Africa film fest in the UK

Africa in Motion, Britain’s chief African film festival opened in Edinburgh on the weekend to packed audiences, prompting a new interest in the artistic value of African cinema outside of the continent.

The festival, now in its third year, will begin touring the UK in November showcasing the best African filmmakers have to offer, most notably through its Africa in Motion short film competition.

Over 50 of Africa’s finest films, documentaries and animation shorts are presented to British audiences at the festival, including African horror movies and also films from Nollywood - the hugely productive Nigerian video industry.

Festival founder and director Lizelle Biscchoff created the festival due to the frustration of not being able to easily access African films, and the belief that African cinema can stand toe to toe against the best the world has to offer.

“We grew up with the idea that anything that is local is not as good as from other parts of the world, and thus that South African films weren’t really worth seeing. This happens all over the continent,” says Biscchoff.

“It’s true that African filmmakers work with smaller budgets, but they just do that innovatively and manage to make really good films.”

South African Biscchoff, who is completing her PHD on African film at the University of Sterling in Scotland, underlined Africa in Motion’s ability to counter the perception that Western audiences believe nothing worth watching is produced in Africa.

The eight short film finalists in the Africa in Motion short film competition can all be viewed at Southern Africa Direct.

More info on the festival visit Africa in Motion.

Source: www.southafrica.info