NY African Film Festival 2011

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Parent Category: Film Festivals

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 31 March 2011 05:00

Written by L E Shannon

The 18th New York African Film Festival (NYAFF) runs April 2 - 6, 2011 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater in New York City.

2011 is the International Year of Peoples of African Descent, as declared by the United Nations. In celebration, the 18th edition of the New York African Film Festival presents a showcase of works that speak to the realities of Africa and the Diaspora.

The Opening Night film is Kinshasa Symphony, by Claus Wischmann and Martin Baer. The film follows the determined members of L'Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste (Kinshasa Symphony Orchestra) as they overcome coups, chaos and war to celebrate life through the power of music -- even crafting their own instruments. Armand Diangienda, conductor of the orchestra, will be present.

Other screenings include:

Africa United
dir. Debs Gardner-Paterson (Rwanda/UK)
Three Rwandan children try to achieve their lifelong dream of taking part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg.

An Uncommon Woman

dir. Abdoulaye Dao (Burkina Faso)
The chairwoman of a big company decides to take a second husband in a society where polyandry is an unknown practice.

Besouro
dir. João Daniel Tikhomiroff (Brazil)
In 1920s Bahia, legendary capoeira fighter Besouro leads an uprising of agricultural workers against their exploitative landowner.

Screening with

Ebony Goddess: Queen of Ilê Aiyê
dir. Carolina Moraes-Liu (USA/Brazil)
Three women compete to be carnival queen of an Afro-Brazilian group.

Bondo: A Journey Into Kono Womanhood
dir. Sunju Ahmadu (Sierra Leone)
The filmmaker reflects on her initiation into a women’s secret society. The director will be present.

Kongo: Grand Illusions
dir. Daniel Cattier
Through the use of animation and never-before-seen colonial footage, this documentary recounts the extraordinary history of Belgian Congo.

Screening with
Why Are They Here? Chinese Stories In Africa
dir. Yara Costa (Mozambique)
Poor Chinese immigrants struggle in Lesotho, Mozambique, and Ghana.  Director will be present.

Sierra Leone and Tanzania Celebrate Independence 1963–1977
Never-before-seen footage of African-Soviet relationships: Sierra Leonean parliamentarians meet exchange students in the USSR, Soviet delegates in Tanzania, Julius Nyerere, and more.

Stolen
dir. Violeta Ayala & Daniel Fallshaw
Filmmakers Ayala and Fallshaw uncover modern-day slavery in the Western Sahara while attempting to document family reunions, making for a documentary that plays like a thriller. Directors will be present.

The Witches of Gambaga
dir. Yaba Badoe
An intimate record and disturbing exposé of women condemned to live as witches in Northern Ghana, largely told by its subjects.

Thembi
dir. Jo Menell
A documentary about one-time NPR diarist Thembi, who captivated South Africa when she candidly documented her tragic struggle with HIV. Show producer Joe Richman will also introduce excerpts from Thembi’s broadcasts with photographs.

For more information, visit www.filmlinc.com/films/series/new-york-african-film-festival.

New York African Film Festival
April 2 - 6, 2011

Walter Reade Theater
The Film Society of Lincoln Center
165 W. 65th Street, Plaza Level
New York City

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