The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) wrapped its 2025 Film Festival with an awards ceremony at the Palms Sophia in Culver City. Paff received over 688 films. According to PAFF, the festival received over 688 film submissions, of which 150 were accepted. Seventeen films made it to the finalist rounds for awards. Submissions came from 34 countries and were in 19 different Languages.
Severance star, Tramell Tillman, received PAFF’s Rising Star award, further solidifying Tillman’s status as one of Hollywood’s emerging powerhouses. In attendance were stars Like Meagan Good, Jonathan Majors, Essence Atkins, Yvette Nicole Brown, Culver City mayor Dan O’brien and several other high profile celebs.
PAFF is the largest black film festival in the world. The ceremony was in full motion, starting with a red carpet filled with some of the most prominent black Hollywood entertainment elites, all were there to honor and celebrate the dedication and hard work of the PAFF finalists.
We saw PAFF Ambassadors Meagan Good (Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Monster Hunter) and Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country, Creed III) canoodling on the red carpet. We saw Ayuko Badu, one of the co-founding fathers of PAFF engaging and approachable on deck and decked in full african garb. Co-founder Donald Glover was not in attendance for the closing ceremony, but was fully present during the twoweek long festival.
PAFF Brunch
Picture an enormous family gathering at Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving—every cousin in the room, laughter filling the air. That’s exactly what the PAFF Awards Brunch felt like: family. The food? Easily the Blackest buffet I’ve ever seen at a high-profile Hollywood event—soul-soothing, perfectly complementary to a celebration of Black excellence.
Essence Atkins, serving as the grand master of ceremonies, spoke about the importance of continuously creating works of art, especially for the new wave of emerging talent. Somewhere between speeches, I found myself chatting it up with Meagan Good in the restroom—because, of course, that’s where the real conversations happen. Later, we took selfies.
Celebrity Ambassador Jonathan Majors? That brother keeps the house in order. As the presenter for Best Documentary and Best Feature Film, he reflected on being honored two years prior, emphasizing the urgency of keeping art alive in the face of adversity—especially during the reign of new, destructive powers. His message was clear: we must create with a warrior’s mind and push forward, no matter what. And his hat? A perfect reflection of who he is—a poet at heart (and I didn’t even know it).
On the red carpet, I shared a moment with Tramell Tillman—that one cousin who always has you cracking up. The energy, the camaraderie, the joy—PAFF wasn’t just an event. It was a homecoming.
Tillman was later presented with The “Rising Star Awards” by Primetime Emmy nominated actress Yvette Nicole Brown. During his speech, Tillman spoke of “Dreaming forward.” And how difficult it is in these times to dream at all, to have a vision, to be brave enough to step forward and say I am enough. but he is reminded of the task assigned by our ancestors to leave the world better than it was given to us and provide safe spaces for everyone.
The Pan African Film and Arts Festival was yet another win for Black history in 2025 adding to the iconic, upon iconic moments we’ve seen this year. The celebration of Black History cannot be and will not be denied. PAFF is the celebration of the Black diaspora and a great ceremonial closing to Black History Month.
Now You Know, because I told ya!
Nat Dixon was born on the island of Jamaica. She later moved to New York City at the age of fifteen, where she entered the world of modeling. After attending the University at Buffalo State where she earned Two degrees, she moved to LA to pursue her dream of acting, where she now resides.
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