STREET BEAT: ‘What is important about the Pan African Film and Arts Festival?’

Compiled by Cynthia Gibson at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

 

Ivory Rose Chamveshi
South Los Angeles
“It is a beautiful showcase of our culture. … The Pan African Film Festival is like a love letter to Black creatives and Black L.A.”
Hiwot Zegeye
Los Angeles
“A lot of the movies resonate with who we are as people and as a community. … It’s a way for young people to learn about our culture, our heritage and our ancestry.”
Torrence Brannon Reese
New Orleans
“To be able to live history is one thing. … To come to the festival, you live your history. You experience your history in a way you can’t by just talking about it.”
Queen Sy
Inglewood
“Seeing ourselves being represented … in film and all the talented Black filmmakers. A lot of our stories are very important and just to have them here in one place is very important to me.”