Africa at the Pictures in Liverpool

9 - 15 November 2006

Following on from the Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2006, Africa at the Pictures devised a programme which showcased films primarily from South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal in The Coach Shed. The screenings took place over a week and were accompanied by an education and outreach programme.

Many of the films from South Africa explored the impact of the end of apartheid and included a selection of films by directors such as Dumisani Phakhati (Waiting for Valdez), Khalo Matabane (Conversations on a Sunday Afternoon), Lovinsa Kavuma (Rape for who I am), Teboho Mahlatsi (A Portrait of a Youngman Drowning), Ramadan Suleiman (Zulu Love Letter) and Liza Key (Karoo Kitar Blues).

The Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene is well known internationally as the father figure of African cinema with his films such as Xala and recently Moolade. Since his pioneering short film Borom Sarret released in 1963, Senegal has produced the best known auter filmmakers on the continent . Leading this group of filmmakers perhaps is the late Djibril Diop Mambety whose poetic approach and skill in story telling remains unrivalled. Africa at the Pictures screened a selection of films from Senegal including Mambety's classic Touki Bouki  and Sembene's Moolade as well as captivating films by Mousa Sene Absa (Madame Broutte) Gai Ramaka (Karmen Gei) Ben Diogaye Beye (Child's Love) and others.

Africa at the Pictures Nigerian selection included films from Nollywood; a cross between cinema movies and television dramas, combining African traditions and contemporary urban life. The industry is huge, making as many as 700 films a year, operating without financial constraints and with no regard for European film festivals or Western tastes. Films offer entertainment for millions of Africans and are an attempt to challenge the western generalisations or stereotypes of African life. The programme included the films by directors such as Tunde Kelani (The Narrow Path and Abeni) and Newton I Aduaka (Rage).

Visting directors Tunde Kelani, Ben Diogaye Beye, Khalo Matabane,  Lovinsa Kavuma and Taghred Elsanhouri were present to introduce their films and led a series of workshops for local young people.

Visit  www.africaatthepictures.co.uk  for more information.

Africa at the Pictures at Greenland Street is supported by:
North West Vision, UK Film Council Lottery Funded and Visiting Arts, The Granada Foundation

Son of Man , 2005
© Africa at the Pictures

Son of Man , 2005
© Africa at the Pictures

Conversations on a Sunday afternoon , 2005
© Africa at the Pictures