It was glitz, glamour and tonnes of fun at the opening event of this year's Africa International Film Festival in Calabar, Cross River State. Participants knew they were in for a treat when they were received right at the airport by the First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs Obioma Liyel-Imoke.
A bright, welcoming smile on her face and with two children in tow, she exchanged pleasantries with guests as they were ushered aboard the yellow double-decker bus branded with the AFRIFF logo.
I will see you people later at the opening, she said, still smiling after ensuring that the last of the arrivals from Lagos had boarded the bus which then headed to Tinapa, where majority were lodged for the week-long festival.
True to her words, she was at the colourful opening ceremony held at the Cultural Centre where she again warmly welcomed participants and invited them to enjoy Calabar's sights and sounds.
Let me extend our unique African welcome to all guests and visitors converging from all over the world to experience the nation's paradise' and to be part of this awesome international film festival. Consider this a special invitation to you to please ensure that you tour the beautiful and unrivalled green and clean city of Calabar and take in the splendour of the ancient city, her heritage-an excellent expression of Africa's pristine beauty.
The Calabar cuisine is second to none in Africa and will keep you salivating throughout your stay. The aquatic splendour of the Marina Resort and the breathtaking scenic views of the Tinapa Business and Leisure resort among other iconic attractions and landmarks will indent in your memories the acronym Come, Live, And Be At Rest'
Worthy Ambassadors
Also speaking at the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was represented by the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke, commended the diverse gathering of filmmakers and artists for telling Africa's stories.
He said: It is proper to acknowledge and celebrate all of you who in your different and various roles have weaved together the story of Africa. Its trials, its triumph, its joy and strain that repositioned us in the comity of nations, and ensured that the western world see Africa truly in the light that is appropriate for us.
He, however, charged them not to relent in using movies to promote the culture and traditions of Africa and to continue growing the movie industry to give credence to those positive attributes of Africa, to those important values systems that we have overtime promoted and projected.
President Jonathan further told the gathering to disregard critics who claim that they produce works that don't edify Africa. Oftentimes, people criticize us and say that for some of our films, we spend time to look at tragedies and such stories that are not extremely celebrating Africa. But I dare say that at the end of each and every such story, there is always a bottom line of good triumphing over evil and that is the value system and the true story of Africa.
I believe that it is in the realization of this that the western world has today moved from the stories of the Dracula that we used to know to the Spider-Man of today; a force of justice and positivity over that of evil.
The Square
While South African film noire, Of Good Report' opened last year's festival, Egyptian Oscar nominated documentary and Emmy Award winner, The Square' was the curtain raiser this year. Produced by Jehane Noujaim, the movie charts the course of the 2011 peoples uprising in Egypt that is still simmering somewhat.
And like last year's opening film, The Square' generated debate amongst viewers and continued attracting comments throughout the duration of the festival. The film pays tribute to the hundreds of innocent protesters brutally murdered during the revolutions and to those who have continued to fight for freedom, justice and equality in the land of the pharaohs.
Tahir Square in the heart of Cairo is the film's major setting and it is here we first meet the protesting youths fed up with the tyrannical regime of Hosni Mubarak which had held the average Egyptian in terror for over 30 years. Lead character cum narrator is a young man simply known as Ahmed, who grew up witnessing the corruption and injustice all around him. Other acts are Egyptian star actor, Khalid Abdalla (star of the movie The Kite Runner), Magdy, Aida and Ramy Essam (the revolution's singer) who braved the dangers of being arrested, tortured and even assassinated by Mubarak's secret police, to revolt against tyranny and injustice.
They eventually achieve their objective in February 2011 when Mubarak stepped down. The joyful and emotional celebration of the Egyptians at the announcement of his resignation cannot be described. My homeland, you have my love and heart, one of the protesters crooned in delight but, sadly, the struggle was just beginning.
The Egyptian military and subsequently the Muslim Brotherhood who took over power from Mubarak were just as corrupt and more brutal than their predecessor. Essam and Magdy were among those severely tortured by the Army's Secret Police while narrator Ahmed also had brushes with the soldiers.
Noujaim, producer of Control Room', Startup.com' and Pangea Day' didn't fail to highlight how the youths took their struggle to social media and how it aided the uprising. The only downside to the documentary is its length which is however excusable considering the fact that the issue is an ongoing one with the director having to add to the original movie made in 2013. But most importantly, three years after the initial revolution, there is at last a semblance of peace in Egypt.
Galaxy of stars
A favourite event of filmmakers, artists and other industry professionals from Ni
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It was glitz, glamour and tonnes of fun at the opening event of this year's Africa International Film Festival in Calabar, Cross River State. Participants knew they were in for a treat when they were received right at the airport by the First Lady of Cross River State, Mrs Obioma Liyel-Imoke.
