Event: Film Africa, London 30 October – 8 November 2015

By Africa in Words on 4 October , 2015 • ( 0 )

Film Africa 2015

London

30 October – 8 November 2015

The programme for Film Africa 2015 is now out! Running in cinemas and other venues across London from 30 October-8 November, the festival will show over 60 films from 26 African countries.

Now in its fifth year, the festival offers a diverse programme spanning feature films, documentary films, and shorts from across the African continent and the diaspora.

In the words of Rachael Loughlan, Film Africa Festival Producer:

‘Ayanda’

The programme includes several London, UK, European and World Premieres and we believe that there’s something for all tastes and moods. Stories of love, modern Africa and of diaspora communities; fun and inspiring femalecentric films; bold and daring experimental narratives; and socio-political commentaries on LGBTI rights, civil war and the human stories behind the migrant crisis that is gripping the headlines. This year we present two major strands: Lusophone Liberty: 40 Years On, celebrating 40 years of independence for Africa’s Portuguese-speaking nations, and From Africa, With Love, presented by the five UK African Film Festivals – Film Africa, Africa in Motion, Afrika Eye, Watch Africa and the Cambridge Africa Film Festival, part of the BFI Love Blockbuster Season. There is also a focus on new Ethiopian cinema and a celebration of sounds of the continent with our music strand.

‘The Hero’

Shorts are an important element of the programme and we’ll once again be showcasing emerging talent from the continent through the Baobab Award for Best Short Film. This year there are 12 shorts vying for the award from 10 different African countries. There’s also a spotlight on diaspora filmmakers in Without Borders: Shorts from the Diaspora.

‘Love the One You Love’

We are delighted to be hosting several visiting filmmakers from countries across Africa, including Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, South Africa, Angola and Algeria, as well as a wide range of guest speakers and panelists that will help to bring the screenings to life. Beyond the films, we once again bring you a range of special events, including live music, the Industry Forum, school screenings, and educational workshops. We look forward to seeing you at some screenings and events!

Some of the highlights from the festival:

The Lusophone Liberty series features seven films, from the 1992 classic The Blue Eyes of Yonta (Udju Azul di Yonta) to the UK premiere of Lantanda, which explores the Creole language of Guinea Bissau.

The From Africa, With Love series includes the London premiere of Breathe Umphefumlo, a Cape Town reworking of Puccini’s La Bohème, and Stories of our Lives, a collection of narratives from LGBTI Kenyans, which is followed by a panel on LGBTI rights in Africa led by internationally renowned activist Bisi Alimi.

‘The Price of Love’

The Ethiopia in Transition series includes Lamb, the first Ethiopian feature ever to be screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as The Price of Love, an off-beat romance about a young Addis Ababa taxi driver who gets caught up in the dark side of love, and Red Leaves, about an elderly Ethiopian emigrant in Israel.

The Music on Film series features two films which portray music as one of the foundations of personal and national identity, and as a weapon against subjugation, in They Will Have to Kill Us First and Beats of the Antonov; meanwhile I Shot Bi Kidude celebrates the life and work of Zanzibar’s indefatigable diva Bi Kidude, followed by a live performance of her songs by Zanzibari musicians; and Tango Negro explores the African roots of Tango music.

The Ousmane Sembéne double-bill at the British Library will show Sembéne!, a documentary about the great filmmaker, and Xala, his 1976 classic.

There are also a huge range of feature films, documentaries and shorts, including the animated film Adama, and feature films from South Africa, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco and Rwanda.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit the Film Africa website.