IIFF 2018 – International Images Film Festival for Women (Harare) : Marie Madeleine: A Female Chief, Florence Ayisi, Cameroon

International Images Film Festival

for Women
(Harare)

IIFF 2018

Marie Madeleine: A Female Chief (2018)

Florence Ayisi

Cameroon

SYNOPSIS

A woman is to be enthroned as chief in Nkol Ngock I, a small village in Cameroon. This is a rare occurrence in most African societies where the position of chief is customarily handed down from father to son. This documentary presents a rare glimpse into a community undergoing change. Social attitudes towards gender equality are changing, as men openly acknowledge and speak about the importance of women in development. One man says "women are doing more to encourage development than men. I believe a female chief will bring new things."

Even though some villagers consider Marie-Madeleine a 'stranger' because she lives in the capital city of Yaoundé, she is determined to learn about her culture and integrate into village life.

As Marie-Madeleine beats the real African drum on her enthronement day, the gentle sounds signal a break with tradition. It is the dawn of a new era in the village of Nkol Ngock I; a Woman will be their traditional leader. Residents are optimistic that she will bring much needed development to the village.

BIOGRAPHY

Florence Ayisi is Professor of International Documentary Film. She teaches film history, theory, creative documentary film practice, transnational cinemas, cultural representations. She is also an award winning documentary filmmaker, presenting rare insights and affirmative aspects of African people and their culture from a Woman-centred and Pan-African perspective. She has made films in Cameroon and Tanzania, including films such as Sisters in Law (co-directed with Kim Longinotto, 2005), Zanzibar Soccer Queens (2007), Zanzibar Soccer Dreams (co-directed with Catalin Brylla, 2016). Her films have won numerous prestigious film awards including PRIX ART ET ESSAI at Cannes film festival; Grierson Award for Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue; Audience Award at International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA); and Peabody Award in USA.

Florence Ayisi has taught film and media studies at several Higher Education institutions (HEIs) in the U.K. for over 20 years, including University of Sunderland, Coventry University, University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, Newport.

(Source: http://staff.southwales.ac.uk/users/6797-fayisi01)

Marie Madeleine: A Female Chief - TRAILER from Florence Ayisi on Vimeo.

African Women Make Soccer Movies

Photo source: CAF African Women Championship 2010

During this time of worldwide excitement around the 2014 World Cup hosted by Brazil, the African Women in Cinema Blog highlights the filmmaking experiences of African women who focus their cameras, from diverse perspectives, on soccer.

Monique Mbeka Phoba who co-directed with Guy Kabeya Muya, Between the Cup and the Election (2008), followed the members of the 1974 Leopards, the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to qualify for the World Cup. Ngardy Conteh with Allan Tong are in the development stages of the film Leone Stars about an amputee soccer team in Sierra Leone, comprised of child survivors of the civil war. Florence Ayisi’s 2005 documentary Zanzibar Soccer Queens follows this team of talented and determine women, especially as it relates to sport and women’s bodies in a majority Muslim population. 

In addition, the Ladies’ Turn association, which works with young Senegalese girls and women to develop leadership and teamwork skills through soccer, was featured in the 2012 film of the same name by Helene Harder.

Between The Cup and The Election

Monique Mbeka Phoba and Guy Kabeya Muya, 2008, 56 min.

Inspired by the 2006 elections in Congo, a group of film students sets out to make a film. They track down members of the 1974 Leopards, Zaire's national soccer squad, the first team from sub-Saharan Africa to qualify for the World Cup. After a dismal first round performance -- the Leopards were outscored 14-0 in three games -- the players returned home in disgrace and drifted into obscurity. The team's captain, however, has fared better and is running for political office in Kinshasa. Deftly weaving past and present, Between the Cup and the Election offers a personal and endearing study of the intersection between sport and politics.

Between The Cup And The Election – Trailer 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4lt0t3D5e8 

Leone Stars

Ngardy Conteh and Allan Tong 

Documentary in development about an amputee soccer team in Sierra Leone, child survivors of the civil war

Feature length documentary (in development) about amputee soccer in Sierra Leone and national team's journey to the World Amputee Football Championships in 2012.

They were outcasts ever since they were boys when rebel soldiers hacked off their arms and legs in Sierra Leone's civil war. With no families, no jobs and no homes, these young men grew up with nothing until they discovered the healing powers of the Beautiful Game.

Soccer gives them something to fight for. Soccer makes them heroes to their countrymen. Soccer turns them from victims to champions. However, victory isn’t about winning the game, but about restoring dignity and hope in the bleakest of situations

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/LeoneStarsDocumentary

Leone Stars Documentary Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Bll89uYoQ 

Zanzibar Soccer Queens

Florence Ayisi has this to say about the film:

Zanzibar Soccer Queens is a documentary that presents fresh insights into other lived experiences and realities in Africa, particularly women’s experiences. The stories of the players of Women Fighters present a complex and diverse perspective of untold African Herstories: visions of hope; self-determination; empowerment; solidarity; aspirations and personal identity. These women cross the boundaries of how a woman should be in their society. They are undertaking extraordinary steps to define and determine their ambitions and fate. I was attracted to their courage and efforts to achieve personal goals beyond the cramped borders of gender lines, traditional and cultural expectations that prescribe of how women should dress or behave

Source: Florence Ayisi's Soccer Queens

http://africanwomenincinema.blogspot.com/2010/06/florence-ayisis-soccer-queens.html 

Zanzibar Soccer Queens – Impact Study

http://vimeo.com/80793663 

Ladies’ Turn

Helene Harder, The Director’s Statement:

Using the Ladies’ Turn tournament as a starting point and following the people who invest their talent and their convictions in its success, the film seeks to expose both a Senegalese and international public to the determination of the players despite the difficulties and prejudices that they face. In Senegal as in many other countries, soccer is considered a sport for men, not women.  With the help of the Ladies’ Turn team, Senegalese girls fight to follow their passion for playing soccer all the way from small, neighborhood fields to the tournament finals in Dakar’s newest stadium.  They win a new visibility that may be a reflection of the role that women are increasingly forging in Senegalese society. By following the tournament’s matches and stories, the film plunges the spectator into a human adventure that will bring out the force, the contradictions, and the beauty of a Senegal open to the world and in constant evolution.

Ladies’ Turn Website http://www.ladiesturn.org/LadiesTurn_English/Movie.html 

Film trailer: http://vimeo.com/10548713 

Florence Ayisi: Soccer Queens

Malikia Wa Soka Zanzibar – Zanzibar Soccer Queens:

Their Passion for Soccer is Passion for Life

The World Cup excitement gushing out of South Africa highlights the enthusiasm for soccer by all--men and women. Florence Ayisi's film Zanzibar Soccer Queens underscores as well, that women are also skilled players of the sport.

Filmmaker and Reader of Film Practice at the University of Wales-Newport, Florence Ayisi met the “Women Fighters” during a research trip to Zanzibar in 2005. She was especially struck by their enthusiasm, talent, and perseverance. She has this to say about the film:

Zanzibar Soccer Queens is a documentary that presents fresh insights into other lived experiences and realities in Africa, particularly women’s experiences. The stories of the players of Women Fighters present a complex and diverse perspective of untold African Herstories: visions of hope; self-determination; empowerment; solidarity; aspirations and personal identity. These women cross the boundaries of how a woman should be in their society. They are undertaking extraordinary steps to define and determine their ambitions and fate. I was attracted to their courage and efforts to achieve personal goals beyond the cramped borders of gender lines, traditional and cultural expectations that prescribe of how women should dress or behave. (Director’s Statement on Website).

The power behind women’s soccer on the island is its dynamic and charismatic coach, Nassra Juma Mohammed, the first female coach in Zanzibar. In addition to skill building in the sport, she also stresses the importance of women’s development. "What is important to me is that if the players get education they will be able to be employed to get jobs such as secretaries, cashiers , so they can take care of their own lives."

The film offers a fascinating insight into women and sport in this majority Muslim population, especially as it relates to culturally defined roles for women and their bodies.

The Zanzibar Soccer Queens Website provides a wealth of information about the individual "Women Fighters", the background and interest of filmmaker Florence Ayisi, a gallery of photographs, contact information, and a delightful trailer of the film.

Zanzibar Soccer Queens Website : http://www.zanzibarsoccerdreams.com/ NO LONGER AVAILABLE