I. To assess films and television productions, by collaborating with existing Diasporic Pan African and international film & television festivals, independent filmmakers and African film enthusiasts to acquire submissions to the “Best of the Best” archive.

II. To score by judging each submission not only on the technical and artistic qualities, but on the content of the message. The chosen films must adhere to the standards set by Paul Robeson, in being the best of the best. Therefore, we score each submission based on whether, or not, it indeed upholds the proper image of Africans and the Diaspora, by presenting clear images of respect, love, tolerance; as well as, examples of how to uphold and build a better society through the demonstration of enlightened people doing what they do best shine their “little light” on relevant issues and events, for the world to appreciate and enjoy!

III. To deliver such films to African Film Festivals, in consideration of their Diaspora Prize, i.e., the Paul Robeson Award at FESPACO. PRAI SUBMISSION CRITERIA There are three (3) film / video categories for submissions:


Our purpose is two-fold:
 
I PRAI enables the timely processing of film submissions to African Film Festivals, by soliciting and curating films from the African Diaspora that are qualified for consideration of their coveted Diaspora Prizes.

II Once PRAI has made the selections and the winners established, by the festivals, the PRAI strategic focus changes to become a distribution network, for current winners and archived films of the “Best of the Best” Films from the African Diaspora series. We are establishing affiliations with broadcast, festival and online programming outlets for such purpose.

The strategic focus is on Promoting Reel African Images. It is our intent to assist in the efforts of the organizers of African film and video festivals to insure that they present the quintessential awards program, for all African related cinematic offerings. We are actively pursuing programming entities that would be favorable to our efforts; and, thereby willing to partner with us in programming the “Best of the Best” series on television networks, or festivals throughout the world. I urge your comments and suggestions in this regard, as it still takes a village…in Africa and the Diasporian Community, to make this endeavor, to supply positive and constructive programming of and about Africans, a reality worldwide!


Our Executive Board...

C.Sade Turnipseed, MBA MS, Managing Director
Avalyn Pitts, Esq., Co-Chair Advisory Board
Theodora Brown, Esq.,  Co-Chair Advisory Board
Deborah Boyd, Ph.D., Programming Chair
Gladstone Yearwood, Ph.D., Screening Chair
Dominique Hurd, YOUTHWATCH, Chair


Our Advisory Board...

Harry Belafonte, Honorary Chair
Julianne Malveaux, Ph.D.
St. Clair Bourne, filmmaker
Kevin Arkadie, writer/director/producer
Theodore Mel, Minister of Culture
Celine Anelone, consultant
Said Dibinga, consultant
Sandy Rattley, Ph.D. (candidate)
Iman drammeh, consultant
Deardra Shuler, PR consultant
Mojisola Sonoiki, consultant 
Youl Bashime, FESPACO
Prof. Sparo Stanislaus Adotevi, UNESCO (retired) 


Our Film Festival AFFILIATES...
 
Baba Hama, FESPACO
Barbados Fest. Of African and Caribbean Film
Mahen Bonetti, African Film Festival
ashara ekundayo, Denver Pan African
Zoe Elton, Mill Valley Film Festival
Shari Frilot, Sundance
Len Gibson, Black Cinema Festival
Issaka Herman TRAORE, Ouagadougou
Amaka Igwe, BOBTV, Nigeria
Tanya Kersey, Hollywood Black Film Festival
Heidi Lobato, Film Fest. Of Africa, Amsterdam
Ave Montegue, San Francisco Blk Film Fest
Terra Renee, African Amer. Wm in Cinema
Mojisola Sonoiki, Wm of Color Int’l Film Festival


Plus...over two hundred PRAI members from around the globe who sit on board of our listserve discussion and planning group.
Please, join us by signing up at: fespaco-pra@yahoogroups.com


One Aim…

C.Sade Turnipseed, Managing Director
PRAI—the “Best of the Best” Archives 
FESPACO.PRAI@peoplepc.com