Colours of the Nile International Film Festival Launches Monday 24 March 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014Omoba
48 African films from around the continent will be
highlighted during the festival, which runs from 24 – 31 March 2014.
The second edition of Colours of the Nile
International Film Festival (CONIFF) launches on Monday 24 March 2014
highlighting 48 African film offerings from around the continent, all of which
will be African, East African or Ethiopian premieres from African directors or
producers. There will be competitive categories for features, documentaries and
short films, with ten awards being given out, including The Great Nile Award for
Best Feature Film Director.
The feature selection of 11 films spans a number of
debut features: Chika Anadu’s B for Boy, Kenneth Gyang’s Confusion Na Wa,
Soussaba Cisse’s Rumours of War, David Tosh Gitonga’s Narobi Half Life, Shams
Bhanji’s Zamora: to the more established names of Lincino Azavedo’s Virgin
Margarida; Moussa Toure’s La Pirogue; Ntshaveheni Wa Luruli (Elelwani) and Judy
Kibinge’s Something Necessary. The list is completed with the Second feature
from Ethiopian Director Yidnekachew Shumete, Nishan.
“The festival provides an opportunity to showcase
some of the latest films by African filmmakers in its competition sections and
to introduce audiences also to older films that they may not have had the
opportunity to see, out of competition, including a country focus this year
inviting the audience to look back at some of the films from the post-apartheid
South Africa, a country which has had a very unique journey of renewal” says
June Givanni, the artistic director of the festival.
The line-up of seven impressive documentaries in
competition includes both of the filmswhich are from North Africa in this festival:
Bout de Vie: Bout de Reve (Algeria/France) and Boxing with Her (Tunisia)
presenting unusual and radical perspectives of the world. All of The films in this section were made in
the last two years. Here again, established names of Jean Marie Teno (Leaf in
The Wind), William Mbye (President Dia): rub shoulders with the rising stars
such as Mati Diop; Lovinsa Kavuma; and Shannon Walsh&Arya Lalloo (Jeppe on
a Friday).
The short films competition contains 14 films which
were all made in the last 12 months and which provide a kaleidoscopic vision of
images, sounds and stories of the continent that will provide audiences with a
real treat. The section included five
films which have resulted from the Focus Features Africa First Short Film
Programme, Twagga,Security, Adamt, Kwaku Ananse, and Berea. The range of genres
and styles attest to the fact that the skills and ambitions of young filmmakers
remain as varied and ambitious powered with a Renaissance vision and spirit.
In its country focus section dedicated fully to
South African cinema this year, CONIFF programmed a tribute to Nelson Mandela –
Madiba, the Great Man of Peace who has marked humanity. Nelson Mandela: “The
Struggle Is My Life” by the ANC member Lionel Ngakane will be one of the films
to be screened in this section. Oliver Schmitz’s Hijack Stories and Mapantusla,
Zola Maseko’s Drum and Madoda Ncayiyana’s Izulu Lami are the other films
screened in the South African focus together with a documentary by David
Forbes, The Cradock four.
The non-competitive section of the festival “Best
of the Rest” includes a retrospective of
the works of Newton Aduaka and an important ‘Mockumentary’ by Cameroun
DirectorJean-Pierre Bekolo that sets a challenge to spirit of Renaissance (The
President). The feature Kinshasa Kids by Marc-Henri Wajnberg and three engaging
documentaries Creativity in Exile: Joy
its Nina; and Messages by Music that are linked in their expressions of
migration and PanAfricanism, complete the out of competition section.
“Our selection captures the shifting paradigm in
African cinema that is brought forward by extremely talented young African
filmmakers. At the same time the festival upholds and celebrates the
extraordinary work of established names of African cinema. This flavour opens a
new window to dive into the captivating yet unexplored world of African cinema”
says Abraham Haile Biru, CONIFF’s founder and president.
Oliver Smitz’s film Life above All will open the
festival.
The 2nd Edition of Colours of the Nile
International Film Festival is organized by Blue Nile Film and Television
Academy in partnership with the Ethiopian Filmmakers Association. The festival is made possible with the
generous support of the European Union, Institut Francais, UNESCO, Organisation
Internationale de la Francophonie, Alliance Ethio-française d'Addis-Abeba,
Embassy of the Republic of France in Addis Ababa, Embassy of the Republic of
France in Kenya, The Italian Cultural Institute, Timret Lehiwot Ethiopia,
W/Loul Travel and Tour, Reporter News Paper, KETA Printers Plc and Leyu Design.
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