Feast Fantastic

The ninth annual Black Is…CultureFeast arts and culture extravaganza, presented by the Pan African Arts Society, is aptly named. The Feast is five days of film screenings, panel discussions, workshops, performances and more, stuffing attendees to the gills with programming and parties.

Black Is… kicked off last night with an Ethiopian dinner and a screening of the concert tribute film Africa Unite, which examines the history of Bob Marley's ideology and dream of a Pan-African movement, but there's still plenty to take in. Screenings of the films Fespaco, Come Back to Sudan and To Walk a Mile round out today's film portion of events (Sudan and Mile include director question-and-answer sessions); a Soil Panel Series discussion, titled "Who's Wooing Who?," is also scheduled. Moderated by performance poet Rodrick "Rodzilla" Freeman, industry professionals will discuss the creation of identity through media and how these ideas are translated into marketing trends and buying priorities. If the literary arts are more your style, check out the free Books & Shots local author book signing and cocktail hour with J.D. Mason, JLove Calderon and Lalania Carrillo.

Tomorrow through Sunday at East High School, visit Camp Darfur, an interactive, educational mock refugee camp. Tomorrow's agenda also includes a filmmaker/poet reception and private tour of the Gee's Bend exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, plus the monthly microcinema, spoken-word and music showcase Cafe Nuba. Other highlights are various BrownSuga Youth Fest events, a QPOC (Queer People of Color) soiree and more. For a full schedule, visit www.panafricanarts.org or call 303-298-8188; ticket prices range from free to $20.
Thu., April 24, 2008