À Binga au Zimbabwe les femmes cinéastes se mobilisent autour du Festival de Film International d’Images pour les Femmes

Le Festival de Film International d’Images pour les Femmes (IIFF) cette année pour la première fois, s’est déplacé dans la région de Binga Matabeleland Nord, gracieuseté de CAFOD. Présenté sous le thème « Femmes ayant des objectifs », il a eu lieu le 5-7 décembre à l'occasion de la commémoration des 16 jours d'activisme contre la violence de genre.

Le Festival a reçu plus d’un millier de spectateurs à Tusimpe. Trois films locaux etaient presentés: Nyami Nyami et les oeufs du mal, Je veux une robe de mariée, et Peretera Maneta.

Plusieurs initiatives ont été présentées pour créer un espace où les femmes puissent dialoguer librement, développer leur confiance en elles-mêmes et un pouvoir collectif ainsi que d’échanger leur point de vue sur des sujets qui les concernent en tant que femmes. Les femmes cinéastes du Zimbabwe (Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe - WFOZ) utilisent le cinéma pour permettre aux femmes, surtout les jeunes, d’identifier, d’analyser et de trouver des solutions aux problèmes qui les touchent en tant qu'individus et en tant que groupe. Le cinéma donne au public la possibilité de discuter et de débattre des questions normalement balayé sous le tapis, lorsque le public se cache derrière le personnage du film, mais, en fait, l’expérience est réelle. Le cinéma est un moyen de communication puissant qui ne connaît ni couleur, ni race, ni confession, il est un langage universel. LIRE L'ARTICLE EN ANGLAIS

The International Images Film Festival for women (IIFF) 2011 in Binga (Zimbabwe)

The International Images Film Festival for women (IIFF) this year for the first time, moved to the Matebeleland North region of Binga for its outreach, courtesy of CAFOD. The festival, celebrated under the theme Women With Goals ran from December 5 to 7 screened film in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence.

The festival reached out to over a thousand viewers at Tusimpe, Binga High School, Freedom Square in Binga town and Manjolo Drop in centre about 25km away from the town centre. Three local films were showcased namely, Nyami Nyami and the Evil Eggs (new film by Tsitsi Dangarembga), I want a Wedding Dress and Peretera Maneta.

The films were empowering and inspiring as they showcased real life challenges encountered and the audience urged WFOZ to continue using film to stimulate debate and analysis of issues normally swept under the carpet. Thus film created a freer space that allowed for dialogue and the organisation was encouraged to create positive images as well as encourage people to tell their stories as a lesson to others. The films centered around linkages between gender and poverty, gender and HIV/ AIDS and gender and child sexual abuse. Strong messages were sent home such as that while poverty is said to have a rural and a woman’s face, it is high time that women become economically empowered and if this is achieved, fewer cases of gender based violence will be recorded. Similarly, on the issue of HIV and AIDS, I Want A Wedding Dress highlighted that it is normally the women that suffer the burden of caring for the sick and in most cases are accused for bringing the virus to the home. The audience also agreed that parents have a huge role in socializing and protecting their children from the scourge, for if parents play the supportive role, moral decadence is reduced and so are the cases of sugar daddies and mummies. With regards to Peretera Maneta, the audience seemed to agree that we all know a Maneta in our lives, that girl who is sexually abused but does not get love, care, support and protection by those who should be extending that to her. The film spoke strongly to this years 16 Days theme ‘From peace in the home to peace in the world’ as it encouraged parents to create safe spaces for their children right from the home environment, and ensuring that these children are protected in the outside environment too! In the film, the parents are not concerned about their daughter to such an extent that they do not notice that she is being abused. Instead, they rely on the headmaster who tells them their daughter is doing well yet he is the perpetrator. This therefore indicated the gap that exists between most parents and their children.

Several initiatives to create space for women to freely interact, build confidence, attain collective power and share sensitive gender information have been introduced. As such, Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe uses the medium of film to enable these women, especially the young to identify, analyse and find possible solutions to problems that affect them as individuals and as a group through engaging with messages in the film. Film allows viewers a chance to discuss and debate issues normally swept under the carpet as the audience will be hiding behind the character in the film yet in reality referring to a real life experience. Film is a language spoken and understood by all. This powerful medium of communication knows no color, race or creed but speaks to and informs all who engage with it.

SOURCE: Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ), The International Images Film Festival for women, 16 December 2011

Report on the International Images Film Festival for Women 2011 (Harare, Zimbabwe)

Report on the International Images Film Festival for Women 2011, Harare

by Beti Ellerson

The 10th Edition of the International Images Film Festival for Women (18-26 November) in Harare, Zimbabwe brimmed with events, offering a memorable occasion for all who were present at the screenings, receptions, initiatives, master class, and award ceremonies, and who seized the exciting opportunity to network with local and international attendees.

The international character of the festival was evident as representatives from embassies, NGOs and international organisations interacted with Zimbabwean counterparts and invited guests. Networking opportunities also included encounters with African film festival organizers Hans-Christian Mahnke of the Namibian Film Festival, Shamek Stepien of AfryKamera African Film Festival Poland, Lizelle Bisschoff of Africa in Motion Film Festival in Edinburgh, actor and filmmaker Martha Fergusson of Canada and Beti Ellerson, director of the Centre for the Study and Research of African Women in Cinema based in the United States, and Zimbabwean filmmaking professionals and cultural producers such as Jackie Cahi, Nakai Matema, as well as Michelle Ajida, Tawanda Gunda, Melody Gwenyambira, Blessing Hungwe, Upenyu Makoni-Muchemwa, Victoria Mtomba, and Tawanda Mukurunge, who also served as jury members.

The festival theme “Women with Goals” was omnipresent; as films, organized activities and initiatives highlighted how women have persevered to attain the goals they set for themselves. Institute of Creative Art for Progress in Africa Trust Board Member Sarah Moyo reiterated these objectives in her presentation at the opening ceremony. The celebratory event which kicked off with the music of Mafriq, featured His Excellency Ambassador Anders Liden of Sweden, a major sponsor of the Festival.

The diverse collection of films by and about women spanned the globe, from the countries of Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Czech, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, UK, USA, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The myriad, multi-layered and wide-ranging stories explore adolescent friendships; the bond between mother and daughter; traditional roles of sexuality and marriage; women struggling with depression, loneliness, jealousy and domestic abuse; the challenges of tradition versus modernity; the trauma of death; dialogues between past and present; generational conflicts within immigrant families; and the complexities within female relationships. The Zimbabwean films, screened at the popular Mannenberg (Harare) drew packed audiences, as local productions are increasingly in demand among viewers who are keen to see familiar faces and places. A new initiative of the festival is the Binga Outreach which will take place from 5-7 December where local films will be screened to audiences in the Matabeleland North town of Binga.

THE AWARDS (presented at the Closing Ceremony)

Best Short Film

Dina (Mozambique)

Best Documentary

Why Can’t I  (India)

Best Feature on Other Format

Distress (Iran)

Best Script

The Other/L’autre (France)

Best Direction

The Wedding Song/Le chant des mariées (France)

Best Actress

Sibel Kekilli in the film When We Leave (Germany)

Best Depiction of a Woman within the Goals of the Festival

The Wedding Song/Le chant des mariées (France)

Best Photography

Dog in a Sidecar (Japan)

Best Film

The Wedding Song/Le chant des mariées (France)

Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ) in partnership with the UNWomen Gender Support Programme (UNIFEM) hosted the Ndichirimupenyu Awards. Now in its 6th year, the award honours women who have excelled in their various endeavours—including the categories art, business, sport and national social contributor. In 2010 the category Best Male Against Gender-based Violence was included to highlight the role of men as active players in the fight against gender-based violence. The African Fathers Initiative of Zimbabwe was very visible at the awards event. Similarly, the "New Man" section of the Festival introduced screenings of films that highlighted a new consciousness of what it takes to fulfil the role of a responsible, caring and loving “New Man” in African societies. 

Other highlights of the festival were the Master Class, the World Premiere of Nyaminymi and the Evil Eggs and the Distinguished Woman of African Cinema Award. Presented by UK-based Lizelle Bisschoff from South Africa, the Master Class entitled "Women in African Cinema: Questions of Absence and Presence", was the subject of her recent doctoral thesis. The World Premiere of the film Nyaminymi and the Evil Eggs by Tsitsi Dangarembga included the presentation of the Artists Charter for Zimbabwe, the screening, and a lively discussion with the filmmaker, producers and audience. Three women were nominated for the Distinguished Woman in African Cinema Award: Producer Jackie Cahi of Zimbabwe, Producer Bridget Pickering of Namibia and African Cinema Scholar and Centre Director Beti Ellerson of the United States. Beti Ellerson was awarded the prize for her important contribution to the advancement of African women in cinema.

The International Images Film Festival for Women concluded with a farewell by Tsitsi Dangarembga, founder and outgoing director of IIFF, and at its 10-year anniversary, a passing of the baton to Yvonne Jila as she takes the reigns as new director.


Report by Beti Ellerson, November 2011


Also read about other proceedings on conferences, forums and meetings of African Women in Cinema on the African Women in Cinema Blog:

Keynote: "40 years of cinema by women of Africa" by Beti Ellerson. Colloquy: Francophone African Women Filmmakers: 40 years of cinema (1972-2012), Paris, 23 and 24 November 2012. Follow link

Report on the Colloquium-Meeting "Francophone African Women Filmmakers: 40 years of cinema (1972-2012)" - Paris, 23-24 November 2012. Follow link

Report on Afrikamera 2012 Women on and behind the screen. Follow link

Women and Film in Africa: Overcoming Social Barriers, University of Westminster, London, 19–20 November 2011. A report by Bronwen Pugsley. Follow link

Report on the African Women Filmmakers Forum 2010 - Johannesburg. Follow link

Call For Films: International Images Film Festival For Women (IIFF) 2011, Harare

PRESS RELEASE

BACKGROUND TO THE FESTIVAL

The International Images Film Festival for Women (IIFF), the only annual women’s festival South of the Sahara [at its inception in 2002], this year celebrates its 10th anniversary. Women Filmmakers of Zimbabwe (WFOZ) is inviting you and your organization to make IIFF 2011 a special celebration for the festival, its beneficiaries and the women activists who run it. IIFF was founded in 2002 by WFOZ in response to the proliferation of beauty contests at that time in a bid to unpack the notion of women as beings to be observed through the male gaze. Under the theme Women With Goals, this year, the festival takes place from November 18 to 26 in Harare and from December 1 to 3 in Bulawayo. WFOZ invites you to celebrate with them their biggest achievement of a decade of film screenings where the lives of mothers, sisters and daughters have been portrayed in a positive and enriching way as IIFF turns 10. 

INTERNATIONAL IMAGES FILM FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN 2011

The theme for this year’s festival, Women With Goals reflects the United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals (M.D.Gs). As women cannot be removed from the development equation and are not only limited to goal number 3, the theme explores the goals women set for themselves and for society, challenges they come across and gaps that need bridging as far as those goals are concerned. 

Questions we are asking are: Can women achieve these goals, what prevents them from achieving these goals, how these obstacles can be overcome and how society reacts to gains made by women.

Finally, the theme celebrates the success stories of those women who have set and attained their goals as an encouragement and challenge to other women to take action. These are women who do not believe in lip service but believe in walking the talk.

While the film should have all the attributes of good cinema, including good production values and engagement values, it should also show some analysis of the woman or women featured.  Production date is irrelevant, but the film must have a woman in leading role.

Should you wish to participate but not be in a position to make a recommendation concerning a film, IIFF would be happy to undertake a search and provide a film to be approved by your mission.  IIFF would only ask that the mission covers the costs of bringing the film to Zimbabwe and returning it to its origin.

FORMATS

35 millimetre feature films are automatically admitted into the main competition. The awards are especially designed by famous Zimbabwean artiste Glen Cable, popularly known in the arts circle as Funkie Loader whose depictions of women in iron appear to leap and embrace the world in exuberance. Betacam SP and DVD features, shorts and documentaries are also programmed in other categories. 

PUBLICITY

To ensure that your film receives the audience it deserves, and for inclusion in the festival catalogue, we request you to send as soon as possible a press kit which should include a short synopsis, technical details, major cast and crew list and stills from the film.  To raise the profile of your entry further, posters would be appreciated.

Finally, all diplomatic missions sponsoring films are mentioned in our catalogue.  All missions and organizations supporting the festival in cash or additional kind are acknowledged with their logo in our catalogue and any other publications that may be produced from time to time.   

SCHEDULE

The festival is scheduled for November 18 to 26, 2011 in Harare and December 1 to 3 Bulawayo.

PARTICIPATION

In addition to sponsored films, we are also appealing for donations in cash or kind to continue the success of the festival.  Our budget itemises the areas in which contributions may be made in cash or kind.  This budget will be sent to you upon request should you be interested in contributing beyond the sponsorship of a film.

Please send enquiries to:

The Festival Director, IIFF, Box BW 1550, Borrowdale, Harare.

Tel:  04 - 862355, cell:  0712 401 104/ 0712512552, email: wfoz@mango.zw