Of the 35 countries contributing films to The New York African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF), taking place from 29 November to 15 December, a large contingent consist of filmmakers from Africa and the African Diaspora.
The festival celebrates the life experiences, culture and diversity of people of African descent all over the world across a number of film genres including documentary, musical, independent and foreign films.
Featuring pioneering films with unique African Diaspora artistic styles and craft that may otherwise never reach commercial audiences, ADIFF offers a platform for African and directors of African descent to present films through contemporary world cinema.
During ADIFF’s 21st edition, 73 films will screen in four venues, including the following African film highlights:
New African Cinema
Emerging African filmmakers are presenting stories that speak to topical issues such as corruption, social discriminations, history and religious agendas within a society, in an engaging and original style.
Legends of Madagascar, directed by Haminiaina Ratovoarivony, features the story of a young man who must return home to his village to see his dying father. Throughout the journey the story exposes themes of racial tension, military corruption, and the preservation of tradition in an advancing economy.
Ethiopian film, Nishan, features the ambitions of a young Ethiopian businesswoman who encounters obstacles when she tries to move abroad. Preserving her independence and protecting her family are challenges she must face in an effort to emigrate. The film is director Yidnekachew Shumete Desalegn’s debut.
Three young Islamists kidnap a group of actors who are about to tour with their latest show in Mohcine Besri’s Moroccan film, The Miscreants. When the kidnappers are cut off from their base, the two sides are forced to live together for seven days where mutual prejudices are confronted.
African-American Collaborations
Several films in the ADIFF line-up reflect the collaboration between African-Americans and Africans, such as Raltat, directed by African-American filmmaker Al Robbins.
Shot in Casablanca, Morocco and Washington DC, the film portrays a case of mistaken identity when a Moroccan woman is accused of being the wife of the lead terrorist in the September 11 attacks.
Hollywood and Nollywood collaborate in Doctor Bello, directed by by Tony Abulu and starring renowned actors Isaiah Washington and Vivica A. Fox. The movie follows the life of cancer specialist Dr Michael Durant who seeks the support of Dr Bello, a Nigerian traditional doctor.
Documentaries
In Tango Negro, African Roots of Tango by Angolan filmmaker Dom Pedro, the contribution of African cultures in the creation of the tango is explored. The film features musical performances and interviews from tango fans and historians including Argentinean pianist Juan Carlos Caceres.
The Egyptian Jewish community is featured in Amir Ramses’ documentary, Jews of Egypt, which attempts to understand identity changes within Egyptian society that transitioned from having tolerance and acceptance of one another to a society that discriminates.
Visit http://nyadiff.org/ for more information.
