History of Africa in the picture

What started in 1987 as an African Cinema Retrospective has evolved into Europe?s biggest African film festival. Until the end of the eighties there were hardly any festivals showcasing African film. Since then, festivals were organised in France (Angers), Italy (Milan), Switzerland (Z?rich), and England (London) as well as in Amsterdam. At the Amsterdam festival, as it is referred to in Africa, the focus lies on new productions. Each year as many filmmakers as possible are invited. Their presence makes for very lively screenings. Above all, it is a stimulant for debate with the audience and among the filmmakers.

Over the years, Africa in the Picture has created a loyal audience. An audience that craves other images of Africa than those we see on the evening news. In the early years the audience mostly consisted of Dutch people, and African people living here. This changed in 1993 when the festival started showing a selection of films from the African diaspora. Since then, the Afro-Caribbean audience has also found its way to the festival. In 1995 the festival opened its doors to cinema from North-African countries, and with this, to the North-African communities of the Netherlands. This year all these communities are expected as well.

Since 2001 the festival has been made possible because of the inspired cooperation between Mari?t Bakker and Heidi Lobato, who scoured film festivals throughout the world for the best films from Africa and the African diaspora. Their contacts with the directors made each festival edition into a memorable showcase of the best of recent African (and African diaspora) cinema. After 18 years, Mariet Bakker hands the artistic torch of the festival to Heidi Lobato in 2005.

Africa in the Picture has definitely renewed itself. Not only will it, since 2005, be an annual event, but the festival and its films expand to the various city areas. This year not only in Amsterdam, but thanks to the success of foregoing years, also in other cities. Every year the festival sets a main theme which is not inspired only by social actualities but more importantly by African cinema. This year?s reframing tradition shows that African and African Diaspora cinema is moving intensely.