African Film Festival
March 26-29, 2009
7:00 pm, Brown Hall, Room 100

Screenings are FREE
and open to general public.
All with English subtitles.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

METENI: THE LOST ONE
Wondessen Deresse, Ethiopia, 2002, 30min.
In Amharic with English Subtitles

Meteni is a young Afar woman with two small children. The Afars are nomads who move with their herds through northeastern Ethiopia, the hottest region on earth. Meteni’s husband lets her move, while he walks to town to buy chat, a narcotic leaf. Alone, Meteni moves the house and all the family’s possessions by camel to a new campsite. She alone completes daily tasks in searing heat. When she becomes pregnant, she continues her punishing workload with disastrous consequences.

AWAITING FOR MEN
Katy Léna N’diaye, Senegal/Mauritania/Belgium, 2007, 56min.
In Hassania and French with English Subtitles

In Oualata, a red city on the far edge of the Sahara desert, three women practice traditional painting by decorating the walls of the city. In a society dominated by tradition, religion and men, these women unabashedly express themselves, discussing the relationship between the sexes.

FRIDAY, MARCH 27

THIS IS MY AFRICA
Zina Saro-Wiwa, African continent/Nigeria/UK, 2008, 47min.
In English

This Is My Africais a project that is seeks to change the public dialogue surrounding Africa. Through these personal memories, we learn about the Africa that has inspired, infuriated and delighted them. We will learn about their favorite food, songs, writers and artists. There is a lot of unexpected passion in these testimonies and these views, come at an important time for the continent. Featuring, amongst others, Yinka Shonibare, John Akomfrah, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Colin Firth.

SHOOT THE MESSENGER
Ngozi Onwurah, Nigeria/UK, 2006, 100min.
In English

Joe is a teacher with a mission - determined to save the black youngsters at his school from a life of gangs, crime and under achievement, whether they like it or not. When a seemingly minor incident rapidly escalates out of control, he loses his job, turns against his own community, descends into madness and hits rock bottom, before realizing he has a lot to learn about love, understanding and a different way of seeing his world.

Winner, Dennis Potter Screenwriting Award, 2006
Winner of 2 British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards, 2007

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

LE CLANDESTIN
Jose Laplaine, Zaire, 1997, 15min.
In French with English subtitles
When an Angolan stowaway lands in Lisbon, he learns that the Europe of his dreams may not be the paradise imagined. Constantly having to evade the police, he begins to long for his homeland. His adventures lead him to realize that Europe provides no escape from hardship.

PARIS SELON MOUSSA
Cheik Doukouré, Guinea/France, 2003, 96min.
In French with English subtitles

The village’s water pump is on its last legs and Moussa is appointed to go and buy a new one in Paris. On his journey he encounters a plethora of remarkable characters and typical immigrant difficulties: crime, police raids, working at random odd jobs while experiencing the solidarity of their community. This humorous and moving film stirred controversy in France.

Human Rights Award, UNESCO, 2003
Best Actor Award (Doukouré), FESPACO, 2003

SUNDAY, MARCH 29

COME BACK TO SUDAN
Daniel Junge & Patti Bonnet, Sudan/USA, 29min.

The last time Lado Jurkin, Mabior Mayom, and Deng Dau saw their home and families was when they were eight years old. Flash forward 18 years. Accompanied by their adoptive Colorado mother, Jean Wood, the three undertake an extraordinary journey back home to their villages in war-torn Sudan.

Winner, Audience Award, Aspen Shorts Fest
Official Selection, Breckenridge Film Festival

HEARTLINES
Angus Gibson, South Africa, 2006, 95 min.
In English, Zulu, SeSotho and Xhosa with English subtitles

A timely and relevant film, Heartlines is the first feature by the prolific South African filmmaker Angus Gibson. Heartlines is a touching story about second chances, forgiveness and the power of unconditional love. After serving a jail sentence, Manyisa, a young man with a cruel past and uncertain future, is offered a second chance at life. For Manyisa, a convicted thief, a chance at redemption comes along when he is paroled and taken in by a pastor and his family. Pastor Jacob, whose brother Elias died while being part of Bra Stones Boys (a Township Gang), sees something of his late brother in Manyisa. Manyisa is unwittingly drawn into assisting with the church choir, and soon finds himself drawn into the closeness of the family and the congregation. This chance at a new life is threatened by Bra Stone, Manyisa’s former crime boss, who has other ideas. In debt to Bra Stone, Manyisa has to fall back on his old ways to repay him.

Winner, Amnesty International Media Spotlight Award
Winner, Pare Lorentz Award

For more information: (314) 935-7879 or wtoliver@artsci.wustl.edu

Web site: wupa.wustl.edu/africanfilm

Our films have been organized by African Film Festival, Inc. This series has been made possible by the generous support of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Sponsored by African and African American Studies in Arts & Sciences, Film and Media Studies in Arts & Sciences, and the African Students Association. It is funded in part by a grant from the Washington University Women’s Society.