Gala to open showcase for black film

A documentary about love and relationships, tributes to black film pioneers and short films about gang intervention in the inner city highlight the 13th Annual African American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase, which will be held this weekend in Los Angeles and Hollywood.

The festival, sponsored by the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center, kicks off tonight with a gala honoring several entertainment figures, including filmmaker Victor Marshand Webb and urban radio icon Lee Bailey. The ceremony will be at the California Science Center in Exposition Park.

The film portion of the festival opens Friday at Raleigh Studios, 650 Bronson Ave., with a screening of “Soulmate,” about relationships from a black woman’s perspective. Short films and documentaries will screen Saturday, and a marketplace featuring special events and celebrities is set for Sunday.

African American Film Marketplace and S.E. Manly Short Film Showcase, varying sites. Saturday and Sunday. $10 to $150 for weekend passes. Info: www.bherc.org; (310) 284-3170.