Black World Cinema and The Goethe Institut Present: Thurs, June 4, 7pm African Metropolis: Six Stories from Six African Cities (2013
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June 4, 7pm
Black World Cinema and The Goethe Institut Present:
African Metropolis: Six Stories from Six African Cities (2013) 92 min., colour
Admission $6.00
SMG Chatham 14
210 W 87th St
Chicago, IL
For this project, six African filmmakers portrayed life in six African cities: Abidjan, Cairo, Dakar, Johannesburg, Lagos and Nairobi.
From the initial 40 applicants, six directors, who could show they had previous experience in documentary filmmaking, were selected: Jim Chuchu (Kenya), Ahmed Ghoneimy (Egypt), Folasakin Iwajomo (Nigeria), Marie Ka (Senegal/Martinique), Philippe Lacote (Ivory Coast) and Vincent Moloi (South Africa).
These six directors took part in a workshop led by the screenplay writer James Akchoti on the occasion of the 2012 Durban International Film Festival, and were subsequently given support in the production of their films. The films were premiered at the Durban International Film Festival in 2013. The European premiere took place at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2014.
The project’s objective is to show a young, modern, cosmopolitan and urban Africa; one that moves beyond the usual clichés about the African continent. Moreover, African Metropolis hopes to make it possible for young filmmakers from different countries and cities on the African continent to network via a variety of platforms. This should also help the national film industry, as, although festivals worldwide show great interest in African productions, it is extremely difficult for African filmmakers to get film productions underway. With African Metropolis, the Goethe-Institut hopes to not only support individual filmmakers, but also to promote the development of an independent and sustainable African cinema.
Film titles:
• Homecoming,Jim Chuchu, 11:11 min.
• The Cave, Ahmed Ghoneimy, 22:56 min.
• The Line-up, Folasakin Iwajomo, 13:46 min.
• L’Autre Femme (The Other Woman), Marie Ka,12:49 min.
• To Repel Ghosts, Philippe Lacote, 20:42 min
• Berea, Vincent Moloi , 13:25 min.
Total length 92 min.
The African Metropolis Short Film Project is an initiative of the Goethe- Institut South Africa and executive producer Steven Markovitz, with support from Guaranty Trust Bank and the Hubert Bals Fund of International Film Festival Rotterdam.