A wonderful idea, hot off the presses!
In a collaboration that was formed at FESPACO earlier this year, four African film festivals in the UK are partnering up to present a traveling tour of 4 new feature films by African filmmakers, in an initiative that seeks to showcase the variety in contemporary African cinema to as wide a UK-based audience as possible.
The 4 festivals are: Africa in Motion in Edinburgh/Glasgow, Afrika Eye in Bristol, the Cambridge African Film Festival and Film Africa, London.
And the 4 films that will launch this initiative – all films covered quite extensively on S&A over the last 12 months:
- From Kenya, Judy Kibinge Something Necessary, her drama about political violence in Kenya.
- From South Africa, Jahmil X.T. Qubeka’s Of Good Report.
- From Senegal, Alain Gomis’ Tey.
- And finally, also from Kenya, David “Tosh’’ Gitonga’s Nairobi Half Life.
The filmmakers will also be present for screenings of their films, for Q&As that will follow each one.
“The collaboration by these four African film festivals, taking place in Edinburgh, London, Bristol and Cambridge in October and November this year maximises our ability to showcase the best of African cinema and excite audiences with what’s available,” says Africa In Motion founder and curator Lizelle Bisschoff, speaking on behalf of the 4 festivals.
“Currently only 0.01% of cinema screenings in the UK show African films. But Africa is where story-telling first began and a new generation of Africans is finding exciting ways to bring this ancient talent to the screen via features and documentaries that thoroughly deserve the attention of UK cinema-goers,” added Zimbabwe-born filmmaker and co-director of the Afrika Eye festival, Simon Bright.
The tour begins with the Africa in Motion (AiM) Film Festival in Edinburgh and Glasgow (Oct 24-Nov 3), followed by Film Africa in London (Nov 1-10), then the Cambridge African Film Festival (Nov 3-7), and ending with Afrika Eye in Bristol (Nov 8-10).
So it’s kind of like the UK version of AFFRM.
Several other films will be screened as well, in addition to these 4 shared films.
The new initiative also hopes to inspire similar partnerships, as well as more Diaspora co-productions.
For more, visit each festival’s website below:
