Tomorrow the Pan African Arts & Film Festival will kick off until February 20, 2006 at the Magic Johnson Theatres in Los Angeles, CA. This is one of those moments I'm itching to be close enough to the city to peep some of the films, yet avoid the smog. Skip the pseudo glitz and glam of Sunset Blvd and head to beautiful Baldwin Hills. Okay, so not a likely tourist advertisement to get you there, but seriously take in some cinematic cultural pieces from all over the globe. Films from Burkina Faso, Congo, Cuba, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Belgium, and a number from the US are all scheduled over the 12 day period. Undoubtedly, this could be one of the best Black History month events to date.

Since I can't be there, I just want make mention on two films that caught my eye. The first, All About Darfur, is a film about the 20-year conflict between North and South Sudan and how it is not primarily about race or religion. The film plunges further into the situation analyzing the difference in cultural groups, one agricultural and the other nomadic. The second film is titled HM HM out of Egypt with a 3 minute duration tells the tale of a restaurant customer that doesn't wish to pay after eating. Completely different flicks, I'm sure. If anyone happens to catch either, do let me know if a trip should be planned for Atlanta when the festival makes its way to the south in July.

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