Seven short films by up-coming young African filmmakers have been shortlisted for the 2nd annual Africa in Motion (AiM) short film competition.
The films come from across the continent, spanning fiction and documentary, including: a silent and visually stunning experimental from South Africa; a Tunisian love story set in an unlikely place; a passionate tale of courage in a Mozambique fishing village; a haunting South African tale of three friends harbouring a dark secret; a beautifully shot story about outsiders in a Moroccan village; a superbly acted story of a Rwandan friendship tested to its true limits; and a Malian exploration of freedom and independence.
The shortlist:
- A Rite of Passage, Paul Emmanuel, South Africa, 2008
- The Young Lady and the Teacher, Mohamed Nadif, Morocco, 2007
- Hidden Places (Fithla), Jamie Beron, South Africa, 2008
- A History of Independence, Daouda Coulibaly, Mali, 2009
- Borderline, Sonia Chamkhi, Tunisia, 2007
- Waramuteseho!, Auguste Bernard Kouemo Yanghu, Cameroon, 2009
- The Storm (Tempestade), Orlando Mesquita, Mozambique, 2008
All shortlisted films will be screened on Monday 25 October as part of the Africa in Motion Film Festival (22 Oct – 1 Nov), the UK’s largest African Film Festival, which takes place at the Filmhouse in Edinburgh. The winner will be announced at a special awards ceremony directly after the screenings and awarded £1,000 to help them with their filmmaking career. There will also be an Audience Choice Award, announced at the end of the festival.
The judging panel will consist of acclaimed Algerian filmmaker and director of The Yellow House, Amor Hakkar; filmmaker, journalist and regular on BBC 2’s The Culture Show, Zina Saro-Wiwa; Director of the Scottish Documentary Institute, Noe Mendelle; and respected film critic, writer and producer Mark Cousins.
Jury member Mark Cousins says of the competition:
“Short films are the spurts of life, the new shoots, of the film world. It is great that Africa in Motion is focusing on them. That’s where the discovery and vitality is. The short film competition, and its considerable prize, is a brilliant way of putting the festival’s money where its mouth is, and giving a fillip to the zingy and daring new African directors. I am delighted to be part of it.”
For full programme details please visit www.africa-in-motion.org.uk
