As diversity debates wage on in Hollywood, the Pan African Film Festival spotlights an array of stories and storytellers conveying broad narratives from the world’s African diaspora, with more than a dozen documentaries, narrative features, or shorts by women directors being presented during the 12-day cinematic bonanza which starts this week at the Rave Cinemas 15 Baldwin Hills in Los Angeles. Many of these filmmakers are already making noise in independent circles, and Hollywood would do well to pay attention to these emerging voices. Here are eight directors – and their films – we’re excitedly watching (read more about it on The Culture).