New location Africa in the Picture

The most swinging African film festival in Europe with recent movies, short films, documentaries and debates. This year’s central topic: Leadership.

AFRICA IN THE PICTURE FILM FESTIVAL

11th edition | September, 3 – 10th 2008
Main location:
Bioscoop Het Ketelhuis – Westergasfabriekterrein, Pazzanistraat 4 Amsterdam

Festivalfilms are also to be seen in: Amsterdam (No Limit)
Rotterdam (Lantaren/Venster), Den Haag (Filmhuis Den Haag),
Breda (Chassé Cinema), Nijmegen (LUX) en Den Bosch (Verkadefabriek)

From September 3 – 10th the eleventh edition of Africa in the Picture Film Festival takes place. Leadership is the central theme of the festival that shows more than 50 movies produced and made by directors from African origin. New location is Bioscoop Het Ketelhuis at the Westergasfabriekterrein in
Amsterdam.

Leadership, that’s what its all about in 2008. In the USA the first Afro-American president seems to be approaching and the African continent is also busy with elections. In some countries democratic elections still remain a Utopia and don’t seldom cause civil wars.
Reason for Africa in the Picture to shine a light on leadership all throughout the programme. With 50 icons from past and present on our posters!

FANGAFRIKA by Staycalm! Productions looks at the role of rappers and dj’s on the role of the political process in Burkina Faso and in THE FIGHTING SPIRIT by George Amponsah young people from the Ghanese slums fight their way through boxing matches to a better future.

Opening movie this year is PANMAN, RHYTHM OF THE PALMS, the first independently produced movie from St. Martin. Steelpanplayer Harry Daniel discovers the negative side of his leadership, he wants to pass on his knowledge to the younger generation so badly that the is going to loose his family.
Another big movie this year is the beautifull TERRA SONAMBULA – SLEEPWALKING LAND by Teresa Prata. A magical realistic movie about the sensitive Muidinga in by war destroyed Mozambique. Muidinga finds a journal next to a body. It belongs to Farida who lives on an old ship at sea and is looking for her son. Muidinga is convinced that he is the lost son in the journal. Together with Tuahir, an old storyteller, he is trying to find his mother.

Besides the standard focus with recent productions from Africa and movies from Europe, North- and South America from directors of African origin, the festival also has some special events:

The Road to Obama
The first Afro-American president is on his way: Barack Obama! The whole world is in the spell of this charismatic future world leader, son of a Kenyan migrant. People believe in change again, that’s why we organise a campaign night with the Democrats Abroad Netherlands – in the Netherlands living American delegates and democrats – about the phenomenon Obama. With the special screening of the impressive documentary Chisholm ’72 by Shola Lynch, where the Afro-American teacher Shirley Chisholm, out of nowhere, in 1972 became one of the primaries for presidential election.

Gay Africa
In Africa homosexuality is still a big taboo, even severely punishable. Monday September the 8th an evening full of movies and debat about the struggles, the loves and the forced silence of black, coloured and Latin gays and lesbians.
The evening includes AFTER NINE (Sechaba Morojele), a groundbreaking miniseries from South Africa that kept millions of people hooked to their television with the secret love affair between China and the sexy Hector.

Angola in the Picture
After 16 years there will finally be parliamentary elections again in Angola on September 6th. The last elections led to a civil war that lasted 27 years. Special attention for Angola on the election day, with the classic SAMBIZANGA by Sarah Maldoror, the powerful film about the Angolese fight for freedom, which was only allowed to be shown in Angola after the Independence.

African Open Air
From August the 22nd Africa in the Picture organises free Open Air screenings in different city regions in Amsterdam. It starts August the 22nd at Bioscoop Het Ketelhuis, Westergasfabriekterrein with the movie LUMUMBA by Haitan director Raoul Peck. Check the website for other locations and movie descriptions.

Your Hood in the Picture
Because of the big success this year again Your Hood in the Picture, the filmbattle between the youth of the city regions. In cooperating with AT5 young people make a short film of their own hood, guided by professional filmmakers. The films will be shown at the African Open Air and at AT5.

With thanks to all our sponsors:
Gemeente Amsterdam DMO Kunstenplan 2005-2008 , Stichting DOEN, Hivos/NCDO Cultuurfonds, Filmfonds, SNS Reaal Fonds and other.

Publication date: 13-08-2008

News

Leadership in the sport

New location Africa in the Picture

New location Africa in the Picture