University of Westminster Conference Celebrates 50 years of Filming in Africa
LONDON-The London African Film Festival and
BAFTA will partner the University of
Westminster?s Africa Media Centre in celebrating
the achievements of African cinema over the past
50 years. A two-day conference, 27-28 November,
organised by the African Media Centre will bring
notable speakers from all over the globe to
discuss the progress made by prominent
filmmakers, at the Filming Against the Odds
Conference in London. The conference keynote
speaker is Professor Ferid Boughedir, a leading
Tunisian filmmaker and historian of African
cinema (his filmography includes Camera
d'Afrique - Twenty Years of African Cinema
(1983), which will be screened on Sunday 28
November. The conference will also explore what
these films mean to contemporary Africa and how
they relate to a range of topics including
politics, language, and global aspects.
For half a century, filmmaking across Africa has
thrived with representations of life and culture
in various countries. Many newfound independent
countries created a new type of cinema for
Africans that would grasp worldwide attentionit
was their own, and voiceless Africans would
finally be heard. Nigeria was one nation that
embraced the possibilities cinema brought to its
society. Today, Nigeria?s movie industry is
second largest in the world. Nollywood, as it is
known, releases about 900 titles every year and
brings in revenue of nearly £100m, according to
a UN statement. Many Nigerian speakers will
attend the conference and look at the remarkable
success that Nollywood has become, and what
other countries are doing to follow their footsteps.
Three other films, Pumzi, The Tunnel, St Louis
Blues will be screened at BAFTA in association
with the conference and London African Film
Festival. They are a trio of contrasting short
films that were made through a mentoring scheme
by Focus Features through its Africa First
programme. It is an important initiative that
seeks to identify emerging talent from Africa.
Director of African Media Centre Winston Mano
said, ?African film production has developed
into a major industry that deserves more
attention in academia. The conference is a key initiative towards this goal.?
Conference fees (for entire event):
Students: £50 (1-day fee £40)
Non-Students: £ 125 (1-day fee £95)
Fees cover registration, conference pack, lunch,
coffee/tea and wine reception.
Conference Partners include the British Academy
of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) and The African Channel (on Sky TV 268)
For more information, please visit the
conference website:
<http://www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/media/news-and-events/events/2010/filming-against-the-odds>http://www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/media/news-and-events/events/2010/filming-against-the-odds
