By Iya Ta’Shia Asanti and the PAAS Staff
Black stars and box office hits were the recipe for unparalleled success at the 2006 Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival (DPAFF) coordinated by the Pan African Arts Society (PAAS) in conjunction with Starz Entertainment Group and the Denver Film Society for the past seven years. The internationally renowned, award-winning DPAFF is the result of a collective effort put forth by sponsors, a newly-elected board of directors, an all-volunteer staff, and an arts-loving community who came out in record numbers to support what has become the “largest celebration of Black cultural and cinematic excellence in the Rocky Mountain region.”
Festival co-founder and executive director, Ashara Ekundayo, one of the most widely recognized cultural consultant/activists in the arts industry, wanted to be sure to combine film screenings with provocative panels and special receptions that welcomed everyone to the event. “Our goal was to empower and elevate the community through cultural pride and presentation, we aimed to entertain youth, elders and anyone in between.” Former DPAFF co-director, poet and educator Matema Hadi traveled from North Carolina to assist Ekundayo with the last minute details for the various events all honoring and “Celebrating Black Women in Film & Television.” Hadi stated, “Ashara has taken this project and created something beyond what we could have ever envisioned more than eight years ago. I am honored to have been a part of this social change event from its conception and will continue to support the work of the Pan African Arts Society and the development of their staff, interns and volunteers.”
Opening night festivities included the Colorado film festival premiere of Akeelah and the Bee directed byDoug tAchinson, plus the AfriChic Gala honoring Oscar nominee and Emmy award-winning actress and humanitarian, Cicely Tyson, as well as the bestowing of the Juried Film Awards. Tyson, this year’s PAAS SoulSpirit awardee, spoke candidly in her one-on-one interview with Denver Post Film Critic, Lisa Kennedy, about the pitfalls of the entertainment industry and the challenges of being African American and female in a media outlet that often demeans Blacks and women in particular. Finally, when asked about the need for independent media and the movie industry, she replied “films that accurately portray our resilience and ability to succeed despite our circumstances are very important to us as a community.”
Additional DPAFF events included the provocative SOIL Panel Series and “A Night of Black Theatre” in collaboration with Shadow Theatre Company and new radio station Sassy 107.1 with Daniel Beaty’s one-man play, Emergence-See. Amongst the many issues Beaty addresses in the poetic production, some of the more poignant ones included the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the Black community, the impact of African slavery on today’s urban culture, homophobia and invisibility, poverty, and sexism. “Emergence-See” was the perfect prelude to the Friday night edition of “Café Nuba” where local and national poets including Ainsley Burrows, Olu Butterfly, Marc Marcel and many others dazzled the standing-room-only audience with lyrical gymnastics late into the night. “Café Nuba” is heard every Friday at noon on KGNU 1390AM and seen nationally on FreeSpeech TV channel 9415 (Dish Network).
Perhaps the most effective educational aspect of the Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival is its !BLAM (Black Literature, Arts & Music) Youth Program coordinated by veteran DPAFF staff member, Maurice Bankole Ka in collaboration with interns and community members. The hip-hop component of !BLAM deemed the “BrownSuga Youth Fest,” was coordinated by PAAS SOIL Emerging Artist Intern Ietef Hotep Vita, a graduating senior at PS1 Charter School. This youth-executed project brought together youth and elders for a unique day that combined wholistic healing practices, martial arts demonstration, hip-hop performances and dialogue about birthing what he called, “the conscious consumerism of edible hip-hop” in the midst of corporate greed. This portion of the Festival attracted over 200 students and culminated with a free signing by rapper, actress and now author, M.C. Lyte with her new book, Just My Take.
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The DPAFF closing night film and Urban Spectrum newspaper Fade2Black Party & Awards Ceremony featured The Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela, the latest offering from award-winning independent filmmaker/activist Thomas Allen Harris. Additionally, the lively audience discussion with the film’s producer Don Perry, spilled over into the jazzy reception with delectable fare created by Food On The Go Catering, music from DJ S.D., Audience Choice Film Awards, Community “Artivist” Awards, and a special proclamation to veteran hip-hop artist, MC Lyte.
Now that the spotlights are off and the parties are over, the task of building the framework for next year’s event begins. New partnerships with the Department of African and African American Studies at the Metropolitan State College of Denver are being discussed, grants are being written and VIP lists are being developed in preparation for next year’s cinematic
celebration. Please consider assisting in the visioning and development of Black art and social change, and join in honoring the work of many amazing artists whose sharing has shaped how we view pride, identity, and heritage.
2006 Awards @ the 7th Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival
Juried Film Awards
Best Feature – Zulu Love Letter, Director Ramadan Suleman
Best Documentary – Music Is My Life, Politics My Mistress, Director donnie l. betts
Best Short Film – Beat Back Bush, Director Jazzmen Lee-Johnson
Best Student Film – Coochie, Director Najaa Young
Audience Choice Film Awards
Best Feature – Akeelah & The Bee, Director Doug Atchinson
Best Documentary – Scene Not Heard, Director Maori Holmes
Best Short Film – Low, Director Phillip Anthony Traylor
Best Student Film – Prescription for Time, Director Keith McQuirter
Achievement Awards
SoulSpirit Award – Cicely Tyson
Beverly Robinson Renaissance Award – Pearl Bowser
Heritage Award – Iya Oyafunmike Ogunlano and Haile Gerima
Pioneer Award – Nina Henderson-Moore and MC Lyte
Oscar Brown, Jr. Award (formally called the Liberation Award) – donnie l. betts
Community “Artivist” Awards
Civil Technology, Inc
Marquis D. Price – Sankofa Artist Collective
Linda Williams – African American Leadership Institute
Catherine O’Neil Thorne – Art From Ashes
Editor’s note: The Pan African Arts Society, a 501c3 organization aims to continue to partner with institutions and individuals in the production of the Denver Pan African Film Festival and other student-based events throughout the summer including “A Young Sista’s Bootkamp,” and the Q-POC Lounge. If you are interested in financially sponsoring youth leadership and activism this year call the office at 303-298-8188 or e-mail Ashara Ekundayo at BluBlakwomyn@yahoo.com more information is available at www.panafricanarts.org. |
