International Images Film Festival for Women: 2015 Call for Submissions!

International Images

Film Festival for Women

2015 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS!

14th consecutive year!

Application form and further information:

http://www.icapatrust.org/iiff_call_for_submissions.html

Be part of this growing festival founded and run by Zimbabwean women passionate about film! It is one of Zimbabwe's most strategically sound and tactically organized creative industry initiatives. In addition, IIFF - associated seminars and workshops offer the most sound film training in Zimbabwe.

IIFF was described as the most important festival in Zimbabwe by The Namibian Weekender in 2009. This is increasingly true. With South Africa dominating the regional fiction film industry through a growing number of productions and many international film festivals, and with Dockanema in Mozambique and the South African Encounters being flag bearers for Southern African documentary, IIFF was conceived to give Zimbabwean film practice a competitive edge by focusing on women's creativity.

In fact, IIFF was founded in 2002 in response to the proliferation of beauty contests at that time, in order to provide diverse narratives by and about women.

IIFF films are selected for relevance, artistry and uniqueness. The films interrogate, debate and celebrate the world of women as well as the world and communities that women live in.

FESTIVAL DATES: August 14 to 22 in Harare.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 31 May 2015

IIFF2015 retains last year's theme WOMEN ALIVE: WOMEN OF HEART! Tough yet possessing a rare gift of loving unconditionally, emotionally strong and brave, the theme celebrates daring women, women who despite daily challenges emerge stronger.

IIFF is also pleased to announce that for the 4th year running, filmmakers, embassies and organizations can submit films that portray men as positive role models under the New Man category.

Contact Details
International Images Film Festival
Postal Add: P.O. Box BW1550
Email: wfoz@icapatrust.org 
Tel/ Fax: +263 4 862 355, Mobile: +263 775 553 273

The Legacy of Rubies, an animation film by Ebele Okoye

Ebele Okoye announces the completion of her 23-minute animation film, The Legacy of Rubies, the first of Shrinkfish’s scheduled productions based on African legends or set in African environments.

Ebele Okoye grew up in southeastern Nigeria where, like many African filmmakers, oral storytelling was the collective experience of the society. She yearned to share these stories, recounted around the fire, under the moonlight, and it was through the medium of animation filmmaking that she fulfilled that dream.

Because of the dearth of film schools in Nigeria at that time, she went to Germany to study 2D Cartoon Animation at the International Film School Cologne. After graduation, she worked as studio animator and director/producer of her own short films. For The Legacy of Rubies project she partnered with the Nigerian animation production studio Shrinkfish Ltd, the producers of the film.

Summary of film

Mfalme is a young forest boy whose life suddenly turns upside down as he is kidnapped and brought to a strange kingdom with the claim that he is the blood son of the dying king Obankosi.

Film Info

2D Animation | 23 Minutes | Director/Co producer / Writer: Ebele Okoye | Producer: Shrinkfish Ltd.  | Script Advisor Moritz Mayerhofer

1st Broadcast Rights (Germany & France) ARTE / ZDF | Distribution(North America): Focus Features LLC  | Formats: 35mm, DCP (jpeg 2000), Blue Ray, DVD

Source: Shrinkfish.eu

Photo: Facebook

Links to more information

Unofficial trailer: http://vimeo.com/113756842

Website: http://www.shrinkfish.eu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/legacyofrubies 

11 cinéastes africaines interpellent Abdou Diouf pour un soutien effectif du cinéma panafricain et francophone

Rama Thiaw (Photo © Camille Millerand)

11 cinéastes africaines interpellent Abdou Diouf pour un soutien effectif du cinéma panafricain et francophone

Source : Citizen-nantes.com. Photo © Camille Millerand (de Rama Thiaw, auteur, réalisatrice et productrice, initiatrice de la lettre).

Alors que se déroule le 15e Sommet de la Francophonie à Dakar du 29 au 30 novembre 2014, 11 cinéastes africaines se lèvent pour réclamer haut et fort au président Abdou Diouf, actuel secrétaire général de l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), de soutenir de manière "effective" le "cinema panafricain et francophone" par le biais de l'institution, maîtresse de la francophonie.

Quand on sait que le "Centre de Conférence de Diamniadio", qui accueille le sommet, a coûté 77 748 998 euros (51 milliards de FCFA) et que rien n'est envisagé pour son avenir, pas même une grande école du cinéma...

La note aux journalistes met à jour le rôle des médias, petits et grands, à faire vivre cette interpellation, pour que remonte au Président l'impatience argumentée et légitime de ces 11 femmes jusqu'à ce qu'il réponde.

Aucune transparence dans les fonds destinés au Cinéma pour les rares exceptions où ces fonds existent, un désintérêt total de nos gouvernements pour la Culture et plus exactement le Cinéma. Ici au Sénégal, l’état nous a promis il y a deux ans un fond pour le Cinéma, depuis nous avons eu trois Ministres de la Culture qui se sont succédés et aucune information, aucun calendrier sur ce fond pour lequel les appels ont été fait depuis novembre 2013.

Extrait de la lettre à Abdou Diouf

NOTE AUX JOURNALISTES

Chers collègues journalistes,

Nous sommes 11 cinéastes africaines à avoir co-signé cette longue lettre de 7 pages, que nous avons adressé au Président Abdou Diouf, en qualité de secrétaire de l'Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (O.I.F).

Bien-entendu, celui-ci, n'a pas daigné encore nous répondre... Peut être se réserve t-il pour le dernier jour du Sommet ?!

Quoiqu’il en soit avec les collègues, nous avons décidé de l'envoyer à la presse.

Après avoir essayé des versions courtes, qui n'ont pas convaincu, nous avons décidé de la laisser tel quelle car elle parle de la réalisation, production, formation, distribution et financement, des problèmes et solutions, avec comme question de fond: ou en est le fond Panafricain d'aide au Cinéma ? Et est ce que le fond d'aide au cinéma de l'OIF va disparaitre comme c'est le cas depuis deux ans où il n'y a pas eu d'appel à projet...

En sachant que si ce fond disparait, c'est juste catastrophique, car cela voudra dire en qualité de réalisateur et producteur africain francophone, nous n'aurions plus de guichet de financement.

Par ailleurs c'est aussi la première fois que 11 femmes cinéastes du continent mènent une action collective.

Nous souhaiterions la publier, en sachant pleinement, qu'elle risque d'être écourté par vos rédactions.

Rama THIAW (Sénégal), Angèle DIABANG, Mariama SYLLA et Marie KA (Sénégal), Nadège BATOU (Congo Brazzaville), Samora SEKHUKHUN (Afrique du Sud), Laurentine BAYALA (Burkina-Faso), Siam MARLEY (Côte d’Ivoire), Pauline MVELE (Gabon), Ifrikia KENGUE (Journaliste - Congo Brazzaville), Ariane Astrid ATODJI (Cameroun)

IN ENGLISH

11 African women filmmakers call upon Abdou Diouf to give effective support to Pan-African and Francophone cinema

Rama Thiaw (Photo © Camille Millerand)

11 African women filmmakers call upon Abdou Diouf to give effective support to Pan-African and Francophone cinema

Source : Citizen-nantes.com. Photo © Camille Millerand (of Rama Thiaw, author, filmmaker, producer, originator of letter). Translated from French.

As the 15th Francophone Summit unfolded in Dakar from 29 to 30 November 2014, 11 African women filmmakers rose to voice their demand to President Abdou Diouf, current Secretary General of the International Francophone Organisation (OIF), to give support in an "effective" way, to "Pan-African and French cinema", using the strength of the organisation as vehicle for this action.

It is known that the "Diamniadio Conference Centre", which hosts the summit, cost 77,748,998 euros (51 billion FCFA) and nothing is planned for it in the future, not even a major film school.

This memorandum to journalists underscores the vital role of the media, large and small, to spread this urgent call, so that the President is aware that until he responds, the well-founded and legitimate impatience of these 11 women will remain.

There is no transparency regarding funding for Cinema, in the rare exceptions where such funds exist. There is a total disinterest of our governments for Culture and more particularly for Cinema. Here in Senegal, two years ago the state promised us funding for Cinema, since then we have had three successive Ministers of Culture with no information, no timetable regarding this funding, for which inquiries have been made since November 2013.

Copy of letter to Abdou Diouf – in French

MEMO TO JOURNALISTS

Dear journalist colleagues,

We are 11 African women filmmakers who have co-signed a long 7-page letter addressed to President Abdou Diouf, who serves as secretary of the International Francophone Organisation (OIF).

Well of course, he has not yet agreed to meet with us ... Perhaps he is waiting for the last day of the Summit?

In any event, we have decided to send it to the press.

After attempting to write shorter versions, which were less persuasive, we decided to leave it as is, because it speaks of the problems and solutions regarding directing, production, training, distribution and financing; with the fundamental question: where is the Pan-African Aid for Cinema Fund? And will the OIF funding for cinema simply disappear as has been the case for the past two years, during which there have not been any Calls for Projects…

Knowing that if the funding disappears, it will be simply devastating, because it will mean that as Francophone African filmmakers and producers, we will no longer have a financing source.

Moreover, it is also the first time that 11 women filmmakers from the continent are taking collective action.

We would like to publish it, knowing fully well that it may be shortened.

Rama THIAW (Senegal), Angèle DIABANG, Mariama SYLLA et Marie KA (Senegal), Nadège BATOU (Congo Brazzaville), Samora SEKHUKHUN (South Africa), Laurentine BAYALA (Burkina Faso), Siam MARLEY (Côte d’Ivoire), Pauline MVELE (Gabon), Ifrikia KENGUE (Journalist - Congo Brazzaville), Ariane Astrid ATODJI (Cameroon)

2 December: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery | 2 décembre : Journée internationale pour l'abolition de l'esclavage

International Day for the Abolition of Slavery |

Journée internationale pour l'abolition de l'esclavage

The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, 2 December, marks the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949).

La Journée internationale pour l'abolition de l'esclavage commémore l'adoption par l'Assemblée générale de la Convention pour la répression et l'abolition de la traite des êtres humains et de l'exploitation de la prostitution d'autrui [A/RES/317(IV)] du 2 décembre 1949.

Film images:

Ceddo, 1977: Ousmane Sembene

Tabata Ndiaye

Sankofa, 1993: Haile Gerima

Oyafunmike Ogunlano, Alexandra Duah

Adanggaman, 2000: Roger Gnoan M'Bala

Mylène-Perside Boti Kouamé

12 Years a Slave, 2013: Steve McQueen

Lupita Nyong'o