The John Singleton Short Film Competition is a screenwriting and film production initiative created in partnership between the City of Los Angeles and the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF). Inspired by the legacy of filmmaker John Singleton, the competition aims to encourage and support Black filmmakers by providing financial resources to write, direct, and produce original live-action narrative short films. Three filmmakers are awarded $20,000 each for the production and completion of their winning screenplays, which focus on the Black experience in the United States and address issues of social inequities. The competition often culminates in the premiere of the winning films at the Pan African Film & Arts Festival.