Montmartre, a romance drama starring Jesse Williams and Ito Aghayere, won two of the top prizes at the 34th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival.
The Los Angeles-based festival announced the winners on Tuesday, Feb. 24, noting the films celebrate the “depth, complexity, and brilliance of the African diaspora.”
“What we witnessed this year was proof that Black storytelling continues to innovate, disrupt, and redefine cinema,” the festival’s executive director, Oduduwa Olatunji, said in a statement.
“We champion these artists from premiere to potential distribution, and as an Academy Awards qualifying festival, we are proud to help open doors that have historically been closed to our community.”
Montmartre follows Joy (Aghayere), who takes a trip to the French district of Montmartre and falls for a handsome tour guide named Toussaint (Williams), with a penchant for poetry, magic and romance.
The film is written and directed by Aghayere’s husband, Chicago native Leon Hendrix III.
Jill Officer and Jesse Williams executive produced the drama. The film picked up PAFF’s Best First Feature Narrative honor and the Audience Award for Feature Narrative.
One Spoon of Chocolate, an action thriller written and directed by Wu-Tang Clan founding member RZA served as the festival’s opening night film.
The Class Reunion, a comedy starring Lil Rel Howery, Sarunas J. Jackson and Karen Obilom, screened on Saturday night. Urban Hollywood 411 attended the comedy’s red carpet premiere and spoke with Howery.
“You’re gonna have laughter. You’re gonna have some drama. You’re gonna have some heartfelt moments,” the comedian said. “It’s what a movie experience is supposed to be and that’s why I’m glad we’re here at the Pan African Film Festival, for the 34th year, to premiere a film that’s got everything you would love in a movie.”
The Class Reunion follows five former classmates who end up locked in a school cafeteria together at their ten-year high school reunion. The filmmakers are currently looking for a distributor to release the movie.
Below is the full list of winners at the 2026 Pan African Film Festival. The interview with Lil Rel on The Class Reunion is above.
JURY AWARDS
Best Animated Short
Two Black Boys in Paradise (UK)
Directed by Baz Sells
Best Feature Documentary
Black is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story (UK, US)
Directed by Yemi Bamiro
Best First Feature Documentary
Play It Loud! How Toronto Got Soul (Canada, Jamaica, US)
Directed by Graeme Mathieson
Best First Feature Narrative
Montmartre (France, US)
Directed by Leon Hendrix III
Best Feature Narrative
Billie (Germany)
Directed by Sheri Hagen
Best Short Narrative
The Black Bart of Taco King #17 (US)
Directed by Rickey Larke
Best Short Documentary
Exodus (Panama, US)
Directed by Nimco Sheikhaden
AUDIENCE FAVORITE AWARDS
Audience Award – Feature Documentary
A Better Way: James Lawson, Architect of Nonviolence (US)
Directed by Karen Hayes
Audience Award – Feature Narrative
Montmartre (France, US)
Directed by Leon Hendrix III
Audience Award – Short Narrative
Spilled Milk (US)
Directed by Jared Leaf
PROGRAMMERS’ AWARDS
Programmers’ Award – Short Documentary
The Price of Resistance: Sala Udin, An American Agitator (US)
Directed by Annette Banks & Ty Cooper
Programmers’ Award – Feature Documentary
Amazing Grace: YorubaWorlds (Brazil, Nigeria)
Directed by Raynald Leconte
Programmers’ Award – Short Narrative
Legally Black (US)
Directed by Abai Peace
Programmers’ Award – Feature Narrative
Radio Sky (US)
Directed by Carlitos Do Souto
JA’NET DUBOIS FOUNDER’S AWARDS
Named in honor of PAFF co-founder Ja’Net DuBois, these awards recognize works that embody artistic excellence, cultural impact, and a fearless commitment to truth.
Ja’Net DuBois Founders Award – Short Documentary
When the Sky Turned Orange (US)
Directed by B.P. Edwards
Ja’Net DuBois Founders Award – Feature Documentary
Trespass (US)
Directed by Kim Watson
Ja’Net DuBois Founders Award – Short Narrative
Complicated Grief (Ghana, Switzerland)
Directed by Julius Amedume
Ja’Net DuBois Founders Award – Feature Narrative
Muganga, The One Who Treats (Gabon)
Directed by Marie-Hélène Roux
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