From left to right: Paul Egan (Film Producer), Meg Reckards (Film Director) and David Africa (South African commentator on South African politics). Photography: Shameela Beeloo.
Monday at the Arts Picturehouse hosted the film screening of ‘1994: The Bloody Miracle‘, about the year of the South African elections in which Mandela became the president of a new free South Africa. The Q&A was as fascinating as the documentary film, where there is a challenge of the myth that the transition to freedom was a peaceful one. This screening was part of the South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour, and a first great session with the filmmakers in a tour marking the 20th anniversary of post-apartheid South Africa.
Cambridge African Film Festival, in collaboration with the four other African film festivals in the UK - Film Africa in London, Afrika Eye in Bristol, Watch-Africa in Wales, and Africa in Motion in Scotland - are organising a UK-wide tour to take the best of South African cinema to locations across the UK from Oct 2014 to Feb 2015, in celebration of 20 years of democracy and freedom. The tour is supported by the British Film Institute’s Programming Development Fund, awarding funds from The National Lottery. The tour is organised as part of the South African Season in the United Kingdom 2014 & 2015. The SA-UK Seasons is a partnership between the Department of Arts and Culture, South Africa, and the British Council.
FESTIVAL CONTINUES ON TUESDAY WITH THE FIRST FREE EVENT AT TRINITY COLLEGE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUMANITARIAN CENTRE AND THE FRENCH SOCIETY AT TRINITY COLLEGE: SHORT FILMS & PANEL DISCUSSION ‘VISIONS TO BE HEARD: EMPOWERING YOUNG AFRICANS THROUGH FILM’
Mainstream media portrayals of Africa have tended to forge a limited perception of this very diverse continent. This perception is largely the result of narratives emerging through the ‘Western eye’, because of the inequity of opportunities of production and distribution of films made in Africa by Africans. This selection of short films, made in a participatory manner, seeks to challenge these narratives, and give voice to those who have a right to be heard. Each of the projects featured, though in different locations, shares a commitment to empowering young Africans through film.
We are honored to present a variety of projects with Dominique Chadwick (Social Films, UK), Hugh James (The Accountability Film School, Liberia), Laurinda Luffman (Our Africa), Joshua McNamara (Slum Film Festival, Kenya), and Dr Tatiana Thieme (Story Yetu, Kenya).
It is a free event, but places are limited so online booking is strongly recommended.
