Pan African Film Festival Begins Jan. 29

More than 50 films, including the Los Angeles premiere of “Follow Me Home” starring Alfre Woodard, will be showcased Jan. 29 through Feb. 9 at the fifth annual Pan African Film Festival at the Magic Johnson Theaters in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza at Crenshaw and Martin Luther King boulevards.

Peter Bratt directed the Emmy Award-winning Woodard, who is also among a dozen honorary co-chairs of the festival.

Among other films chosen for the festival are Ingrid Sinclair’s “Flame,” examining the Southern African Civil War from the point of view of women who fought it; “Aristotle’s Plot” by Cameroon filmmaker Jean-Pierre Bekolo; “The Gangster,” directed and starring Sijiri Bakaba with music by Alpha Blondy and Salif Keita; “Target,” which looks at the Black Untouchables of India, directed by Sandip Ray; “Ava and Gabriel” and “Almacita de Desolata” from Curacao director Felix DeRooy; “Terrible Enfant,” the first Claymation short from Mali; “Mama Lou” from animator Maybelle Peters; and “Po di Sangui” by director Flora Gomez.

Documentaries on jazz legend Charles Lloyd, Martinique leader Aime Cesaire, W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Bogel and Jonathan Demme’s “Mandela” are scheduled throughout the 12-day festival. Also planned are a children’s festival Feb. 1 and 8; forums on rappers, rap music and the art of movie-making; an art show featuring more than 100 artists; and “Studentfest ‘97” for high school students.

The latter will showcase director Charles Burnett’s “NightJohn” from Disney Channel Films, which tells the story of a young slave girl who risks her life to learn how to read.

Tickets range from $40 for an opening night reception and screening to $7.50 general admission ($4.50 before 6 p.m.).

For a complete schedule and information on the festival: (213) 896-8221.