Colours of the Nile International Film Festival calls for entries from across Africa
Tuesday, October 08, 2013Omoba
Colours of the Nile
International Film Festival (CNIFF) will take place from 5–9 February 2014 in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The East African festival is calling for
submissions from across Africa for feature-length and short fiction films, as
well as feature-length and short documentaries. The entry deadline is 15 November
2013.
“The inaugural edition
of CNIFF that took place in November 2012 was very successful," ”
says Abraham Haile Biru, president of CNIFF and an award-winning African
cinematographer. "The overwhelmingly positive response of the African
film community and audiences encouraged us to host the festival annually
instead of biennially as originally planned."
Film curator June
Givanni, who has worked with the British Film Institute, Toronto International
Film Festival and Focus Feature's Africa First, is the new festival director,
while CNIFF's competition section will be judged by an international
jury consisting of African filmmakers and leading industry professionals.
“The theme is Lenses
on Africa’s Renaissance,” says Abraham. "We want to get the
message across that cinema is a powerful medium for educating, inspiring,
promoting peace, and freedom of expression; all vital for the renaissance of
our continent.” The topic reinforces the theme of the 50th
anniversary of the OAU/AU and affirms the AU’s charter for African Cultural
Renaissance.
In out-of-competition
screenings, CNIFF will spotlight South African films in its Africa Special
Section and films from other continents in the World Cinema Corner. Abraham
says, “South Africa offers a good example in setting favourable policy and
framework conditions for the promotion of cinema. More and more films are
coming from South Africa, reaching wider African and international
audiences. This is definitely an experience other African countries can take
lessons from to revamp their film industries.”
In recognition of the
importance of training for the development of African cinema, the festival has
programmed a number of workshops addressing various filmmaking topics.
“I’m honoured to have
the chance to head a festival that is truly devoted to the promotion of Africa
cinema,” says Abraham. “We are working very hard to offer excellent
selections of films for our audiences and the opportunity of exchange and
networking for African filmmakers.” He emphasised that CNIFF will remain a
modern place for showcasing African cinema and a platform where filmmakers of
different generations meet.
For more information,
including rules, requirements and the official submission form, visit www.coloursofthenile.net.
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