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The time is now for African Cinema! black student uprisings in South Africa and explore the country’s Venues & How to Book...... 4 current socio-polical climate. Our annual strand Music on Film: African cinema is enjoying a positive period of growth and Sounds of the Continent celebrates Africa’s musical icons and Film Africa Audience Award...... 5 recognition. As the BFI opens the London Film Festival with its rich soundscapes, a strand that will be accompanied by Amma Asante’s historical drama A United Kingdom and live performances as part our Film Africa LIVE! music nights. Opening & Closing Galas ...... 6 launches Black Star, its season of iconic black screen talent, Through the Baobab Award for Best Short Film, we bring focus Soweto: 40 Years On...... 7 across the pond the Toronto International Film Festival recently to the outstanding work of emerging filmmakers and, for the premiered a record number of African titles, including a special second year running, we bring you the Audience Award for Best Why I’m Here: Stories of Migration...... 8 focus on Nigeria. It seems the world is ready to see more African Feature Film, with the winner selected by you - the audience. stories on screen, which is great news for African filmmakers Nollywood Nights ...... 10 and the film industry at large. We at the Royal African Society We are very pleased to welcome a number of accomplished have always believed this moment would come and will filmmakers and talent who will take part in Q&As and panel Music on Film: Sounds of the Continent...... 11 continue to work towards the mainstreaming of African cinema, discussions, including Mandla Dube from South Africa, whose promoting a more nuanced representation of Africa to the world. debut feature Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu will open Narrative Features ...... 12 It is our mission and passion and the reason why we set up Film the festival; Priscilla Anany, who presents her debut feature Festival Calendar...... 16 Africa in the first place. Children of the Mountain; Rahmatou Keïta from Niger who will showcase her breath-taking new film,The Wedding Ring; Documentaries ...... 18 This year we present our sixth festival, showcasing our pick of Mbithi Masya from Kenya with his daring debut Kati Kati; and the best new African film and filmmakers. With over 50 titles US-based Rwandan filmmaker, Anisia Uzeyman, director of road Arts & Experimenta...... 19 from across 22 African countries, including World, European movie Dreamstates, to name only a few. and UK premieres, Film Africa 2016 will take place across 11 Baobab Award for Best Short Film...... 20 London venues presenting an eclectic mix of narrative features, Beyond the films, we once again bring you a packed events documentaries and short films. A few special strands will shed programme including our Film Africa LIVE! music nights, Film Africa Education...... 24 light on topical issues and current cultural trends emerging our annual Industry Forum, workshops, and a revamped and from the continent. We explore the relationship between self enlarged Education Programme, including school screenings Special Events...... 26 and place from an African and Diaspora perspective in Why and the Film Africa Family Day. We look forward to welcoming Family Activites ...... 27 I’m Here: Stories of Migration; we shine a light on the most you for 10 days of discovery, lively debate, industry insight, popular directors and stars of the world’s second biggest film family fun and unforgettable party nights… Don’t miss out! Meet the 2016 Festival Team...... 28 industry in Nollywood Nights; and with our double bill Soweto: 40 years on we reflect on the 40th anniversary of the famous Film Africa Team Index...... 30
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Following its success last year, 2016 marks Films in competition for the Film Africa the return of the Film Africa Audience Award 2016 Audience Award: for Best Feature Film. Thirteen films screen in competition for the Award, with the winner THE ARBITRATION decided by you, the audience. The winning A UNITED KINGDOM filmmaker will receive a prize of £1,500. Voting takes place at the end of each eligible THE CEO screening where you will be given a voting CHILDREN OF THE MOUNTAIN card by festival volunteers. All films marked DREAMSTATES with the A symbol throughout the brochure GIDI BLUES – A LAGOS LOVE STORY are eligible. IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE CITY KATI KATI You can vote for as many films as you attend. Happy voting! LA ISLA DE PEREJIL NAKED REALITY NAKOM THE WEDDING RING WHITE COLOUR BLACK
5 OPENING GALA CLOSING GALA
KALUSHI: THE STORY OF SOLOMON MAHLANGU UK PREMIERE WÙLU Dir. Mandla Walter Dube Dir. Daouda Coulibaly South Africa. 2016. 105 mins. English, Afrikaans, Tsotsi-taal with English subtitles. France, Senegal, Mali. 2016. 95 mins. French, Bambara with English subtitles. As thousands of students have taken to the streets across South Africa in recent months, Malian director Daouda Coulibaly’s auspicious debut feature Wùlu (‘dog’ in Bambara) brings calling for wide-ranging reforms, a praise song for Solmon Mahlangu could often be heard. to our screens an intensely-packed political thriller, with the narco-trafficking underworld at It’s fitting, then, that 2016 should mark the year that his remarkable story finally makes it its heart. We follow the main character Ladji (Ibrahim Koma), a 20-year-old poorly paid transit to the big screen, exactly forty years after the Soweto student uprisings in which Mahlangu worker from Bamako who leads a quiet life, looking out for his family and keeping out of played a key role. We meet Mahlangu as a 19-year-old hawker from the Mamelodi township, trouble. When corruption at work leads to him losing out on yet another promotion, Ladji falls torn between selling veggies to support his family and joining his friends at the march on 16 victim to temptation; his rapid transformation into drug trafficker quickly entangles him in June 1976. He skips the protest, but is brutally beaten by a police officer for jumping a train. the criminal underworld, including the military, government and eventually al-Qaeda. With a This incident is a turning point for Mahlangu. Resolute, he goes underground with the ANC screenplay that skillfully dabbles in the African oral storytelling and initiation traditions, and to train as a soldier. Mandla Dube’s feature debut is full of rich, sweeping cinematography featuring a commanding performance from Ibrahim Koma, Coulibaly’s potent and enigmatic that takes you right to the action’s nerve centre, and a superb turn from Thabo Rametsi in debut feature establishes him as a filmmaker to watch, touching on the known yet unspoken the titular role. But it’s so much more than this. That South Africans are finally able to watch dysfunctions underneath the Mali’s 2012 coup d’etat. an anti-apartheid story brought to the screen by a black filmmaker, and told wholly from the black perspective, makes Kalushi a seminal film on the country’s continuing path to equality. Followed by a Q&A with director Daouda Coulibaly. Preceded by the winner of the Baobab Award for Best Short Film. Followed by a Q&A with director Mandla Dube and lead actor Thabo Rametsi. Sun 6 Nov | 19:15 | Ciné Lumière Fri 28 Oct | 18:30 | Picturehouse Central
6 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk SOWETO: 40 YEARS ON @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
On 16 June 1976, some 20,000 students from schools across the Johannesburg township of Soweto took to the streets in protest to the introduction of Afrikaans, famously labeled the “language of the oppressor” by Desmond Tutu, as the teaching medium. What began peacefully ended in carnage; police killed an estimated 700 young SOWETO, TIMES OF WRATH DOC protesters in a display of brutality that SARAFINA! UK PREMIERE Dir. Darrell James Roodt shook the world, and was the eventual Dir. S Bongwana, J.O Gaegane, S Gibson, N Shandu, A Kupa South Africa, UK, France, USA. 1992. 114 death knell for the country’s racist & G More mins. English. government. 40 years on, this date is France. 2016. 60 mins. Afrikaans, Zulu with English subtitles. Soweto, South Africa, 1976. A new world now the popular Youth Day holiday. Faced with endemic corruption and increasing inequality, is opening up for a group of young black With a new wave of student protests many South Africans are tired, frustrated and angry. Local students, whose extraordinary teacher, Mary politicians with little accountability make promises on long- currently sweeping the country, we (Whoopi Goldberg), defies the authorities awaited housing that, months or even years later, have not present a double bill to remember the and dares to teach them truths that are materialised. Activists take to the streets with megaphones, sacrifices and successes of the youth not found in approved textbooks. For fervently urging communities to galvanise against a system one pupil in particular, Sarafina (Leleti movement, while also highlighting the that has forgotten them. Together, they say, we will be heard. Khumalo), this forbidden curriculum will deep racial and class inequalities still Captured by six young filmmakers living in poor areas of have a far-reaching impact on her life. To Soweto, this seething indictment of South Africa’s political being felt across South Africa today. mark 40 years since the Soweto Uprisings elite brings to the fore the voices of those excluded from the and 25 years since the celebrated musical so-called ‘rainbow nation’ post-apartheid dream. Sarafina!, we remember the spirit and DOUBLE BILL resilience of the youth of Soweto, who Followed by a discussion on human rights, and stories of battled against the brutal apartheid MON 31 OCT - 18:30 how communties are taking action to have their voices Government and in doing so changed the HACKNEY PICTUREHOUSE heard on the streets and in the courts. course of their country’s history.
7 WHY I’M HERE: STORIES OF MIGRATION
Amid the ongoing negative discourse on migration today, it’s easy to forget that history has been shaped and defined by the continuous movement of peoples. Humans have been on the move since life first began over 200,000 years ago in Africa. ASMARINA LONDON PREMIERE DOC A STRAY UK PREMIERE MY NAME IS ADIL UK PREMIERE Like so many species in the animal Dir. Alan Maglio, Medhin Paolos Dir. Musa Syeed Dir. Adil Azzab, Andrea Pellizzer, Magda kingdom, human migration is a Italy. 2015. 69 mins. Italian with English USA. 2016. 82 mins. English and Somali with Rezene natural and adaptive response to a subtitles. English subtitles. Italy, Morocco. 2016.75 mins. Arabic with change in resources, climate and The Eritrean and Ethiopian communities have With the contentious presidential race English subtitles. Colour. safety. This year Film Africa presents been present in Italy for at least half a century looming, never has an honest, humanised look Adil Azzab is a Moroccan filmmaker and a film a collection of personal stories, both and have been actively integrated into social at the immigrant experience in the US been educator living in Milan, Italy. Two decades and cultural life. Collecting memories from more crucial. In Minneapolis’ large Somali ago, however, he was a young unwilling fact and fiction, that reflect on the the habesha community in Milan, Asmarina refugee community, Adan has nowhere to shepherd dreaming of cinema in his rural complex relationship between self documents the legacy of personal stories, go. Kicked out by his mom and bullied by his hometown pastures. In his debut feature - and place. Some of these stories exploring the different shades of identity, supposed friends, he wanders the streets, made with the help of non-professional actors challenge the legitimising of certain migration, and the aspirations of the people. before trying the mosque as a last resort. Soon and grassroots support - Adil recounts how narratives of migration over others; The result is a collective tale which brings to he has a new job, friends and newfound faith. coping with the life-changing and harsh light a postcolonial heritage that has been But when Adan hits a stray dog on the job, he experience of emigration at age 13 catapulted whilst the rest simply highlight what little scrutinised until now: the everyday ends up back on the streets, dog in tow. In an the poor countryside boy into adulthood. The binds us as people and makes us stories of those born in Italy, those who have increasingly hostile and unpredictable world, result is a compellingly candid first person intrinsically human. lived there for years, and the refugees who this little companion may just be his closest tale on the challenges of migration and have just arrived. friend. A beautifully acted and shot film cultural identity. depicting the universal plight of those trying to Screenings will be followed by a Q&A with find their feet in a new country. Followed by a Q&A with director and star director Medhin Paolos. Thur 3 is a dine & Adil Azzab. view event; Eritrean food will be served. Followed by a discussion on what it means to be ‘at home’ in an ever changing world. Tue 1 Nov | 18:30 | Hackney Picturehouse Wed 2 Nov | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton Thur 3 Nov | 19:00 | Bernie Grant Arts Centre Sat 29 Oct | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton
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TO THE FOREST OF CLOUDS [VERS DOC LA FORÊT DE NUAGES] UK PREMIERE Dir. Robin Hunzinger France. 2015. 62 mins. French with English SHASHAMANE UK PREMIERE DOC THOSE WHO JUMP [LES SAUTEURS] DOC subtitles. Dir. Giulia Amati Dir. Moritz Siebert, Estephan Wagner, Italy. 2016. 80 mins. English. Abou Bakar Sidibé Eight- year-old Timothée is getting ready to take the plane to Africa, the land of ‘witches In 1948, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie Denmark. 2016. 80 min. French, Bambara and elephants’, for the first time. By his side donated 500 acres of his own private with English subtitles. is his mother Aya. Timothée knows little of lands “for the black people of the world” to “I exist because I film” - Abou Bakar Sidibé his mother’s past. Despite the ongoing war, encourage displaced Africans to repatriate. she’s taking her son to Ivory Coast to visit Since the ‘60s, many have left Jamaica for A refugee from Mali trying to scale the her father’s grave and reconnect with family. Ethiopia to establish the oldest Rastafari guarded walls around the Spanish enclave Robin, Timothée’s father and Aya’s husband, settlement in the world – Shashamane. of Melilla is given a camera to record his films them on their journey to the land of Aya’s But now their spiritual home is under story in this seminal film on the complexities ancestors. Simultaneously capturing the awe threat. Much of the land is lost and many of modern migration. After 14 months and wonder of youth with the melancholy of Ethiopians view them as outsiders, leaving living in the foothills near the border, Abou lost time, this beautifully observed doc offers these men and women, descendents of Bakar Sidibé starts filming, capturing the insight into one family’s search for a sense of slaves who were taken from Africa by force, heartbreak, humour and boredom of camp belonging that will be familiar to many. in limbo. A compelling look at the lesser life as he and hundreds of other refugees explored and ever increasing migration of await the next futile, and often dangerous, Screening with short the African diaspora back to the continent ‘jump’. His footage humanises an increasingly MOTHER(S) in search of a lost identity. common story, acting as a mouthpiece for African migrants living on the fringes of Screenings followed by a Q&A with Robin Followed by a discussion on the relationship existence and on the sidelines of a Europe in and Aya Hunzinger. between Africa and its diaspora, exploring lock-down. issues like identity, politics and reparations. Sun 30 Oct | 15:45 | Phoenix Cinema Fri 4 Nov | 18:30 | ICA Mon 31 Oct | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton Tue 1 Nov | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton
9 NOLLYWOOD NIGHTS
Over two decades after its birth in a video shop in Lagos, Nollywood has become one of the world’s most prolific film industries. Complex, intriguing and full of energy, this most popular genre of Nigerian cinema is now firmly on the map. GIDI BLUES - A LAGOS LOVE STORY A THE ARBITRATION A THE CEO UK PREMIERE A As the industry grows, so too do EUROPEAN PREMIERE EUROPEAN PREMIERE Dir. Kunle Afolayan the budgets and visions of its Dir. Femi Odugbemi Dir. Niyi Akinmolayan Nigeria. 2016. 105 mins. English, French, filmmakers. This year we bring Nigeria. 2016. 100 mins. English. Nigeria. 2016. 100 mins. English. Swahili, Yoruba, Chinese, Arabic with English subtitles. you the latest works from three of Titled in tribute to the ‘Gidi’ essence of the Gbenga (O.C. Ukeje), a charming and Nigeria’s most popular directors: city of Lagos and its inhabitants’ resilient celebrated entrepreneur who runs a profitable In this mystery-thriller from celebrated Kunle Afolayan, Niyi Akinmolayan spirit, Gidi Blues is the latest feature tech company, is the defendant in a lawsuit filmmaker Kunle Afolyan, five top executives and Femi Odugbemi. Tales of love, from celebrated Nigerian filmmaker Femi filed by Dara (Adesua Etomi), a computer are selected from across Africa to compete engineer whose talents helped Gbenga’s for the role of CEO in a multinational deception and gender equality are Odugbemi. Odugbemi uses the metropolis’ iconic locations, including Idumota market, company achieve success. The former telecommunications firm. During the week brought to the screen by some of Makoko, Victoria Island and Freedom Park, as colleagues are also former lovers. Their torrid long retreat to determine who is most the biggest names in the game, a backdrop for his main character’s turbulent two-year love affair ended bitterly when suitable, mysterious circumstances lead to including Wale Ojo, Agelique Kidjo, love story. It all starts with an accidental Gbenga learned that his wife was pregnant, two of the wannabe executives becoming O.C. Ukeje and Adesu Etomi. first encounter which makes it clear to Akin and Dara quit without collecting her shares in prime suspects is a grisly crime. With a stellar (Gideon Okeke) that his indulgent playboy the company. Her lawsuit seeks compensation, Nollywood cast, including Lala Akindoju, Wale approach will not be enough to win over a but what she really wants is for Gbenga to Ojo and a screen debut from the indefatigable Nollywood Nights is presented by beautiful, committed and confident woman admit that he raped her after the breakup. grammy award winning singer, Angélique the UK African Film Festivals (Film like Nkem (Hauwa Allahbura). Film Africa is Reconstructing the past is a daunting task Kidjo, The CEO will have you gripped from the Africa, Africa in Motion Film Festival, proud to present the European premiere after when every small detail differs depending on opening scene until the credits roll. Afrika Eye, Watch Africa and the a successful commercial release in Nigeria which side of the negotiation table you sit. The Fri 4 Nov | 21:00 | Ritzy Brixton Cambridge African Film Festival). earlier this year. deeper the questioning, the more is revealed in this complex tale of betrayal in both the office Part of the BFI BLACK STAR season. Tue 1 Nov | 20:45 | Hackney Picturehouse and the bedroom. #BFIBLACKSTAR www.bfi.org.uk/black-star Sun 29 Oct | 18:30 | Hackney Picturehouse
10 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk MUSIC ON FILM: SOUNDS OF THE CONTINENT WITH FILM AFRICA LIVE! @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
Africa is synonymous with wonderfully rich and varied music. Each year, Film Africa showcases films that celebrate Africa’s diverse musical traditions, as well as the wealth of new talent emerging from the continent and its diaspora. MALI BLUES PREVIEW DOC ROARING ABYSS UK PREMIERE DOC THE REVOLUTION WON’T BE DOC Meet musicians from one of the Dir. Lutz Gregor Dir. Quino Piñero TELEVISED world’s oldest and most renowned Germany. 2016. 93 mins. French, Bambara Ethiopia, Spain, UK. 2015. 86 mins. Amharic, Dir. Rama Thiaw music scenes, recently under threat and Tamasheq with English subtitles. Oromifa, Nuer, Anuak, Kaffinya, Harari, Senegal. 2016. 110 mins. Wolof, French with from Islamic militants, in Mali Blues; In Mali, music unifies people and nourishes Sidamo, Tigrinya, English with English English subtitles. subtitles. go on a journey of discovery into their body and spirit. Since radical Islamists Old men who brutally cling to political power Ethiopia’s myriad music traditions occupied the north, it has been banned and This musical road movie takes us across has become a recognised feature of African its performers threatened. In this gorgeous Ethiopia, a nation of ninety-million and politics. In 2011, when Senegalese President in Roaring Abyss, featuring never and affecting documentary, one of the and eighty different languages. Full of Abdoulaye Wade prepared to fight for office before seen or heard live recordings country’s most regarded performers (and also field recordings of all forms of traditional yet again, the people grew tired and a youth of some of the country’s most a film star) Fatoumata Diawara takes us on a music - from wind orchestras from the time resistance movement formed on the streets. beautiful music; and find out how journey along with Ahmed Ag Kaedi, Bassekou of Emperor Haile Selassie to the Azmari, the From it emerged the now infamous ‘Y’en a music became a catalyst for political Kouyaté and Master Soumy. We listen to them Ethiopian equivalent of European bards. marre’ (‘We Are Fed Up’). Founded by popular play but also hear their reflections on the These are traditional pieces, using scales rappers Thiat and Kilifeu, Rama Thiaw joined action in Senegal in the energising political situation and the importance of what very different from Western music, involving the movement to document its progress, doc The Revolution Won’t Be they do for the body, the mind and the unity instruments like the washent, masinko, observing the meetings, protests, concerts, Televised. of a people. krar and begena. The result is a fascinating arrests and sheer hard work that eventually document of music that has been passed on led to Wade’s demise. A rousing testament In partnership with the BFI’s African from generation to generation for centuries. to the power of music to inform and unify a Odysseys season. rising youth population across Africa. Followed by a Q&A with director Quino Wed 2 Nov | 18:00 | BFI Southbank Piñero. Keep your ticket for free entry to the Followed by a Q&A with director Rama Thiaw Film Africa Closing Party [see pp.26]. and live music from Keur Gui [see pp.26].
Sat 5 Nov | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton Sun 30 Oct | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton
11 NARRATIVE FEATURES
A UNITED KINGDOM PREVIEW A CHILDREN OF THE MOUNTAIN A Dir. Amma Asante UK PREMIERE IN THE LAST DAYS OF THE CITY A UK. 2016. 110 mins. English. Dir. Priscilla Anany [AKHER AYAM EL MEDINA] Dir. Tamer El Said Fresh from its world premiere in Toronto and Ghana, USA. 2016. 101 mins. Akan, Ewe Egypt, Germany, UK., UAE. 2016. 118 opening the LFF, A United Kingdom is the with English subtitles. mins. Arabic with English subtitles. inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the When her baby is born with disabilities, king of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), Essuman is told that she has a ‘dirty womb’. Cairo, 2009. Khalid is searching for and Ruth Williams, the London office worker Her partner swiftly leaves, shattering her inspiration for his next film but his city that he married in 1948 in the face of fierce plans for family life and a good place in rural has lost all its meaning. He looks to his opposition from their families and the British Ghanaian society. Community superstition filmmaker friends in Baghdad, Beirut and South African governments. Seretse and grows, with whispers of the child’s deformities and Berlin but they too are lost at sea. Ruth defied family, apartheid and empire - being the work of the devil. When Essuman As if in a dream, he wanders through the their love triumphed over every obstacle flung can’t find a cure, her desperation mounts, break-up of a relationship, looks for a in their path and in so doing they transformed testing her motherly love. Beautifully shot with flat and tends to his ailing mother. In this their nation and inspired the world. David a stunning central performance from Rukiyat love letter to a lost city, director Tamer El Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike give powerful Masud, Priscilla Anany’s debut is a powerful Said employs hindsight to give the film its performances full of chemistry, while Amma yet subtle story of female empowerment. unique power, its characters musings and Asante cements her role as the filmmaker loneliness predicating the storm that will Screening with short bringing black historical stories into the soon consume their beloved Cairo. mainstream. CONDRONG UK PREMIERE Followed by a Q&A with actors Khalid Both screenings followed by a Q&A with the Sat 29 Oct | 20:45 | Ritzy Brixton Abdalla and Laila Samy director and lead actor. Fri 4 Nov | 18:30 | Phoenix Cinema Fri 4 Nov | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton Sat 5 Nov | 16:30 | ICA Sat 5 Nov | 19:00 | Bernie Grant Arts Centre
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LA ISLA DE PEREJIL UK PREMIERE A NAKOM LONDON PREMIERE A KATI KATI UK PREMIERE A Dir. Ahmed Boulane Dir. Kelly Daniela Norris, TW Pittman Dir. Mbithi Masya Morocco, Spain. 2015. 85 mins. French, Ghana, USA. 2016. 90 mins. Kusaal, English. Kenya, Germany. 2016. 75 mins. Swahili and Arabic, Spanish with English subtitles. After his father’s sudden death, Iddrisu, a English with English subtitles. Aging soldier Ibrahim is sent to guard talented medical student, returns to his home a deserted island off the Mediterranean village in northern Ghana. Faced with a debt Kaleche, a young amnesiac, wakes up in a coast of Morocco. His orders are to monitor that could destroy his family, Iddrisu must hut, with no idea how she got there. She is the movements of smugglers and illegal turn their farm and fortunes around. Over the greeted by a group of strangers. They tell her immigrants, but - a pawn in a larger game - course of a growing season, Iddrisu confronts that she is dead and that this is Kati Kati, the he is being used by his superiors for murkier both the tragedy and beauty of village life, afterlife. She senses a mutual attraction with aims. When a Black African man attempting and must finally choose between two very group leader Thoma, who encourages Keleche to reach Spain in a boat is washed up on different futures. A fine example of Ghana’s to recollect her memories, while she helps the beach, the unlikely pair’s presence on burgeoning film scene. him find the path to personal acceptance. The the stony little island inadvertently triggers feature debut from Mbithi Masya, one third an incident that crescendos into a regional Screening with short: of Kenya’s acclaimed alternative house-funk military crisis. This fable-like comedy, based ONE HEAD DOES NOT TAKE COUNSEL trio Just a Band, boldly seeks answers to the on the real life 2002 stand-off between UK PREMIERE country’s recent violent past. Morocco and Spain, is a wry study of the Wed 2 Nov | 20:30 | Ritzy Brixton absurdity of diplomatic power-struggles, Both screenings will be followed by a Q&A with though at its heart is a timely story about director Mbithi Masya. friendship and acceptance.
Wed 2 Nov | 18:30 | Hackney Picturehouse Wed 2 Nov | 20:30 | Hackney Picturehouse Thur 3 Nov | 20:45 | Ritzy Brixton
13 NARRATIVE FEATURES
WHITE COLOUR BLACK A THE WEDDING RING [ZIN’NAARIYÂ!] A Dir. Joseph A. Adesunloye Dir. Rahmatou Keïta UK. 2016. 86 mins. English.
Niger, Burkina Faso, France. 2016. 96 mins. Successful young photographer, Leke, lives a Songhoy, Zarma, Hausa, Fulaani with English privileged and hedonistic lifestyle in London, full of subtitles. late night parties and clandestine encounters. Yet, Recently returned to her home in the Sultanate despite his large circle of friends, he feels alone of Zinder after completing her degree abroad, and at odds with the world. When he receives a Tiyaa, a young woman suffering from the pain phone call, Leke must return to Senegal after an of lost love, finds renewal while awaiting the absence of many years, triggering a journey to mystical promise of a new moon. Rahmatou rediscover a family, and culture, long suppressed. Keïta’s second feature slowly reveals itself Nigerian-British filmmaker Joseph A. Adesunloye’s as a story of female empowerment that also debut feature is brimming with subtle intricacies doesn’t shirk from the uncomfortable realities of the Black British, mixed race experience, where of Western influence on African cultures. questions of identity, place and belonging are A magical and immersive journey into the omnipresent. Featuring a beautifully subdued little-explored, and fast-fading, customs of central performance from Dudley O’Shaughnessy, Niger’s Sahelian people, The Wedding Ring White Colour Black’s truest feat is the is that rare thing: a truly original cinematic extraordinary cinematography, reflecting the world experience. through the eyes of one of its many lost souls.
Thur 3 Nov | 20:45 | Hackney Picturehouse Followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.
Sat 29 Oct | 20:45 | Hackney Picturehouse Fri 4 Nov | 19:00 | South London Gallery
14 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
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15 DATE TIME SCREENING /EVENT VENUE PAGE Fri 28 Oct 18:30 Opening Gala: Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu + Q&A Picturehouse Central 6 Sat 29 Oct 11:00 Recreative Film School South London Gallery 26 18:30 The Arbitration Hackney Picturehouse 10 18:30 A Stray + Panel Ritzy Brixton 8 20:45 A United Kingdom Ritzy Brixton 12 20:45 White Colour Black + Q&A Hackney Picturehouse 14 Sun 30 Oct 15:45 To the Forest of Clouds [DOC] + Short + Q&A Phoenix 9 18:00 Naked Reality + Short + Q&A Hackney Picturehouse 19 18:30 The Revolution Won’t Be Televised [DOC] + Q&A + live music Ritzy Brixton 11 20:00 Baobab Award Programme 1 Hackney Picturehouse 20 Mon 31 Oct 09:30 Film Africa Industry Forum BFI Southbank 26 18:30 To the Forest of Clouds [DOC] + Short + Q&A Ritzy Brixton 9 18:30 Double Bill: Sarafina! + Soweto, Times of Wrath [DOC] + Panel Hackney Picturehouse 7 19:00 Dreamstates + Short + Q&A British Library 19 20:30 Baobab Award Programme 2 Ritzy Brixton 22 Tue 1 Nov 18:30 My Name is Adil + Q&A Hackney Picturehouse 8 18:30 Shashamane + Panel Ritzy Brixton 9 20:30 Gurumbé + Flamenco Performance Ritzy Brixton 18 20:45 Gidi Blues - A Lagos Love Story Hackney Picturehouse 10 Wed 2 Nov 18:00 African Odysseys: Mali Blues [DOC] BFI Southbank 11 18:30 Kati Kati + Q&A Hackney Picturehouse 13 18:30 Asmarina [DOC] + Q&A Ritzy Brixton 8 DATE TIME SCREENING /EVENT VENUE PAGE 20:30 La Isla de Perejil Hackney Picturehouse 13 20:30 Nakom + Short Ritzy Brixton 13 Thu 3 Nov 18:30 Hissein Habré, A Chadian Tragedy + Panel Hackney Picturehouse 18 18:30 The Pearl of Africa + Short + Panel Ritzy Brixton 18 19:00 Dine & View: Asmarina [DOC] + Q&A Bernie Grant Arts Centre 8 20:45 Kati Kati + Q&A Ritzy Brixton 13 20:45 The Wedding Ring Hackney Picturehouse 14 Fri 4 Nov 18:30 A United Kingdom Phoenix 12 18:30 Those Who Jump [DOC] + Skype Q&A ICA 9 18:30 Children of the Mountain + Short + Q&A Ritzy Brixton 12 19:00 South by South: White Colour Black + Q&A South London Gallery 14 21:00 The CEO Ritzy Brixton 10 Sat 5 Nov 11:00 Kids’ Shorts with Storyboat Rich Mix 27 12:30 Film Africa Family Day Rich Mix 27 16:00 The Pearl of Africa + Short + Panel Rich Mix 18 16:30 In the Last Days of the City + Q&A ICA 12 18:30 Roaring Abyss [DOC] + Q&A Ritzy Brixton 11 19:00 Dine & View: Children of the Mountain + Short + Q&A Bernie Grant Arts Centre 12 20:30 Film Africa 2016 Closing Party Upstairs at the Ritzy Brixton 26 Sun 6 Nov 11:00 Kids’ Shorts with Storyboat Rich Mix 27 19:15 Closing Gala: Wùlu + Q&A Ciné Lumière 6 DOCUMENTARIES
THE PEARL OF AFRICA PREVIEW Dir. Jonny von Wallström Sweden. 2016. 90 mins. English, Luganda with English subtitles. Cleopatra Kambugu’s humour and warmth HISSEIN HABRÉ, A CHADIAN TRAGEDY GURUMBÉ: AFRO-ANDALUSIAN belie her circumstance. As a transgender Dir. Mahamat-Saleh Haroun MEMORIES UK PREMIERE woman living in Uganda, everyday life is tough. France, Chad. 2016. 82 mins. French and Dir. Miguel Ángel Rosales Uganda is a country blessed with beauty and Chadian Arabic with English subtitles. Spain. 72 mins. 2016. Spanish, Portuguese biodiversity, yet the diversity of its people with English subtitles. In May 2016, former Chadian dictator, Hissein is shunned by many. This is typified by a Habré, was found guilty in a Senegalese Flamenco is synonymous with Spanish notorious bill threatening life imprisonment for court of crimes against humanity. In this culture. Since its inception, theorists have homosexuality. When she is outed on the front extraordinarily poignant documentary, sidelined the fundamental contribution of page of Kampala’s main tabloid, Cleopatra is Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, one of many exiles Afro-Andalusians. Commercial exploitation forced to flee with long-term boyfriend Nelson. of the brutal 1980s regime, goes to meet of the American colonies brought hundreds We follow Cleopatra and Nelson as they leave some of its survivors. Their stories tell of scars of Africans to Seville to be sold as slaves, their homeland and journey into the unknown, that go far deeper than the physical as they forming a population who over time managed and witness the strain that prejudice puts on struggle to understand and forgive. Through to gain space in a society wrought with their relationship. At its heart a universal love their courage and determination, we see the racial prejudices. Music and dance were a story, this is also an incredibly uplifting and victims accomplish an unprecedented feat in fundamental part of their expression and the personal account of courage and hope. the history of Africa: that of bringing a former most important affirmation of their identity. As Head of State to trial. An incredibly important the black population began to disappear from Screening with short document of justice. Spain in the late 19th century, so too did their RELUCTANTLY QUEER contribution to this extraordinary art form. In Followed by a discussion exploring the Gurumbé, their story is finally told. Followed by reflections on personal journies legacy of dictatorships and the future for Followed by a Q&A with director Miguel from the African diaspora LGBTQ community. transnational justice in Africa. Ángel Rosales and a Flamenco performance from Yinka Esi Graves. Thur 3 Nov | 18:30 | Ritzy Brixton Thur 3 Nov | 18:30 | Hackney Picturehouse Sat 5 Nov | 16:00 | Rich Mix Tues 1 Nov | 20:30 | Ritzy Brixton
18 ARTS & EXPERIMENTA @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
NAKED REALITY A DREAMSTATES A EUROPEAN PREMIERE EUROPEAN PREMIERE Dir. Jean Pierre Bekolo Dir. Anisia Uzeyman Cameroon. 2016. 62 mins. English. USA, France, Rwanda. 2016. 74 mins. English. Wanita is on a journey of discovery. It is 150 Equal parts love story, road movie and years from now and Africa has become one Americana, Dreamstates tells the haunting big, sprawling metropolis, operated by an tale of two wayward souls (Saul Williams and immortal race. Devoid of control, imagination Anisia Uzeyman) discovering their love for and emotion, human beings are becoming one another while touring the U.S. with some obsolete. Wanita is of a new generation, of the most pivotal figures of the Afro-Punk working to fulfill her mission according to her movement. Shot entirely on an iPhone, DNA instructions. Can her mind break free? Rwandan filmmaker Anisia Uzeyman’s daring Jean Pierre Bekolo’s dizzying alternate reality debut feature is a sultry, sensual and quixotic is a trippy ride into the future as Africa breaks underground journey between dreams and into new horizons of possibility. reality. Screening with short Screening with short JUS SOLI MUGABO Followed by a Q&A with director Jean Pierre Followed by a Q&A with director Anisia Bekolo. Uzeyman. Sun 30 Oct | 18:00 | Hackney Picturehouse Mon 31 Oct | 19:00 | British Library
19 W
BOABAB AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM
BAOBAB SHORTS PART 1 SUN 30 OCT - 20:00 HACKNEY PICTUREHOUSE
Established in 2011, the Film Africa AYA GOES TO THE BEACH UK PREMIERE SEA OF ASH UK PREMIERE ICE-CREAM [ ] Baobab Award for Best Short Film Dir. Maryam Touzani Dir. Michael MacGarry EUROPEAN PREMIERE Morocco. 2015. 19 mins. Arabic with English South Africa. 2016. 12 mins. French with Dir. Mohamed Essam exists to recognise and support new subtitles. English subtitles. Egypt. 2015. 10 mins. Arabic with English filmmaking talent emerging from 10-year-old Aya works as a maid in a small A poetic re-imagining of Death in Venice, subtitles. across Africa and its Diaspora. house in the medina of Casablanca. Locked featuring a West African immigrant making A professional woman in her 40s pays a visit The shortlist was complied from away from the world, she diligently takes care his way to Italy. Our lead character embarks to her elderly mother and takes her out for over 300 submissions - a record of the household duties, whilst finding a few on a journey from the Alpine mountains to the some ice-cream. Enchanted by the outside number for Film Africa, indicating precious moments to play and be a child. seaside and, ultimately, on a doomed voyage world like a small child leaving the house for The next door neighbour, Habiba, is Aya’s only home. the first time, the mother ends up finding her the growing scale of talent in friend and confidante. Together, they gossip long-awaited happiness and freedom. contemporary African filmmaking. from the balcony and make each other laugh. Michael MacGarry is a visual artist and 12 shorts from up-and-coming As the Aïd feast approaches, Aya dreams of filmmaker based in Johannesburg. Michael Mohamed Essam is a film academic and filmmakers from seven countries going home, but things don’t go according has exhibited at an international level teacher with degrees from Cairo University (Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria to plan. including TATE Modern, Iziko South African and the Academy of Cinema Arts & National Gallery and Kiasma Museum, Technology. He has directed several corporate Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia) After studying in London, Tangier-born Helsinki. As a filmmaker he has directed and videos for TV and has won awards at Zagora have been selected to vie for the Maryam Touzani moved back to Morocco and co-directed ten television commercials and international film festival in Morocco and Award, which includes a £1,500 worked as a journalist, specialising in cinema. his short films have screened at Rotterdam Beirut international film festival, before cash reward. The winner is picked Soon, the necessity to express herself through and VideoBrasil festivals, among many others. making Ice-Cream. by a jury of filmmakers and industry her own films emerged. Her first short,When They Slept, won many awards at prestigious professionals and will be announced festivals around the world, including the Film at the Film Africa Closing Gala on Africa 2013 Baobab Award. Sunday 6 November.
20 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
I STILL DO WORLD PREMIERE LOVE, HATE & KETCHUP Dir. Uche Aguh EUROPEAN PREMIERE Nigeria. 2016. 30 mins. English Dir. Mike-Steve Adeleye In the midst of his gubernatorial nomination Nigeria. 2016. 7 mins. English. in Lagos, Emeka and his wife, Chioma, can A husband comes home from yet another no longer carry on with elegant pretense day of failure and he is greeted by his wife of living a blissful marriage. Their sacred complaining and nagging as per usual, union is threatened as both reveal dark except today is different. Things will change secrets to one another. Together, they go on a for the better and for good today... Or STRANDED UK PREMIERE rollercoaster journey to rediscover their lost maybe not. A funny and satirical look at the Dir. Jamil Najjar moments of ‘I do’, in the hope that they will institution of marriage. Tunisia. 2015. 26 mins. Arabic with English subtitles. be able to proclaim to each other ‘I still do’. Ghassra, a Tunisian taxi driver stops his car to urinate discreetly Mike-Steve Adeleye is a Nigerian-born writer, by a tree on the side of a quiet country road, but as he attempts to Formerly a trained doctor, Uche Aguh was director, animator, editor and visual effects relieve himself, he is ambushed by an exuberant election candidate born in Nigeria and and has lived in the US generalist. A graduate of the National Film and his loyal followers. Then comes a disoriented bombshell looking for many years. In his last year of studies, Institute, and an alumnus of the Berlinale for directions, followed by a group of aggressive football hooligans, Uche decided to explore his long standing Talent Campus, Mike-Steve is currently followed by a set of Islamic extremists, and finally a couple of vision of filmmaking.I Still Do is his first developing live action-CGI action adventure / policemen - until nature’s call is too strong for Ghassra to hold back. short film. family fantasy feature film,Karikaso .
Jamil Najjar graduated in 2000 with a diploma in Directing from the Arts and Multimedia Institute of Manouba. He made his first short film, Offside, in 2003, picking up the jury prize at the Amateur Film Festival in Kelibia. Stranded is his second short.
21 BAOBAB SHORTS PART 2 MON 31 OCT - 20:30 RITZY BRIXTON
MARABOUT UK PREMIERE Dir. Alassane Sy Senegal. 2015. 18 mins. Wolof, French with English subtitles. Diagne, a young detective, follows a group of street kids in the city of Dakar after they steal from him and ends up discovering the dangers they are exposed to in their orphanage, which is run by a greedy and exploitative Marabout.
THE CALL OF TRUNG [GOÏ TRÚNG] LONDON PREMIERE Alassane Sy was born in Mauritania and his family relocated to Senegal. He began his Dir. Regragui Hicham career modelling in Paris and NY, where he Morocco. 2015. 20 mins. Arabic, Vietnamese with English subtitles. was touted, landing the lead role of Djibril Brought together during the first Indochina War (1946-54), an elderly in Restless City. He has since featured in married couple in rural Morocco find themselves faced with a major Mediteranea and stars in the upcoming dilemma. The wife, originally from Vietnam, doesn’t know whether to follow feature film The Drifters.Marabout is his the call of her heart or the call of her homeland. directorial debut.
After graduating from Essex and Lancaster Universities, M. Hicham Regragui started his career in filmmaking as a production assistant and worked on many international and national productions. Since 2013, he has made three short films -Réglage, The Flag and Goï Trúng.
22 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk BOABAB AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
WINTRY SPRING [RABIE CHETWY] MONSOONS OVER THE MOON PART 1 & 2 UNOMALANGA AND THE WITCH LAZY SUSAN LONDON PREMIERE EUROPEAN PREMIERE EUROPEAN PREMIERE UK PREMIERE Dir. Mohamed Kamel Dir. Dan Muchina Dir. Palesa Nomanzi Shongwe Dir. Stephen Abbott Egypt. 2015. 16 mins. Arabic with English Kenya. 2015. 15 mins. Swahili with English South Africa. 2015. 26 mins. Zulu, Xhosa, South Africa. 2015. 10 mins. English and subtitles. subtitles. English with English subtitles. Xhosa with English subtitles. A schoolgirl called Nour lives alone with her Set in post-apocalyptic Nairobi, Monsoons Nomalanga and her husband Sibusiso move Friendly waitress Susan works at a trendy father. When she starts to transition into Over the Moon is a mythical drama about into a new neighbourhood, and right across Cape Town restaurant, deftly serving gluttons womanhood, her close and loving relationship a street gang fighting to escape an the street lives a mysterious widow whom and WASPs, hipsters and high-tippers, racists with her father grows cold and tense. Nour is oppressive regime in the search of spiritual everyone suspects of having killed her late and lechers. With some effort, she maintains not able to communicate with her father and enlightenment and freedom. husband. Intrigued and naive, Nomalanga both wit and service in the face of obnoxious he struggles to understand the changes she decides to visit the widow and soon finds custom - until a lousy tip gets the better of is experiencing, to the point that he starts to Dan Muchina is a filmmaker based in Nairobi herself drawn to her mystery and charm. her. question her love and trust. who works under the pseudonym ‘Abstract Omega’. He focuses on telling stories that Palesa Shongwe is studying film and Stephen Abbott is a South African filmmaker. Since graduating from the Academy of reflect his experiences as a part of the city’s media at Temple University, Philadelphia He is a founding member of Stealth Donkey Arts-higher cinema institute in Cairo in 2006, youth population, creating short films and on a Fulbright Scholarship. An independent Moving Pictures, a Focus Features Africa Mohamed Kamel has written and directed visual mood-pieces in video format. With filmmaker, scriptwriter and teacher, Palesa’s First alumnus, an award-winning film and two shorts that have been screened in several Monsoons, Abstract Omega was motivated to first film, Atrophy, won the Jury Award at the television director, including: Takalani Sesame international film festivals around the world, “shine light on the grim reality of Nairobi, a Oberhausen Short FF in Germany. She recently (TV, 2013), Dirty Laundry (short, 2011), and winning numerous awards. Mohamed is now reality that is mostly kept out of the news”. completed uNomalanga and the Witch, which Lazy Susan. working on a personal independent cinematic won Best South African short at the Durban experiment. International Film Festival in 2015.
23 FILM AFRICA EDUCATION
At Film Africa we believe that film is a key educational tool to engage, inspire and educate children, young people and their teachers. We celebrate the diversity of the African continent and aim to make the rich tapestry of African peoples, A UNITED KINGDOM ADAMA KIRIKOU AND THE MEN AND WOMEN cultures and experiences more Dir. Amma Asante Dir. Simon Rouby Dir. Michel Ocelot visible to young learners. We work UK. 2016. 105 mins. English. France. 2015. 85 mins. Animation. French France. 1998. 72 mins. French with English in partnership with cinemas to host Fresh from its world premiere in Toronto and with English subtitles. subtitles. screenings for primary, secondary, opening the LFF, A United Kingdom is the 12-year-old Adama lives in a remote West In a village somewhere in Africa, a boy university students and youth inspiring true story of Seretse Khama, the African village. Beyond the cliffs lies the World named Kirikou is born, already able to speak groups. Our programme includes king of Bechuanaland (modern Botswana), of Winds, where the Nassaras reign. One and walk and knowing fully what he wants. and Ruth Williams, the London office worker night his older brother, Samba, disappears. short films, features, animation and This film tells the adventures of Kirikou, as he married in 1948 in the face of fierce Defying the village elders, Adama decides to this inventive and resourceful child helps documentaries. For more information opposition from their families and the British set off in search of him. With the steadfast his fellow villagers overcome a number of about how to arrange a screening for and South African governments. Seretse and determination of a child coming of age, he difficulties. Kirikou’s kindness and energy your school, contact our Education Ruth defied family, apartheid and empire. embarks on a quest that takes him over the win out every time. The visual style of the Programme Co-ordinator, Joanna David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike give seas, to the North, to the frontline of the First film is beautiful and the story’s focus on powerful performances, while Amma Asante World War. Brown at [email protected] the relationship between a child and his cements her role as the filmmaker bringing community makes for essential viewing. black historical stories into the mainstream. Suitability: Primary Year 5 & 6, Secondary HOW TO BOOK Years 7-11 Suitability: Primary Years 1-4 Suitability: Secondary, Year 8 upwards Subjects: History, Geography, Citizenship, Subjects: Art, History, Geography, PHOENIX Subjects: History, Geography, Citizenship French, English Citizenship, Literacy Email [email protected] Price: £3.50 per student. Free for staff. Price: £3.50 per student. Free for staff. Price: £3.50 per student. Free for staff. Call 0203 074 1967
HACKENEY PICTUREHOUSE AND Fri 4 Nov | 10:00 | Phoenix Cinema Tues 11 Oct | 10:30 | Hackney Picturehouse Wed 12 Oct | 10:30 | Hackney Picturehouse RITZY BRIXTON Tues 18 Oct | 10:30 | Ritzy Brixton Wed 19 Oct | 10:30 | Ritzy Brixton Visit picturehouses.com/education Mon 17 Oct | 10:00 | Phoenix Cinema Email [email protected]
24 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk FILM AFRICA EDUCATION @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
FELIX Dir. Roberta Durrant South Africa. 2013. 97 mins. English, Xhosa with English subtitles. 13-year-old Felix Xaba dreams of becoming a STORYBOAT STORYTELLING EVENT saxophonist like his late father, but his mother Professional storyteller Wendy Shearer will be running storytelling workshops alongside the Lindiwe thinks jazz is the Devil’s music. When screenings for pupils to engage with and explore African cultures and stories. Felix leaves his township friends to take up a scholarship at an elitist private school, Suitability: Primary Years 3-6 (Age 7+) he defies his mother and turns to two aging Price: £5 per student. Free for staff. members of his father’s old band, the Bozza KANYEKANYE [SHORT] MWANSA, THE GREAT [SHORT] Boys, to help him prepare for the school jazz Dir. Miklas Manneke Dir. Rungano Nyoni concert. His dream is to become ‘king of the South Africa. 2013. 25min. Zulu with English Zambia, UK, USA. 2011. 24 mins. sax’ like his late father. In partnership with subtitles. Into Film Festival. An eight-year-old boy who aspires to be a hero A forbidden romance between two township embarks upon a journey to prove his greatness Suitability: Primary Years 5 & 6, Secondary teenagers, Kanyekanye (meaning together) - with unexpected consequences. A moving Years 7, 8 & 9 tells of a town long divided by a insight into childhood where fantasy jostles Subjects: Music, Geography, Citizenship line marking territories to the red and green with reality as a young boy’s imagination Price: £3.50 per student. Free for staff. camps. A young man from the green side falls transforms and empowers everyday life. in love with a girl from the red side of town. Thur 13 Oct | 10:30 | Hackney Picturehouse But can their love survive the colour divide? Thur 20 Oct | 10:30 | Ritzy Brixton Mon 21 Nov | 10:00 | Phoenix Cinema Fri 21 Oct | 10:00 | Phoenix Cinema
25 SPECIAL EVENTS
RECREATIVE FILM SCHOOL FREE FILM AFRICA LIVE! PRESENTS KEUR GUI FILM AFRICA INDUSTRY FORUM FILM AFRICA CLOSING PARTY IN FREE PARTNERSHIP WITH JUJU A five-day workshop for young filmmakers Film Africa brings together key industry led by Director Saeed Taji Farouky. Coinciding Following the screening of The Revolution experts from Africa and the UK to discuss the Join us to celebrate another wonderful year of with Film Africa 2016, the film school will Won’t Be Televised [pp.11] Keur Gui, founders role and importance of film archives in this discovery, lively debate, family fun, industry enable participants to explore filmmaking, of the infamous Senegalese youth resistance all-day forum. At a time when exciting new insight, awards and parties at Film Africa! scriptwriting and film theory. Places are movement ‘Y’en a marre’, will perform live for initiatives are emerging across Africa, we This year’s closing party will celebrate the limited and by application only - for more the first time in the UK. Keur Gui (Thiat, Kilifeu will look at the challenges and opportunities many styles and contrasts of Ethiopian music information and to apply. and DJ Zee) is a high energy hip hop crew, in developing a film archive and explore - enjoy live music from some of Ethiopia’s among the most popular artists in Senegal. how these resources can be best utilised by foremost musicians, and then dance into Sat 29 Oct & Sat 5, 12, 19 & 26 Nov They’re famous for their activism and focus contemporary filmmakers. There will also be the early hours with JUJU’s resident DJ, Volta 11:00-18:00 | South London Gallery on social impact, and enjoy a strong following an opportunity for attendees to pitch their 45. The party will follow Ethiopian music for their tremendous live performance. They creative ideas to a panel of experts in The documentary Roaring Abyss [see pp.11]. BOOKING: email Laura at SLG: will be supported by Waaju, a London-based Restless Pitch, our closing session. [email protected] groove-centered world jazz ensemble that Sat 5 Nov | 20:30-1:00 | Upstairs at the Ritzy encapsulates influences from West African Mon 31 Oct | 09:30-16:30 | BFI Southbank music, but with a specific focus on the music BOOKING: Tickets are £6 from Ritzy Brixton of Mali. BOOKING: Tickets are £6.50. Spaces limited, [pp.4]. Free entry for Roaring Abyss [pp.11] please book in advance from BFI Southbank ticket holders [subject to availability]. Sun 30 Oct | 20:30 | Upstairs at the Ritzy [see pp.4]
BOOKING: This is a free event following The Industry Forum is presented in the screening of The Revolution Won’t Be partnership with the British Council. Televised [pp.11]
26 FAMILY ACTIVITIES FILM AFRICA 2016@FilmAfrica ARTWORK COMPETITION/FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
The Film Africa 2016 Artwork Competition let our fans on Facebook pick the front cover artwork for our brochure. The shortlist was selected by a jury of industry experts - artistic director of The October Gallery, Elisabeth Lalouschek, and winner of the 2015 competiton, Daniela Yohannes. Sincerest thanks to all that applied and well done to our three shortlisted artists! THE WINNER Kwesi Abbensetts is a New York based photographer and visual artist who hails THE RUNNERS-UP from South America off the FILM AFRICA FAMILY DAY FREE KIDS’ SHORTS WITH STORYBOAT Corentyne coast of Guyana. 90mins. Suitable for age 6+ Join Film Africa for a fun day for the whole Kwesi is self-taught and started playing with family, including the ‘African Market Corner’ KANYEKANYE the medium of photography in 2006. His work from Open the Gate, featuring a range of Dir. Milks Manneke. has since matured, spanning portraiture, crafts, clothing and food stalls especially for South Africa. 2013. Zulu with English subtitles. fashion, art and experimental short films. kids. A range of free activities will take place Website www.spaceshipgeorge.com throughout the day, including drumming and MWANSA THE GREAT dance workshops, and African animal face Dir. Rungano Nyoni. painting! Zambia, UK, USA. 2011. RUNNERS-UP
Sat 5 Nov | 12:30-16:00 | Rich Mix Enjoy two beautiful shorts suitable for the whole family. Kanyekanye is a story about This will follow the Rich Mix Kids’ Cine acceptance - a young man from the green Time screening of Film Africa short films, side falls in love with a girl from the red side including storytelling from Storyboat [see of town. But can their love survive the colour next listing]. divide? And in Mwansa, an eight-year-old
Design by Leanne Armstrong boy aspires to be a hero and embarks upon www.LeanneCreative.com a journey to prove his greatness - with Leanne Armstrong is a Lea Daniel is a Saint unexpected consequences. graphic designer based in Petersburg-based self-taught London. She studied Graphic emerging artist. She has been Following both screenings, Wendy Shearer Design at the University of drawing for over a decade from Storyboat will bring the films to life Arts and holds a degree in and took part in HitRECord through storytelling. Dance and Media Cultural Studies. Leanne is projects. Lea has become part of online and inspired by modern urban culture. offline exhibitions, including contests. Sat 5 Nov | 11:00 | Rich Mix Website www.LeanneCreative.com Website www.lea-daniel.daportfolio.com Sun 6 Nov | 11:00 | Rich Mix 27 MEET THE 2016 FESTIVAL TEAM
RACHAEL LOUGHLAN ISABEL MOURA MENDES JACQUI NSIAH NAOMI RATHOD SHEILA RUIZ SILJA FREY FESTIVAL PRODUCER PROGRAMMER PROGRAMMER FESTIVAL COORDINATOR SHORTS PROGRAMMER SHORTS PROGRAMMER
Rachael Loughlan is a Isabel Moura Mendes is a Jacqueline Nsiah is a Naomi Rathod is currently Sheila Ruiz is currently Silja Frey is a consultant freelance film festival Portuguese Cape-Verdean cultural anthropologist, on the ICO’s FEDs Trainee Head of Programmes & and project manager consultant and project arts and cultural manager, freelance film festival Scheme with Film Africa. Operations at the Royal with 10 years’ experience manager. She has worked with strong practice in and arts & culture Her role as festival African Society, following working in-house, agency in the film industry for 10 international cultural consultant. She has eight coordinator is allowing five years as the Society’s side and freelance. She has years, providing strategic relations, artistic exchange years’ experience in the her to experience several Events Programme worked with filmmakers for support, event production, and African (& Lusophone) international film festival aspects of organising a film Manager. Prior to this, she the past couple of years, programming and venue film curation. She holds circuit, having worked in festival, while also exploring was Communications & with a focus on the creative management to a range of an MA in Arts & Cultural the UK, Ghana, Brazil and a new cinema. She studied Programming Consultant community from across the venues and film festivals, Management from Queen Germany in a variety of Film & Screen Studies for the Africa Centre and African continent. Silja has including Glasgow Film Margaret University in roles, and is the co-director and Psychology at Bath previously worked as a degrees in economics and Festival, TIFF and EIFF. Edinburgh, Scotland, where and curator of UHURU Spa University, and began freelance events producer advertising. She tweets Rachael has an MLitt she is based, and has been festival in Rio de Janeiro pursuing a career in film in for various community arts @Siljafrey in Film Journalism from programming for Film Africa and producer of Black Star 2015 through volunteering projects. She is of mixed University of Glasgow and since 2013. lFF in Accra. She recently at London Asian Film Spanish/Equato-Guinean has been producing Film joined the Mokolo project Festival. Naomi is of Indian heritage and bilingual in Africa since 2014. committee, a pan-African heritage and specialises in Spanish and English. She platform for African cinema. Indian cinema and dance. tweets at @SheilaRuiz 28 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
JOANNA BROWN AWRA TEWOLDE-BERHAN ROBIN STEEDMAN MAGDA ROTKO NELLIE ALSTON LADIS BAPORY SITÉ EDUCATION COORDINATOR MARKETING COORDINATOR & SUBMISSIONS ADVISOR PRINT TRAFFIC SUBMISSIONS ADVISOR GUEST LIAISON SUBMISSIONS ADVISOR COORDINATOR Joanna Brown is the Robin Steedman is a Nellie Alston is a keen A translator and interpreter Film Africa Education Awra Tewolde-Berhan is PhD candidate at SOAS, Magda Rotko has worked film enthusiast who has by training, Ladis B. Programme Co-ordinator. a writer and film blogger. University of London. for the Toronto International been working for the film Sité is an experienced After graduating in English She has worked at various Her research focuses Film Festival, Edinburgh distributor Verve Pictures communications and from Cambridge University, film festivals as a writer on understanding Film Festival and Glasgow since finishing the ICO’s PR consultant who has Joanna joined the BFI, and researcher, including film production in Film Festival. She holds FEDS scheme in 2015. supported both technical where she co-ordinated the UKIFF (London Iranian contemporary Kenya, an MA in Film Studies Her desire to watch and and creative teams special events. Now, after Film Festival). Exploring and more particularly on from the University College share undiscovered or internationally. Ladis has six years as a Primary her Eritrean heritage, she understanding why there London and MA Hispanic alternative films with also worked as a facilitator Teacher in Haringey is currently working on art- are so many prominent Studies from the University others has resulted in for corporate social specialising in Reading related community projects female filmmakers. Her of Glasgow. Originally from her programming for the responsibility and cultural Enrichment, she is building and as a freelance video project is grounded in Poland she’s now based in Barbican’s Chronic Youth projects in Equatorial an educational programme editor. Awra holds a BA in postcolonial feminist theory Scotland. Film Festival and now as Guinea, and is currently across the Royal African English and Film from the and incorporates textual a submissions adviser for a member of the Spanish Society, starting with school University of Portsmouth. film analysis alongside Film Africa. interpreters team within the programmes for Africa contextual analysis. African Union. He tweets Writes and Film Africa. @Ladislao_BSite
29 INDEX
A K S Adama 24 Kalushi 6 Sarafina! 7 The Arbitration 10 Kanyekanye 25 Sea of Ash 20 Asmarina 8 Kati Kati 13 Shashamane 9 Aya Goes to the Beach 20 Kirikou and the Men and Women 24 Soweto, Times of Wrath 7 Stranded 21 C L A Stray 8 The Call of Trung 22 La Isla de Perejil 13 The CEO 10 Lazy Susan 23 T Children of the Mountain 12 Love, Hate & Ketchup 21 Those Who Jump 9 Condrong 12 To the Forest of Clouds 9 M D Mali Blues 11 U Dreamstates 19 Marabout 22 A United Kingdom 12 Monsoons Over the Moon Part 1 & 2 23 uNomalanga and the Witch 23 F Mother(s) 9 Felix 25 Mugabo 19 W Mwansa, the Great 25 The Wedding Ring 14 G My Name is Adil 8 White Colour Black 14 Gidi Blues, A Lagos Love Story 10 Wintry Spring 23 Gurumbé 18 N Wùlu 6 Naked Reality 19 H Nakom 13 Hissen Habré, A Chadian Tragedy 18 O I One Head Does Not Take Counsel 13 Ice-Cream 20 In the Last Days of the City 12 P I Still Do 21 The Pearl of Africa 18
J R JUS SOLI 19 Reluctantly Queer 18 The Revolution Won’t Be Televised 11 Roaring Abyss 11
30 @FilmAfrica /FilmAfricaUK filmafrica.org.uk
Ahmed Akasha Hello to Jason Isaacs Anna de Mutiis THANKS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jonah Albert Liz Harkman Corinne Orton Justine Atkinson Clare Harwood Andrew Papworth Film Africa 2016 has been made possible through the financial support and Negede Assefa Bee Heal Caitlin Pearson partnership of a host of institutions and organisations. Zeinab Badawi Sandrine Herbert-Razafinjato George Pearson Angelica Baschiera Andrew Hunt Andre Pienaar We take this opportunity to thank all our host venues, funders, supporters, sponsors Shushan Tewolde-Berhan Hakeem Kazeem Ryan Powell partners, as well as the many visiting directors, festival guests and other individuals Clare Binns Abel Kemal Endashaw Paul Ridd who have contributed to making the festival happen. A special thanks to our wonderful Lizelle Bisschoff Maria Klockare Rachel Robie team of volunteers. Paul Bowman Fadhili Maghiya Charlotte Saluard Lola Campbell Nico Marzano Wendy Shearer Nollywood Nights is presented by the UK African Film Festivals (Film Africa, Africa in Oliver Carruthers Tendeka Matatu Ingrid Sinclair Motion Film Festival, Afrika Eye, Watch Africa and the Cambridge African Film Festival). Liam Dickson Freddie Matthews David Somerset Part of the BFI BLACK STAR season. #BFIBLACKSTAR www.bfi.org.uk/black-star Roxy Engelman Jelena Milosavljevic Jenny Thorton Daniela Engler Sarah-Jane Meredith Laura Wilson The Royal African Society would also like to thank and acknowledge the following Silja Frey Laura Mills individuals for their generous support and commitment to Film Africa 2016: Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor Miles Morland 31 Curious about the RAS?
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