Jim Jarmusch's "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai," starring Forest Whitaker, will have its U.S. premiere as the opening night film for the eighth Pan African Film & Art Festival, running Thursday to Feb. 20 at the Magic Johnson Theatres.
North of 75 films will unspool at this year's fest, including the prize-winning "Buud Yam," by Burkinabe helmer Gaston J.M. Kabore; "The Little Girl Who Sold the Sun," by late Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambety; cops-and-robbers drama "Third World Cop" from Jamaica; and the preem of Brit Julian Henrique's "Babymother."
Among domestic films scheduled to unspool are Dwayne Johnson-Cochran's "Love and Action in Chicago," starring Courtney B. Vance, Regina King and Kathleen Turner; the world preem of Nanci Rossov's "Unbowed," with Orson Bean and Edward Albert; and Zeinaibu irene Davis' Sundance Dramatic Competition pic "Compensation."
Thesp CCH Pounder ("End of Days") is hosting the 11-day event, which will also feature various forums, visual art exhibits and the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Beah Richards ("Beloved").
A screening of Fine Line's upcoming "Love and Basketball," helmed by Gina Prince and produced by Spike Lee, will wrap the fest on Feb. 20.
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