Commemorating Genocide and Reconciliation: AfriDocs April

1 April, 2016 - 06:50

As South Africans, April 2016 sees a number of powerful dates of commemoration. The anniversary of South Africa's first democratic elections and the start of the TRC process both take place this month and AfriDocs invites all South Africans to continue the journey of reconciliation through understanding our history and taking part in the conversation.

This month AfriDocs focuses on the anniversaries of genocides and reconciliation processes that are commemorated in April. AfriDocs presents a range of award-winning films that document some of the most painful episodes of genocide, but also the various journeys of reconciliation from across Africa and the globe.

From the Truth and Reconciliation process in South Africa and a startling cinematic approach to genocide in Indonesia, to various personal stories of reconciliation in Rwanda and Mozambique, stories of both genocide and reconciliation are on your screen this April.

In the disturbing yet powerful Academy Award Nominated and BAFTA Award winning, The Act of Killing, filmmakers expose the horrifying mass executions of accused communists in Indonesia and those who are celebrated in their country for perpetrating the crime. The New York Times writes in their review: a dogged, inventive, profoundly upsetting and dismayingly funny documentary about the Indonesian massacres that began in 1965 and claimed, by some estimates, as many as 2.5 million lives over the next year.

Films this month also acknowledge the many journeys of reconciliation from across the continent. AfriDocs commemorates the 7th of April, the 22nd year anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide (acknowledged in Rwanda as Genocide Memorial Day) with screenings of My Neighbour My Killer and the Emmy Winner for Best Documentary, God Sleeps in Rwanda, a film thatfollows five courageous women as they rebuild their lives, and, in doing so, redefine womens roles in Rwandan society and bring hope to a wounded nation. Both moving documentaries share personal tales of reconciliation in a county torn apart by genocide and still on the journey of healing and forgiveness.

To commemorate the 15th of April, the anniversary of the start of Truth and Reconciliation Commission, South Africa's long road to reconciliation is explored through a diversity of films and approaches. Twenty years on from the TRC many wounds are still healing and the journey towards reconciliation is ongoing.

Rewind is an innovative documentary that is a mix of segments from the hearings, interviews, news archive footage, and extracts from the April 2008 Market Theatre performance of Philip Millers Rewind: a cantata for voice, tape, and testimony. The Unfolding of Sky is the story by Antjie Krog, the poet and journalist, and her personal first-hand reports on the hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

AfriDocs screens every THURSDAY at 19:55 Central African time (GMT + 2) on [ED] DStv Channel 190 & GOtv Channel 65 across sub-Saharan Africa. Repeats on Fridays and Sundays. For all film and scheduling information, visit www.Afridocs.net or www.facebook.com/AfriDocs.

7 April

My Neighbour, My Killer | Anne Aghion | Rwanda | 2009 | 80 min

The people of Rwanda attempt to reconcile after the genocide through an open process of admission and forgiveness.

Winner, Human Rights Watch Nestor Almendros Award, 2009

Best Documentary, Montreal Black Festival, 2010

God Sleeps in Rwanda | Kimberlee Acquaro, Stacy Sherman | Rwanda | 2005 | 28 min

The 1994 Rwandan Genocide left the country's nearly 70% female population an extraordinary burden and an unprecedented opportunity. The film follows five courageous women as they rebuild their lives, and, in doing so, redefine womens roles in Rwandan society and bring hope to a wounded nation.

Emmy Winner for Best Documentary & Nominated for Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject, 2006

14 April

Rewind | | Liza Key | 2009 | South Africa | 54min

In 2006 South African composer Philip Miller created a cantata to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the hearings held by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This documentary is a mix of segments from the hearings, interviews, news archive footage, and extracts from the April 2008 Market Theatre performance of Philip Millers Rewind: a cantata for voice, tape, and testimony.

South African Film and Television Award for Documentary Feature, 2010

The Unfolding of Sky | Antjie Krog, Ronelle Loots | 1998 | South Africa | 26 min

A poet and journalist who has reported on the hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission shares her journey into South Africas heart of darkness, and is shown the gradual light of freedom.

From the Ashes | Karen Boswall | 1999 | Mozambique | 26 min

This film gives us a window onto the traditional approach to reconciliation in Mozambique following the sixteen-year civil war which ended in 1992.

21 April

The Act of Killing | Joshua Oppenheimer | 2014 | Indonesia | 115 min

This powerful documentary challenges former Indonesian death-squad leaders to reenact their mass-killings in which ever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers. The film was described by the New York Times as dogged, inventive, profoundly upsetting and dismayingly funny documentary about the Indonesian massacres that began in 1965 and claimed, by some estimates, as many as 2.5 million lives over the next year.

Best Documentary, European Films Award, 2013

Grand Prize, Sheffield Documentary Festival, 2013

28 April 2016

Dear Mandela | Dara Kell & Christopher Nizza | 2011 | South Africa| 93 min

When their shantytowns are threatened with mass eviction, three young lions' of South Africa's new generation rise from the shacks and take their government to the highest court in the land, putting the promises of dem

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