DISPELLING THE MYTH: ISLAM & RACIAL PROFILING OF PEOPLE OF COLOR LOS ANGELES

Under a grant from the 911 Dialogue Fund of the California Council For The Humanities, the 10th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) will present the panel Dispelling The Myth: Islam and Racial Profiling of People of Color, Monday February 11, 7:00 p.m. in the PAFF Gallery of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Dispelling The Myth: Islam and Racial Profiling of People of Color examines the difference in the reactions of African Americans to the events of September 11th, because African Americans understand the reality of racial profiling and negative stereotypes.

Moderated by Author, Political Commentator and Radio Talk-Show Host Earl Ofari Hutchinson, panelists include Minister Tony Mohammed, West Coast Representative of the Nation of Islam; Filmmaker Aminah Bakeer Abdul-Jabbar whose film Bilalian is in the festival; Poet/playwright Marvin X; and PAFF Executive Director Ayuko Babu.

Presented by Target, PAFF is North America's largest festival dedicated to the exhibition of independent films from the African Diaspora. Its 10th anniversary roster contains over 150 films, 11 world premiers, 11 United States premieres, 65 Los Angeles premieres and 61 shorts.

On opening night, the stars turned out and gave an enthusiastic response to Crazy As Hell, the feature film-directing debut of Actor/Director Eriq La Salle, marking the beginning of the festival, which ends February 18. Sidney Poitier, Noah Wyle, Angela Bassett, Sinbad, Boris Kodjoe, Duane Martin & Tisha Campbell, Ronnie Cox, Keenan & Daphne Wayans, Kasi Lemmons & Vondie Curtis Hall, Damon Wayans, Lorraine Toussaint, Lisa Gay Hamilton, J'net DuBois, Singer Howard Hewitt, Debbie Allen, Norman Nixon and Jasmine Guy came out to support LaSalle.

La Salle is an independent filmmaker who has financed his own short films over the past 12 years. One of his shorts, Psalms From The Underground, screened at PAFF several years ago. He also directed the pilot episode of Soul Food for Showtime Networks and the HBO movie Rebound, which he co-starred in with Don Cheadle.

"The choice of a psychological thriller of this nature gave me the opportunity to explore a genre in which African Americans have been greatly underrepresented," La Salle explains. "Hopefully with platforms such as the Pan African Film Festival, our cinematic diversity as a community becomes as accepted and celebrated as other communities."

PAFF Executive Director Ayuko Babu exclaims, "We are proud to be associated with Eriq La Salle's film. Crazy As Hell is an intelligent film that speaks to our audience. People will walk out the theater talking about it. It exemplifies the mission and focus of what the Pan African Film & Arts Festival is all about."

During the panel, Art As A Political Tool, PAFF presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Poet/Playwright/Author/Filmmaker Amiri Baraka (Leroi Jones), then screened his 1967 classic film Dutchman, which stars Al Freeman, Jr. La Salle also spoke on this panel, which was moderated by Babu.

In addition to the United States, this year's films come from South Africa, Rwanda, Nigeria, Morocco, United Kingdom, Curacao, Benin, France, Senegal, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Brazil, Liberia, Canada, Chad, Gabon, Cuba, Cote d'Ivorie, Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, China, Australia, Germany, Congo, Algeria, Ghana, Jamaica, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Sudan, Mali, The Netherlands and Cameroon.

Outstanding films in the festival include 100 Days, A Reasonable Man, Daresalam, Ali Zaoua, Harlem Aria, Karmen Gei, Little Senegal, Roaring Across The Horizon, Two Towns Of Jasper, Ochre & Water and Yolngu Boy.

The Best of PAFF series chronicles the scope and significance of the festival over the past decade by bringing back six classic films from the past decade, including Sankofa, Welcome To The Terrordome and Terrorism & Bar-B-Que.

PAFF's filmmaker panels, hosted by Eastman Kodak and Savoy Magazine, present a rare opportunity for the community to participate in a dialogue with Founder/CEO of Urban Entertainment Michael Jenkinsen, Academy Award and Emmy Award nominated producer Debra Martin Chase, Reggie and Gina Bythewood, Tina Andrews, Michael Schultz and Julie Dash.

In a free panel, A Conversation With Ernie Barnes, the community met one of America's most outstanding figurative artists. Barnes created The Sugar Shack painting, which graces the cover of a Marvin Gaye album; all of JJ's art on Good Times; and the acclaimed Olympic sports series. Barnes will also reveal his latest work, a tribute to September 11, called Remembrance.

Other festival events include the SpokenWordFest; a free Children's Festival on February 9th and 16th and StudentFest, a program in which LAUSD pupils are bussed in to see films and arts presentations, under a grant from the State of California obtained by Assemblyman Herb Wesson.

"This year marks a decade of the Pan African Film & Arts Festival's commitment to artistic innovation and diversity," Babu adds. "The festival is a dynamic forum which resonates with the texture and richness of independent Black film and Black art at its best. "It is precisely this that remains the festival's signature. We welcome the opportunity to provide a forum for ideas and perspectives that will shape the next decade." For more information about PAFF's 10th anniversary celebration, www.PAFF.org, lapaff@aol.org or (213) 896-8221.