African cinema celebrated

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African cinema celebrated --

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 11:31

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Film Africa, London s annual celebration of African cinema, returns for a third year with a line-up of over 60 films from across the continent screening at six major venues across London from 1 to 10 November.

The event launches with the controversial new film, Of Good Report, from South African director Jahmil X.T. Qubeka. Briefly banned from showing at the Durban International Film Festival on account of its provocative, Lolita-inspired subject matter, Of Good Report is a thrilling, devilishly comic and supremely assured work from one of Africa s most exciting up-and-coming filmmakers.

Film Africa 2013 also includes a new strand, 3 x 3, featuring three films from major names in African cinema. It will profile the work of Chadian director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, who has cemented his reputation as one of the most respected auteurs in world cinema in the last two decades. His latest film, the charming and consistently surprising Grisgris (the Closing Night film), will be screened alongside two of his other major works, Dry Season and A Screaming Man.

Other directors featured in the 3 x 3 strand are award-winning Franco-Senegalese visionary Alain Gomis, who will present all three of his feature films in person; and the supremely talented experimental filmmaker and actor Mati Diop, niece of legendary Senegalese director Djibril Diop Mambety, whose film Touki Bouki, we are also screening in celebration of its 40 year anniversary.

On 5 November, Film Africa presents Bonfires and Revolutions: an evening of politics and protest in African cinema. It will screen a programme of films exploring the legacy and impact of revolutions and social change across the continent, including the astonishing documentary Babylon by a trio of first-time directors from Tunisia, and which follows the refugee crisis in Libya. Among other highlights, this special programme also includes Something Necessary, Kenyan director Judy Kibinge s powerful and sensitively observed film about the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007.

Organised by the Royal African Society, the UK s prime Africa organisation, Film Africa 2013 will also feature a vibrant programme of live events including music performances, directorial masterclasses and intimate Q&As with directors and other FREE special events for families and young people.

Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society says: The Royal African Society (RAS) is delighted to bring you Film Africa 2013. The films in this year s festival continue to reveal new images of Africa wealthy, global and dynamic; still full of challenges, but brimming with confidence. These films go beneath the surface of the headlines to tell stories of ordinary and extraordinary life in Africa.

Film Africa 2013 also celebrates Nigeria s vibrant film industry with Coming of age: Celebrating 21 years of Nollywood, featuring special full length screenings of classics Living in Bondage and Osuofia in London. The festival will also feature an industry forum on The Business of Film in Africa.

Visiting filmmakers include: Jahmil X.T. Qubeka, Alain Gomis, Jean-Pierre Bekolo, Judy Kibinge, Dimeji Ajibola, Sami Tlili, Pierre-Emmanuel Urcun, Pieter van der Houwen, Mensa Ansah (of FOKN Bois), Harry Freeland, Katrine Kjaer and Michael Adeyemi.

For more information visit www.filmafrica.org.uk

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