South Africa supports the Sahara International Film Festival (Fisahara)

This years festival will have a strong South African contingent with film makers, activists and representatives of the Ministry of Culture attending and running workshops. The SA delegation includes Mickey Madoda Dube, documentary producer whose work include Sobukwe, A Great Soul which will screened at the festival. Mr. Dube will also conduct a lecture on how the medium of film and cinema during the struggle against apartheid was used as an effective tool to beam images across the world of the oppression and suffering of black South Africans under the regime, gaining awareness. He will also give guidance on how they can use film as a communication tool to do the same for the situation of Western Sahara.

One South African film being screened is Mayibuye I Western Sahara, made by Milly Moabi and Bheki Sibiya, exploring the history of solidarity between South Africa and Western Sahara and drawing parallels between their respective struggles for freedom.

Milly Moabi said today: The screening at FiSahara will be closing a circle which began for me when I stayed in the refugee camps and experienced the hardship of the lives of the Sahrawi in 2011. I was inspired by their peaceful resilience. I was also inspired by the words of solidarity shared by former South African leaders Thabo Mbeki, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela for the Sahrawis freedom.

The FiSahara Film Festival is the most remote and remarkable film festival in the world. Now in its 10th year, it is a non-commercial, non-competitive festival, which takes place in a refugee camp in the Algerian desert. The film festival provides entertainment and educational opportunities to the refugees and a unique cultural celebration for visitors. Through the attendance and support of renowned people, the festival serves to raise awareness of the situation of the forgotten refugees, exiled from their native Western Sahara for over three decade.

The festivals programme has steadily expanded over the years and FiSahara 2013 boasts over 15 films from around the world. Many of the films reflect themes of hope and struggle but also include comedies, short films, animations and documentaries, some made by the refugees themselves.

The SA delegation will be accompanied by Mr Ruphus Matibe Director International Relations and Ms Thapi Segoati Deputy Director International Relations and a Political Secretary from South African Embassy in Algeria.

For more information, visit the DAC or Sahara International Film Festival website.

LINK:	http://nfvf.co.za/article/south-africa-supports-the-sahara-internation...
	See more stories from nfvf

Most recent headlines