New York African Film Festival opens with award-winning film Tanna on opening night

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New York African Film Festival opens with award-winning film Tanna on opening night --

Tue, 03 May 2016 11:12

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Opening night of the 23rd New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) will shine the spotlight on an unknown corner of the African diaspora the South Pacific with an outstanding film, Tanna. Stars from the diaspora, including Jimmy Jean-Louis (Heroes and The Cursed Ones) and Maame Yaa Boafo (actress, An African City and New York, I Love You) will attend as well as filmmakers from around the world.

The month-long celebration of the best cinematic offerings from Africa diaspora. This year s theme is Modern Days, Ancient Nights: 50 Years of African Filmmaking, in reference to 2016 being the 50th anniversary of Ousmane Semb ne s La Noire De (Black Girl).

Throughout May, the NYAFF, presented by the Film Society of Lincoln Center (FSLC) and African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) will screen 25 feature-length and 27 short films from 26 countries in Africa bringing another thrilling and multifaceted selection of African films from the continent and the diaspora to New York audiences. The initial leg of this year s festival runs from 4 to 10 May at FSLC and features a diverse crop of 15 features and 13 short films. The NYAFF continues throughout May at the Cinema at the Maysles Documentary Center and the Brooklyn Academy of Music s BAMcin matek.

This year s festival connects audiences with unexpected corners of the African Diaspora, including the South Pacific. Tanna, the astounding feature debut of Bentley Dean and Martin Butler and the first feature shot entirely in South Pacific nation Vanuatu, is an award-winning tour de force. Based on a true story and featuring members of the Yakel tribe in their acting debuts, it follows young lovers who break off an arranged marriage designed to bring peace to two warring tribes. The film is the winner of the Pietro Barzisa Audience Award at the Venice Film Festival s Critics Week.

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