Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

African Cinema Shines in the 4 Annual New York African Diaspora International Film Festival

01/11/2016

1 November, 2016 - 08:12

The African Diaspora International Film Festival is back for its 24th edition from Nov. 25 to Dec 11 with a total of 66 films from 30 countries including 34 US and NY Premieres.

Screenings will be held in three venues in Manhattan: Teachers College, Columbia University, Cinepolis Chelsea Cinemas and MIST Harlem.

The past 25 years have been fruitful for African films in the United States. We moved from the films by Ousmane Semb ne to those by Tunde Kelani, Moussa Tour , Souleymane Ciss , Abdoulaye Ascofar , Khady Sylla, Ana Ramos Lisboa and many more. African films are part of the cultural landscape of America today and are no longer obscure films. In fact, it would not be too inaccurate to say that some African films have succeeded in having better Box Office results in the USA than many non-African specialty films.

ADIFF 2016 is loyal to the festival tradition of bringing to New York quality African cinema. This year, a total of 21 African films - including 11 US and New York premieres - will be featured in the festival. They are films from Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Malawi and Egypt together with co-productions from Belgium/Morocco, France/Kenya, USA/Ghana, Mali/Germany and Senegal/Switzerland.

SPOTLIGHT ON NIGERIAN CINEMA

Straight from TIFF, a selection of Nigerian films that represent a departure from the familiar is showcased in ADIFF 2016. Featuring films with bigger budgets, strong acting, a firm direction and interesting topics, the Spotlight on Nigerian Films is one of the highlights of ADIFF 2016.

In 93 Days by Steve Gukas, Danny Glover leads a team of doctors fighting a potential Ebola outbreak in Nigeria. In historic drama 76 by Izu Ojukwu the pregnant wife of a young soldier accused of complicity in the abortive coup of 1976 helps him prove his innocence. The Arbitration, the latest film directed by box-office sensation Niyi Akinmolayan, is a bold and whip-smart courtroom drama that presents a cautionary tale of lust, betrayal, and corporate ambition. In Taxi Driver (Oko Ashewo), a dark comedy thriller directed by Daniel Oriahi, a small-town mechanic turned chauffeur for the mob gets caught up in the troubles of a beautiful sex worker. TIFF describes Taxi Driver as a Scorsese-meets-Nollywood crime comedy that transforms the fast-paced and vibrant city of Lagos into an expressionistic film noir metropolis.

DAVID DONTOH, A SEASONED GHANEAN ACTOR

David Dontoh has been in front of the cameras for quite some time in the Ghanaian film industry and beyond. His experience is rich and his advocacy for the improvement of the image of Africa in films is significant. The acting power of Mr. Dontoh is showcased in four films in ADIFF 2016 Kukurantumi, The Road to Accra, No Time to Die both directed by King Ampaw, Silent Moment by Kopi Rana and Like Cotton Twines by Leila Djansi. Mr. Dontoh will attend ADIFF to present these films and participate in a round table about African Cinema in the United States.

BURKINA FASO, EGYPT, MALAWI AND MORE

Burkina Faso, home to FESPACO, is a country that has produced a good number of important films. Cell 512 by Missa Hebi is a story depicting the conditions in the prison and justice system in that country. Presenting a strong social commentary, Mr. Hebi is loyal to his style of providing a direct analysis of his native Burkina Faso.

Based today in Sweden, Burkinabe filmmaker Danni Kouyat (Sia, the Dream of the Python, Keita: The Heritage of the Griot) tells us a story of family, identity dilemmas and Hip Hop. Fresh and very creative, While We Live illustrates the large diversity of sources and inspirations that feed African films today.

Egyptian filmmaker Khaled El Hagar comes back to ADIFF 2016 with Sins of the Flesh, a strong drama about love, betrayal and adultery with the Spring Revolution in the background. Mr. El Hagar is one of the daring Egyptians filmmakers whose work confronts heads-on the taboos of their society.

In Rebel / Insoumise by Jawad Rhalib, Laila is a young IT professional whose political activities force her to leave her native Morocco for a while. As she gets used to working in the fields of Belgium as a seasonal worker, she rebels against the working condition of the migrant workers in the farm. Rebel / Insoumise deals with issues of immigration, social unrest in Europe and Africa, the place of women in both societies and racial relations in Europe.

Malawi does not have a film industry. However, a number of creative filmmakers from this small country in East Africa have decided to make films and put the country on the map in more ways than one. Two films from Malawi in ADIFF 2016, Seasons of a Life by C. Shemu Joyah and Mercy's blessing by May Taherzadeh, are among the pleasant surprises of the festival. Seasons of a Life is a story of family ties, love and a society in transition and women's rights. Mercy's blessing tells us the story of Mercy and her desire to move out of poverty.

Fatoumata Diawara is a major singer in her native Mali, Europe and North America. In Mali Blues by Lutz Gregor, the camera follows her and a group of artists to the Niger Music Festival. In between musical performances, one is exposed to the impact of Islamic extremists in Mali and the role of the artists in the combat for freedom in that country.

Four bucket drummers from the Chicago South Side travel to Senegal and the cultural shock is major. Walk All Night: A Drum Beat Journey by Mallory Sohmer and Kate Benzschawel is one of those documentaries that keep the viewer thinking about the importance of getting to know other cultures and the need to build awareness concerning the understanding of the Africa and its Diaspora. Walk All Night: A Drum Beat Journey is presented with Youssou Ndour: Return to Goree a film about the connection between Africa and the African-American
LINK: http://www.filmcontact.com/news/united-states/african-cinema-shines-24...
See more stories from filmcontact

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

04/08/2026

Dalet Announces Commercial Availability of Dalia, Bringing Media-Aware Agentic AI to Enterprise Productions

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

04/07/2026

Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in Dolby Cinemas Across Japan, Presented in Dolby Atmos and Dolby ...

April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

27/05/2026

Telestream Appoints Benjamin Desbois as CEO, Effective July 1

Telestream has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Benjamin Desbois as Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2026. Desbois, currently Teles...

27/05/2026

FOX MLB Leads Live-Event Categories; ESPN Is Tops Overall at 47th Annual Sports Emmy Awards

ESPN garnered 10 awards; NBC's Sunday Night Football received the Outstandin...

27/05/2026

Matrox Video Marks 50th Anniversary, Announces New Product Launch for June

Matrox Video is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of operations from its headquarters in Montreal, Canada. Founded in 1976, the company has...

27/05/2026

MLB Announces Fan Engagement Initiatives for Americas 250th Anniversary

Major League Baseball has announced a series of initiatives tied to America's Semiquincentennial, including a national marketing campaign, Fourth of July br...

27/05/2026

Advanced Systems Group Hires Brian Gross as Account Manager for Audio Team

Advanced Systems Group (ASG) has announced that Brian Gross has joined the company as an Account Manager on its Audio team, based in the Burbank office. He will...

27/05/2026

Nielsen Research: Hispanic Fans, Asian Markets Drive Global Soccer Audience Ahead of World Cup 2026

Nielsen has released new research on soccer fandom ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2...

27/05/2026

ESL FACEIT Group Debuts First Ever Esports Vertical Stream Co-Developed With TikTok

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has unveiled a new partnership with TikTok to bring broad...

27/05/2026

Two Weeks Away: FIFA Outlines Production Plans for Highly Anticipated North American-Based World Cup

FIFA's Oscar Sanchez gives a deeper look to how this tournament will be cove...

27/05/2026

SVG Students To Watch: Maggie Lynn, Virginia Tech

The soon-to-be senior from Charlottesville is building her skills in replay, TD, and even creative content for HokieVision and its ACC Network productions In t...

27/05/2026

A Global Festival of Football: FOX Sports Illustrates Strategy to Bring Every FIFA Mens World Cup Match to the U.S. Audience

FOX Sports' Mike Davies breaks down the vision for this summer's showcas...

27/05/2026

Top-Tier Storytelling: Host Broadcast Services Works at Capturing the Atmosphere of the FIFA Mens World Cup

HBS's Paul King, FIFA's Oscar Sanchez preview how the masses at home wil...

27/05/2026

Matt Gangl & Pete Macheska on FOX MLBs Huge Night and an Unforgettable Postseason Run

FOX's MLB coverage dominated the night at the 47th Annual Sports Emmy Awards...

27/05/2026

FOXs Mike Davies and Team on Outstanding Technical Team Win for 2025 World Series

One of the most memorable Postseasons in baseball history would have had no memo...

27/05/2026

NBC Sports Rob Hyland Reflects on an Unforgettable Sunday Night Football Season

NBC's Sunday Night Football is among the most decorated and most watched programs in the history of television. It added to its jam-packed trophy case on Tu...

27/05/2026

Prime Videos John Ward and Mike Francis on Groundbreaking NBA on Prime Video Studio

The 2026 Sports Emmys marked a watershed moment for Prime Video Sports. After bu...

27/05/2026

Countdown to FIFA World Cup 2026: SVG Launches SportsTechLive Blog in Lead-up to Winter Games

With the Opening Match just over two weeks away, the entire sports-production-te...

27/05/2026

Spotify Brings Long-Form Magazine Articles to Audio

Spotify already brings together listeners' favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks in one place. Now, we're trialing a new format that expands the cont...

27/05/2026

Podcast Clips Make Your Favorite Moments Easier to Save and Share

The best podcast moments deserve more than just a mental note. That's why today, we're making those moments easier to save and share with clips. Whethe...

27/05/2026

Spotify and Netflix Partner With Jay Shetty to Bring On Purpose' to Video Across Both Platforms

On Purpose is one of the most popular podcasts in the world, known for conversat...

27/05/2026

Olivia Rodrigo Brings Billions Club Live to Barcelona: Watch the Concert Film Now

On May 8, 1,500 of Olivia Rodrigo's top fans gathered in Barcelona's Tea...

27/05/2026

JZ Microphones announce the MU-1

Hybrid design combines large-diaphragm capsule & ribbon JZ Microphones have teamed up with Grammy-winning producer and engineer Marc Urselli to develop a ne...

27/05/2026

Tape Effects Collection from AIR Music Tech

Three new plug-ins inspired by classic tape effects AIR Music Tech's latest release delivers a set of plug-ins that aim to capture the character, moveme...

27/05/2026

The Crow Hill Company's Absurdly Quiet Piano goes Pro

Piano played on the edge of silence The Crow Hill Company's Vaults collection offers a continual rotation of instruments that are given away for free fo...

27/05/2026

Arturia release Memory V

Recreates Moog's iconic Memorymoog polysynth Arturia's vast software instrument range offers a combination of new and old, with innovative modern so...

27/05/2026

Accentize introduce free dxLevel plug-in

Offers loudness levelling for speech and dialogue Accentize have built up a solid reputation with their audio-restoration tools, and their latest plug-in is...

27/05/2026

10,000 units strong - The Rohde & Schwarz R&S M3SR Radio 4400

10,000 units strong - The Rohde & Schwarz R&S M3SR Radio 4400 Rohde & Schwarz celebrates a major manufacturing milestone, producing its 10,000th R&S M3SR Radi...

27/05/2026

L3Harris Introduces the XL Converge 300P Portable Public Safety Radio

The XL Converge 300P radio system emerges with a groundbreaking feature set enhancing the mission-critical communications of public safety, federal and critica...

27/05/2026

Modernizing Public Safety Communications

Pairing Two47 MCX software with existing LTE networks means tailored system upgrades that can save time, money and lives....

27/05/2026

L3Harris Strengthens Global Solid Rocket Motor Supply Chain With New PAC-3 Propulsion Supplier

PAC-3 MSE offers improved range, speed, and maneuverability, making it an effect...

27/05/2026

Brightcove Adds New Features to Its AI Suite for Video Advertising

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/05/2026

Star Trek VFX: Recreating John Knoll's Iconic Warp Stars without a Slitscan Camera

Star Trek VFX: Recreating John Knoll's Iconic Warp Stars without a Slitscan ...

27/05/2026

Adventure World Uses Blackmagic Replay for Marine Live

Adventure World Uses Blackmagic Replay for Marine Live Brie Clayton May 27, 2026 0 Comments Large screen displays and slow motion replays dynamically ...

27/05/2026

Berklee Alumna and Assistant Professor Olivia Prez-Collellmir to Premiere Original Work at Gaud Centennial in Barcelona

Berklee Alumna and Assistant Professor Olivia P rez-Collellmir to Premiere Origi...

27/05/2026

Gravity Media Expands Into Creative Services With New Agency

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/05/2026

Tegna Names Patrick Paolini as CEO

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/05/2026

Telestream Taps Company Vet Benjamin Desbois as CEO

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/05/2026

HDR10+ Technologies to Launch Eclipsa Video Certification Program

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/05/2026

ATSC to Gather in Washington Next Week for Annual Meeting

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/05/2026

Telestream Appoints Benjamin Desbois as Chief Executive O...

Co-founder Dan Castles to transition to Executive Chair; internal promotion reinforces continuity and long-term growth Telestream, a global leader in media wor...

27/05/2026

Big Blue Marble Announces First End-to-End 5G Broadcast S...

Big Blue Marble today announced that its Nakolos platform is the first end-to-end 5G Broadcast solution worldwide to implement the complete feature set introduc...

27/05/2026

Lightware Continues Its ESG Commitment Through Girls Day...

Lightware recently hosted the Girls' Day event in April at its headquarters in Budapest, welcoming students for an interactive introduction to engineering a...

27/05/2026

VEON's Kyivstar and Uklon Launch Ukraine's First Live Testing of Autonomous Vehicle Technology

27 May 2026 VEON's Kyivstar and Uklon Launch Ukraine's First Live Testi...

26/05/2026

Matrox Video Marks 50 Year Milestone

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

26/05/2026

Roku Expands Premium Subscriptions With Fox One

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

26/05/2026

Brian Gross Joins ASG's Audio Team as Account Manager

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...