Gospel Hill – Directed by Giancarlo Esposito, a former sheriff of a Southern town deals with past racist sins that collide with the son of a martyred local civil rights leader. Cameo appearances include Danny Glover, Angela Bassett, Giancarlo Esposito, Nia Long and Samuel L. Jackson.

PAFF’s closing night (August 2^nd) Creatively Speaking will feature the jazz documentary Icons Among Us at 6:30 p.m., followed by a conversation with director Michael Rivoira, jazz trumpeter Russell Gunn and Dr. Dwight Andrews, Emory University Associate Professor of Music theory and African American Music. For this documentary, Gunn was among 75 artists profiled through performance and interviews that represents a generation of jazz musicians who have emerged in the past decade and are taking the music to new heights.

All films will be shown in the Woodruff Arts Center’s Rich Theatre. General admission is $8 per film or you can purchase a PAFF Pass (to view all films) for $150. Visit www.nbaf.org for complete details. For media inquiries and/or a detailed program schedule, contact Margaret Kargbo by phone at (404) 224-3463 or via email at mkargbo@nbaf.org.

ABOUT NATIONAL BLACK ARTS FESTIVAL
The National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) is one of the premier national and international celebrations of the art, music and culture of people of African descent. The mission of the NBAF is to engage, cultivate and educate diverse audiences about the arts and culture of the African Diaspora and provide opportunities for artistic and creative expression.

Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners through the Fulton County Arts Council, Georgia Council for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Zeist Foundation, City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs, Georgia Tourism Foundation, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Nonprofit Finance Fund/Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Woodruff Arts Center.