PAFF Set To Honor Film Publicist Roz Stevenson

 THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL SET TO HONOR INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZERS

LOS ANGELES – The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) will honor two industry innovators for their impact and influence in the film industry. Studio film publicist Roz Stevenson of Roz Stevenson Public Relations and Jeff Clanagan of CodeBlack Enterprises will be honored at the festival’s annual  Night of Tribute ceremony during the festival’s run. For the second year, the Night of Tribute will be part of the pre-show festivities for the awards ceremony of the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) on Friday, January 31, 2014, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Taglyan Complex, located at 1201 Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif.

Stevenson and Clanagan will receive the festival’s Trailblazer and the Pioneer awards, respectively. The Night of Tribute honors world-renowned actors, filmmakers, community leaders and fine artists for their contributions on stage, television, film, the arts and the community.  “These two individuals have not only excelled  in their chosen professions, but they have been game changers in an ever-changing, fickle industry,” said Ayuko Babu, executive director of PAFF. “Both Roz and Jeff have been groundbreakers in Hollywood, knocking down barriers and serving as mentors for others following in their footsteps.”

The 22nd annual PAFF will be held on February 6-17, 2014 at the new Rave Cinemas Baldwin Hills 15 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles. PAFF is the grant recipient of the City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission. The festival thanks the generous support of  the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza and RAVE Cinemas.  For more information, visit www.PAFF.org.

About Roz Stevenson | Trailblazer Award

Now retired, Stevenson served as the former president and CEO of Roz Stevenson Public Relations (RSPR) in Los Angeles.  She has more than 30 years of experience in the film industry.  RSPR specialized in motion picture publicity and promotions targeting the African-American market.  Founded in June 2000 with Universal Pictures as its main client, Stevenson’s agency made a positive impact on the studio’s motion picture releases.  In addition, she completed successful campaigns for other studios, including Sony Pictures, Screen Gems, Paramount Pictures, 20^th Century Fox, New Line Cinemas, Fox Searchlight and HBO. 

Under her leadership, RSPR served on more than 100 film projects, including “American Gangster,” “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins,” “Transformers,” “Talk to Me,” “Evan Almighty,” “Norbit,” “Are We Done, Yet?,” “Smokin’ Aces,” “Pursuit of Happyness,” “Inside Man,” and “Ray” – just to name a few.  Prior to opening her own firm, Stevenson served as a senior publicist at Universal Pictures, responsible for national and local TV, radio publicity and African-American campaigns for all motion picture releases.  While at Universal, she worked on such award-winning films and box-office hits as “Erin Brockovich,” “The Hurricane,” “The Best Man” “The Mummy,” and “Out of Sight.”

About Jeff Clanagan | Pioneer Award

The entertainment industry’s shifts are seismic, but visionary Jeff Clanagan has managed to remain in front of the next wave for more than two decades.  As CodeBlack Enterprises president and CEO, Clanagan continues to set industry precedents by producing and distributing content that defies conventional wisdom, and is leading market growth into a territory that was once dismissed as barren.

In 2012, Clanagan ventured into an unprecedented partnership with Lionsgate, bringing his expertise in feature film, television programming, comedy specials and digital content to this new collaboration.  As a division of Lionsgate, CodeBlack Films is a vertically integrated entertainment and new media company, focused on providing independent studios, filmmakers, globally-recognized celebrities, intellectual property rights holders and brands operating in the entertainment and sports industries cross platform monetization solutions.

Clanagan is recognized as one of Black Enterprise Magazine’s Top 50 Hollywood Power Brokers and a member of Ebony Magazine’s Power 150. Responsible for the release of nearly 200 DVDs, Clanagan’s projects have generated more than $150 million in revenue.

ABOUT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION (AAFCA)

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) is the premiere organization of African American film media professionals. Founded in 2003, AAFCA’s members represent a geographically diverse cross-section of media covering the cinematic arts. The organization honors excellence in cinema by creating awareness for films with universal appeal to black communities, while emphasizing film about the black experience and those produced written, directed and starring performers of African descent. The association actively reviews the quality and standard of black talent, content and media coverage. AAFCA also supports the development of future black film critics and filmmakers. AAFCA is based in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.AAFCA.com

ABOUT THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL

Gearing up for its 22^nd anniversary, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF), is America's largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, it screens more than 150 films made by and/or about people of African descent from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Latin America, Europe and Canada. PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the country.

PAFF was founded in 1992  by award-winning actor Danny Glover (“The Color Purple,” “Lethal Weapon” movie franchise), Emmy Award-winning actress Ja’Net DuBois (best known for her role as Willona  in the tv series, “Good Times”) and executive director, Ayuko Babu, an  international legal, cultural and political consultant who specializes in African Affairs.  PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of ethnic and racial respect and tolerance through the exhibit of films, art and creative expression.

The goal of  PAFF is to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images, help to destroy negative stereotypes and depict an expanded vision of the Black experience. PAFF believes film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time, serve as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times.

For more information, please visit www.paff.org or call (310) 337-4737.