Kenyan film shortlisted for high prize in Africa’s premiere movie fest

Fifteen feature-length motion pictures are vying for the highest prize in subsequent month’s FESPACO competition, Africa’s high cinema occasion, the organisers introduced Friday (Jan. 13).

A complete of 170 movies are competing throughout 11 classes within the February 25-March 4 occasion, together with quick movie, documentaries, TV collection and animation, FESPACO mentioned.

Drama “Shimoni” by Kenyan filmmaker Angela Wamai tells the story of a Geoffrey, a instructor who’s just lately began a brand new life after serving his jail sentence. As he leaves this place of confinement he’s pressured to maneuver to a rural village he hates and face his nightmare within the flesh.

The 1-hour-37-minute movie could have its African premiere on the Joburg Movie Competition slated for Jan 31-Feb 5

Its world premiere occurred final yr through the Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition in Canada.

Golden Stallion of Yennenga prize

Below FESPACO competition guidelines, movies chosen for competitors must be made by Africans and predominantly produced in Africa.

This yr’s theme is “African cinema and tradition of peace” — an invite, say the organisers, to mirror on how motion pictures can encourage reconciliation in troubled occasions.

The Pan-African Movie and Tv Competition of Ouagadougou’s host nation Burkina Faso grapples with a seven-year-old jihadist insurgency that has killed hundreds of individuals and compelled round two million to flee their houses.

Following are the characteristic movies vying for the Golden Stallion of Yennenga — a trophy named after a beast in Burkinabe mythology:

– “The Planters’ Plantation”, directed by Dingha Eystein Younger (Cameroon)

– “Our Father, the Satan”, Ellie Foumb (Cameroon)

– “Ashkal”, Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia)

– “Below the Fig Timber”, Erige Sehiri (Tunisia)

– “Sira”, Appoline Traore (Burkina Faso)

– “Abu Saddam”, Nadine Khan (Egypt)

– “Bantu Mama”, Ivan Herrera (Dominican Republic)

– “Mami Wata”, de C.J.”Fiery” Obasi (Nigeria)

– “Maputo Nakuzandza”, Ariadine Zampaulo (Mozambique)

– “Our Girl of the Chinese language Store”, Ery Claver (Angola)

– “Shimoni”, Angela Wamai (Kenya)

– “Simin Zetwal”, David Constantin (Mauritius)

– “The Blue Caftan”, Maryam Touzani (Morocco)

– “The Final Queen”, Damien Ounouri (Algeria)

– “Xale, Les blessures de l’enfance”, Moussa Sene Absa (Senegal)

The Pan-African Movie and Tv Competition of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) was launched in 1969 and attracts hundreds of film followers and professionals from throughout the continent.

Additionally it is intently adopted by the US and European film industries, which scout the occasion for brand new movies, expertise and concepts.