African Film Festivals Around The World
USA / CANADA
AFRICAN DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL - NEW YORK
An eclectic mix of over 60 foreign, independent, urban and classic films that depict the global Black experience.
Co-directors: Dr. Reinaldo Barroso-Spech and Diarah N'Daw-Spech
Address: ArtMattan Productions, 535 Cathedral Parkway, Suite 14, NY, NY 10025
Tel.: 212.864.1760
Web site: www.nyadff.org
Festival time: November-December
AFRICAN WORLD FILM FESTIVAL - GEORGIA
"Defining the image of an African world reconciling its past and preparing its future." The African World Film Festival brings films and filmmakers from all parts of the African world to screen their films before the Fort Valley community, sharing ideas about identity, representation, and other issues pertinent to the African world community.
Executive director: Dr. Mwalimu J. Shujaa
Address; Fort Valley State University, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, Georgia 31030-4313
Tel.: 478.825.6056
Web site: www.fvsu.edu/aws/film_festival.asp
Festival time: January/February
BLACK HARVEST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - CHICAGO
A major black film festival in the United States, Black Harvest celebrates the spirit of black filmmaking worldwide with over 20 features, shorts and documentaries by emerging and established talents in black film today.
Web site: www.thirdcoastmarketing.com/BlackHarvest03.html
Festival time: August
CASCADE FESTIVAL OF AFRICAN FILMS - PORTLAND, OREGON
"Africa through African lenses." This 5-week long festival brings Portlanders together to celebrate the richness, complexity and diversity of African peoples and cultures through film and to discuss issues of personal and global significance. The festival showcases 18-20 feature and documentary films from the African continent. Highlights include visiting filmmakers, guest speakers, after-film discussions, Women Filmmakers Week, Family Film Day, and Diaspora Film Night. The festival's extensive African Video Collection is housed in the Portland Community College Library. The festival is organized and run by volunteers and is offered to the public free of charge.
Address: SC 211, Cascade Campus, Portland Community College, P.O. Box 19000, Portland, Oregon 97280-0990
Tel.: 503.244.6111, ext. 3630
Web site: www.africanfilmfestival.org
Festival time: February-March
DENVER PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
Bi-annual (as of 2004) showcase of independent and mainstream films from the international Black experience, including guest presenters, independent filmmakers, workshops, panels, parties and educational youth fest. The 7-day DPAFF will present approximately 60 films and related events including film and video features, shorts, student-works, and works in progress.
Web site: www.panafricanarts.org/home.html
Festival time: April/May
MONTREAL AFRICAN AND CREOLE FILM FESTIVAL
Address: 47 rue Ste-Catherine Ouest, Bureau 500, Montreal (QC) H2X 1Z7, Canada
Tel.: 514.284.3322
Web site: www.vuesdafrique.org
Festival time: April
NEW YORK AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL
A nine-day program of screenings and panel discussions presented in even-numbered years. Screenings feature critically acclaimed releases of feature and short-format works by African directors of the European and American diaspora. The African Film Festival Travelling Film Series is intended to make the unique experience of watching African cinema available in odd-numbered years.
Executive director: Mahen Bonetti
Address: African Film Festival, Inc., 154 West 18th Street, Suite 2A, NY, NY 10011
Tel.: 212.352.1720
Web site: www.africanfilmny.org
PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL - LOS ANGELES
Over 100 quality films from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, the South Pacific and Canada, all showcasing the diversity and complexity of people of African descent.
Executive director: Ayuko Babu
Address: P.O. Box 2418, Beverly Hills, CA 90213
Tel.: 323.295.1706
E-mail : info@paff.org
Web site: www.paff.org
Festival time: February
PFA AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL - BERKELEY
Web site: www.bampfa.berkeley.edu/pfa_programs/africanff/
Festival time: February
SAN FRANCISCO BLACK FILM FESTIVAL
For five days, the SFBFF celebrates the cinema of Africa America and the African cultural Diaspora with more than 50 films, panels and workshops. The SFBFF highlights films made by and about the Black Experience with a strong emphasis on independent films with workshops, panels and special events.
Tel.: 877.467.1735
Web site: www.sfbff.org
Festival time: June
AFRICA
FESTIVAL PANAFRICAIN DU CINÉMA DE OUAGADOUGOU (FESPACO) - BURKINA FASO
FESPACO was founded in 1969 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, thanks to efforts of a few serious African film enthusiasts. Due to the admiration and hope that it inspired amongst the general populace and filmmakers alike, the festival became an institution by governmental decree on January 7, 1972. It is a biennial festival starting the last Saturday in February every odd year. FESPACO's objectives are to facilitate the screening of all African films; enable contacts and exchanges among film and audiovisual professionals; and contribute to the expansion and development of African cinema, as a means of expression, education and raising awareness.
Web site: www.fespaco.bf
SOUTHERN AFRICA'S FILM AND TELEVISION MARKET - SOUTH AFRICA
Web site: www.sithengi.co.za
ZANZIBAR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (ZIFF)
Web site: www.zanzibar.org/ziff/
EUROPE
AFRICA AT THE PICTURES - LONDON
Web site: www.africaatthepictures.co.uk
AFRICA IN MOTION - EDINBURGH
Africa In Motion (AIM) is a film festival
celebrating the very best in African film-making from
across the continent. The festival is in its second year.
AIM will take place October 25 - November 4, 2007 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Web site: www.africa-in-motion.org.uk
AFRICA IN THE PICTURE - HOLLAND
Web site: www.africainthepicture.nl
AFRIKA FILM FESTIVAL - BELGIUM
Web site: www.afrikafilmfestival.be/2005/fr/
CAMBRIDGE AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL - UK
Web site: www.cambridgeafricanfilmfestival.co.uk
FESTIVAL CINEMA AFRICANO MILANO - ITALY
Web site: www.festivalcinemaafricano.org
ASIA
TOKYO AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL - JAPAN
Biennial festival (held once every two years)
Web site: www.afviforum.org/TAFF2002/forward/index-e.html