Film news from Rwanda
24-JAN-12
MARTIN CHEMHERE writes…Rwanda’s Kwetu Film Institute began its 2012 classes on 23 January following a one-week delay to accommodate completion of the filming of the current class project.
Zuku's first content sale
18-JAN-12
Zuku, the East African three-in-one service provider, today announced that it has completed its first major content sale. The deal sees Nigeria’s MyTV purchase over 70 hours of programming from three Kenyan production houses through Zuku.
Black premières in Namibia
09-JAN-12
As part of its monthly film series, African Perspectives, AfricAvenir Windhoek in cooperation with Studio 77 presents the Namibian premiere of the Senegal-France co-production, Black, by Pierre Laffargue.
Women filmmakers take centre stage
09-JAN-12
The 10th International Images Film Festival (IIFF) for Women, organised by the Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ), took place from 18 to 27 November in Harare. Chairperson of the main IIFF jury, Hans-Christian Mahnke, reports.
CTO helps bridge Africa’s digital divide
06-JAN-12
The 7th Annual Digital Broadcasting Switchover Forum 2012, organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), will take place from 22 to 24 February at the Protea Hotel Balalaika in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Zuku’s second-pay library movie deal
06-JAN-12
The three-in-one service package from Wananchi Group, Zuku, has entered a licensing agreement with NBCUniversal International Television Distribution for the pay-TV rights in the East Africa region to a broad selection of library feature films.
The agreement is part of the ongoing drive to increase the all inclusive entertainment offering from Zuku.
e-Gov Africa Forum
13-DEC-11
The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) is calling for the submission of papers and proposals for its upcoming e-Gov Africa Forum 2012, which takes place at the Grand Palm Hotel in Gaborone, Botswana from 5 to 7 March 2012.
Dubai world premiere for Sudanese doccy
12-DEC-11
Martin Chemhere writes…Our Beloved Sudan (Sudanna Al Habib) by Sudanese filmmaker Taghreed Elsanhouri had its world premiere on 9 December at the 8th Dubai International Film Festival, which runs until 14 December with the theme Bridging Cultures, Meeting Minds.
US award for Zim film
07-DEC-11
MARTIN CHEMHERE writes…The Gentleman has won an award for Best Director in the Best Narrative Feature category of the American International Film Festival (AIFF) 2011.
World premiere for Zim film
29-NOV-11
MARTIN CHEMHERE writes…Nyaminyami Amaji Abulozi (Nyaminyami and the Evil Eggs), a film by Zimbabwe’s Tsitsi Dangarembga, had its world premiere on 22 November in Harare.
Lola Kenya Screen calls for entries
23-JAN-12
Lola Kenya Screen, a Nairobi-based charity specialising in issues related to children, youth, mass media, culture and development, is calling for film submissions and skill-development participation for its 7th annual event which that takes place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 6 to 11 August.
Sudanese films to screen in US
12-JAN-12
MARTIN CHEMHERE writes…Sudanese director Taghreed Elsanhouri’s films Our Beloved Sudan and Sudan in Two have been selected to participate as video installations in the internationally acclaimed Lines of Control exhibition in Ithaca, New York.
1st African Student Film Festival
09-JAN-12
The first edition of the African Student Film Festival, scheduled for September this year in Lagos, Nigeria, is calling for submissions until 31 May.
The festival is a Nigerian initiative born out of deep concern for the future of the continent in order to protect Africa’s cultural values and also to promote them to the international world.
New socially conscious African film
09-JAN-12
A new documentary about divorce and human rights in Africa, will premiere mid 2012. Fasenaala (Unholy Vows),a one-hour documentary largely filmed in Senegal on a HD camera, will also feature previously shot footage from The Gambia.
Almond Tree branches out
06-JAN-12
A Rwandan production company ended last year on a high – with a short film and a workshop. Triumph wins over adversity in the Rwandan short film Whatever It Takes, which will be targeted at the international festival circuit in 2012.
ZBC gets funds for digital migration
13-DEC-11
BiztechAfrica reports that the Zimbabwean government has allocated US$5m to state broadcaster ZBC to facilitate the migration of its equipment from analogue to digital.
MTN joint venture in Uganda
13-DEC-11
American Tower Corporation and MTN Group Limited are to establish a new joint venture tower company in Uganda (ACT Uganda) which will acquire all of the existing tower sites from MTN Group’s operating subsidiary in Uganda (MTN Uganda), numbering approximately 1,000, for approximately $75m.
Discop Africa debuts European Pavilion in 2012
07-DEC-11
Basic Lead, the organisers of the DISCOP regional television content markets, has announced that it will subsidise and set-up a European Pavilion during the 2012 edition of DISCOP AFRICA, to take place at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 31 October to 2 November 2012.
Comedy Central to launch on DStv in sub-Saharan Africa
01-DEC-11
Comedy-themed entertainment brand Comedy Central will launch on MultiChoice’s DStv platform in 47 territories in sub-Saharan Africa on 6 December 2011.
Ghana street children learn film skills
22-NOV-11
MARTIN CHEMHERE writes…A Ghanaian initiative is bringing hope to previously disadvantaged youths through a film training programme that takes place each summer.
