The 2012 installment of the Afrika Eye Film Festival in Bristol, UK, launches on Friday, November 9th, and will include in its lineup of film screenings, talks, and more, a celebration of 50 years of Jamaican independence.

The opening night film will be the sensational new film from Senegalese director Moussa Touré, La Pirogue.

Panel highlights include a discussion on how digital can help grow and cultivate audiences for cinema in Africa, which will include panellists Wanuri Kahiu, director of Pumzi, David Tosh Gitonga, director of Nairobi Half Life, John Mwangi, owner of Zenj Multimedia Communications, Bob Nyanja, director of The Rugged Priest, and others.

As always, I'll return to highlight any noteworthy films we have yet to cover.

But for more information (especially for those of you in Bristol) on the programme of films, talks and workshops, click HERE.

Afrika Eye Film Festival was founded in 2005 by Simon Bright and Ingrid Sinclair, both of whom began their careers in Zimbabwe, but moved to Bristol in 2003.