The 33rd Pan African Film Festival screened February 13– at the Culver Theater 9500 Culver City, Calif
By Maurice Dwayne Smith
Culver City, CA (The Hollywood Times) 2/25/25 – Multi-award-winning indie filmmaker Matty Rich is back with a bang! The director of Birth of the Black Underworld—his latest cinematic masterpiece—has been on fire since his discovery at just 19 by none other than Academy Award-winning director Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs). With the support of Hollywood legends like Sidney Poitier and Bill Duke, who, according to EINPRESSWIRE by News Matics, helped induct him into the DGA, Rich has carved out a legacy of bold storytelling.
Now, he’s set to shake things up again with Birth of the Black Underworld, which made its much-anticipated debut at the 33rd Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), the nation’s largest Black film festival. The screening took place at The Culver Theater in Culver City, California, on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 7 p.m., as part of the festival’s run from February 4-17.
Back in 1991, Rich stunned audiences with Straight Out of Brooklyn, earning the prestigious Sundance Grand Jury Prize. He followed up with The Inkwell, and, according to EINPRESSWIRE by News Matics, expanded his repertoire with projects like Red Hook, a Tupac Shakur biopic for HBO, and Subway Scholar, a collaboration with the late, great Whitney Houston for Warner Bros. and Showtime.
“This amazing film took me two years to make, and I felt it was time for a gangster film that showcased more than just violence—one that had heart. I wanted to portray love, kindness, and a sense of community, proving that even in the underworld, there’s room for humanity.”
And let’s talk about the cast—because “game knows game.” That widely embraced hood mantra takes center stage with a powerhouse lineup of award-winning, Grammy-nominated veterans. Heavy hitters like Frank Stallone, Rhonda Morman, Jack Scalia, and Thomas Copeland Jr. couldn’t resist the project. Each of them had a “had-to-be-in-this-movie” moment after reading the script.
What makes Birth of the Black Underworld stand out? It blends classic Italian gangster film undertones with the unique, synergistic essence of the Jewish Mafia—only to flip the script in ways you’ll never see coming. Can you say vengeance with a conscience? Because even the toughest bad boys crave love.
This one is an absolute must-see!