Cascade Festival of African Films 2020: "Woven" by Salome Mulugeta and Nagwa Ibrahim (Ethiopia)

Cascade Festival of African Films 2020

"Woven" by Salome Mulugeta and Nagwa Ibrahim

(Ethiopia USA) 2016, 96 min

Featuring Women Filmmakers Week

Synopsis

Attempting to integrate her mother’s traditions with her own dreams, Ethiopian-born Elenie Tariku’s life is destroyed when a mysterious crime in New York takes the life of her only brother. As Elenie searches for the truth behind his death, her life intertwines with an intriguing man whose own personal turmoil brings them together for better or worse.

Bio: Salome Mulugeta, Nagwa Ibrahim

Salome Mulugeta was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In addition to co-directing the film, she is the protagonist of Woven. Nagwa Ibrahim is Egyptian American, and an attorney specializing in immigration law and criminal defense.

Woven (Unofficial) Trailer from Woven Film on Vimeo.

Lucy Gebre-Egziabher: Films Without Walls, Call for Collaboration 2019 Theme: Immigration and Refugees

Lucy Gebre-Egziabher: Films Without Walls

Call for Collaboration 2019

Theme: Immigration and Refugees

Professor and Filmmaker Lucy Gebre-Egziabher had this to say about "Films Without Walls", a project that she initiated where she teaches filmmaking on the NOVA Alexandria campus in Virginia, USA :

The Films Without Walls series was inspired by my Fulbright in Ethiopia in 2015. Upon my return, I connected my Ethiopia film students with my US film students. Together they made a film entitled "Final Exam". The objective was to have students on either side learn about each other's realities, in addition to learning to collaborate on a creative project. 

While that was the starting point, the key functions of this project is: 1) to instill in my students that they have a role to play as artists in the global context, and not just the US; 2) to teach my students to use cinema as a tool for social and political change; 3) enrich and widen their world perspective.

I developed this project individually, though I have my institution's support and endorsement (not financial). It is not a funded project, by no means; at least not to date. Institutions and students that are taking part in this project, do it strictly on a volunteer basis. Thus far we have had students from Ethiopia, Scotland, Mexico, Iran and China participate as partners on the yearly themes. But we have had a number of students from various parts of the world submit their films for screening in the FWW series showcase (as seen on attached program).

I am constantly seeking collaborations with more institutions. 

PRESS RELEASE

Film students from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) – Alexandria campus, join forces with film students from institutions in various parts of the world on the 2019 theme: "Immigration & Refugees"

Films Without Walls (FWW) has 3 sections: 

1) FWW, a partnership on one film: every year NOVA students partner with films students from a different part of the world on 1 film project. And based on theme of the year, they work on it on separate pieces that they bring together at the end. Students typically communicate via skype, viber or any method they research and decide on.

- students from one institution partners with NOVA students to make 1 film together. 

2) FWW independent productions but partners on yearly theme: A partner would submit a film to be screened at our festival under FWW series on the theme of the year. (e.g. students from Xingtai Polytechnic College in China, are making their own film on the theme this year). We are also in discussion with students in other parts of the world (Cuba, Scotland, Ethiopia, Belarus to name a few). 

- students from institution "A" make a film of their own, but on the theme of the year - the 2019 theme: "Immigration & Refugees"

3) FWW International students' films showcase: Students from different parts of the world can submit for consideration their films, not necessarily on our theme but on any subject, and if selected will be also screened in our FWW section of the NOVA Student Film Festival.

- individual student(s) from institution "A" submit their films for consideration for screening at our festival.

Lucy Gebre-Egziabher, MFA

Fulbright Scholar 

Associate Professor - Cinema

Communication Studies & Theater Department

703-845-6297

email: lgebre@nvcc.edu

Faculty site: http://blogs.nvcc.edu/lgebre/

FESPACO 2017: Ben & Ara by/de Nnegest Likké (USA/Ethiopia | Ethiopie)

FESPACO 2017
Ben & Ara by/de Nnegest Likké (USA/Ethiopia|Ethiopie)

Women at the 25th Edition |

Les femmes à la 25e édition

FESPACO PANORAMA

OUT-OF-COMPETITION | HORS COMPETITION 

FICTION | DOCS

Synopsis: Ben & Ara (2016)

[English]

Ben, a passionately agnostic PhD student, is surprised to find his muse and love in Ara, a devout member of the Nation of Islam. Even though they have vastly different beliefs they find a way to connect in a world that does not accept their relationship. Through their journey they discover that when two cultures touch each other the consequences can be magical and tragic.

[Français]

Ben, un doctorant en philosophie et passionnément agnostique, s’étonne de trouver sa muse et son amour en Ara, une fidèle de la Nation de l'Islam. Même s'ils ont des croyances très différentes, ils trouvent un moyen d’être ensemble dans un monde qui n'accepte pas leur relation. Au long de leur cheminement, ils découvrent que lorsque deux cultures se touchent, les conséquences peuvent être en même temps magiques et tragiques.

Ben & Ara - Trailer from Constance Ejuma on Vimeo.

Producer Ledet Muleta launches a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the film project Chula, about mental illness in Africa and the African diaspora

Producer Ledet Muleta launches a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for the film project Chula, about mental illness in Africa and the African diaspora

Ledet Muleta is a psychiatric nurse who has worked for over a decade in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. She had this to say about her interest in making the film Chula:

After traveling to a number of African countries where I witnessed the burden of mental illness, I could no longer ignore the disparities that exist in both the African diaspora and the continent regarding mental illness. I decided that it was important to create something to address the ways that mental illness is stigmatized in our community and in doing so, empower those affected, provide awareness, and strive towards better solutions.  This manifested itself in the film, Chula. (Source: Kickstarter.com page)

Film Synopsis

Chula is a drama about a young African woman living with bipolar disorder in the Washington D.C. area, played by Ethiopian-American actress Selamawit Worku. The film touches upon her upbringing and subsequent rise to fame which is tainted by her mental illness and a strict father; One whose inability to distinguish between discipline and emotional abuse leaves scars that follow Chula into adulthood. To cope with the stress of her illness and rising fame, Chula begins to abuse drugs and alcohol. Chula's relationships, including her relationship with her boyfriend (played by Nigerian actor Obum Ezekwem) suffers, culminating in Chula losing all that she values most; yet in the end, a glimmer of hope is found.

Visit the Kickstarter page [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chula/chula-a-film-that-addresses-mental-illness-in-afri]: Chula for details about the fundraising efforts and to make a contribution.