Kino Pod Baranami hosts the 16th AfryKamera African Film Festival. The programme features films praised by festival audiences in Warsaw and Wrocław, such as the South African production Moffie, This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection from Lesotho, and Lingui from Chad, premiered at Cannes last year.
AfryKamera is the most important cultural event dedicated to Africa in Central and Eastern Europe. Just like the continent, African cinema is not homogenous. It has over 50 countries, thousands of languages, a rich history and hugely diverse customs. Through AfryKamera we are able to discover more about the continent and appreciate its culture and diversity, says Przemysław Stępień, festival director. In early April, Kino Pod Baranami presents a selection of films at the 16th festival taking audiences on a journey throughout the continent.
Mehdi M. Barsaoui’s A Son tells the story of a family trip in Tunisia soon after the revolution, with the protagonists facing severe local laws. The father is portrayed by Sami Bouajila (Days Of Glory, Outside The Law) – acclaimed Tunisian/French actor awarded the César for his role. Mahamat-Saleh Haroun takes us to Central African Republic with Lingui, telling the story of women’s solidarity and determination in their fight for dignity in a brutal, patriarchal society. The film will be screened prior to its Polish premiere as part of the cycle of Philosophical Meetings with the participants exploring films in depth. The screening will be followed by a discussion on the film, moderated by philosopher Anna Piskorska.
The documentary Caterpillars/Makongo, directed by Elvis Sabin Ngaïbinoto from the Central African Republic, paints a portrait of a fascinating rural community. Their members dream of sending their children to a real school. The problem is that their only means of earning money is by selling roasted caterpillars (makongo), and no-one seems to be willing to pay a fair price for the delicacy. South Africa is the setting for two films shown at the festival. Oliver Hermanus’s multi-award winning Moffie is a biographical war drama set in the 1980s. The shy teenager Nicholas endures brutal military service as a conscript, all the while having to conceal his sexuality for fear of severe punishment. This Is Not A Burial, It’s A Resurrection from Lesotho, directed by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese and awarded at the Sundance festival, is a moving story of an 80-year old widow and her fight for the land of her ancestors which is being converted into a dam.
Edouard Joubeaud’s Haingosoa is a joyful exploration of Malagasy culture with its traditional instruments, singing and dancing, intertwining contemporary sounds and styles. Lova Nantenaina’s Morning Star focuses on the Vezo fishing community. Their lives are turned upside-down by the arrival of huge ships and foreign companies buying up local land for profit. Ekwa Msangi’s debut Farewell Amor tells the story of Angolan immigrants to the US, moving in under one roof in New York after 13 years apart.
The festival has also prepared attractions for the youngest viewers: screenings of short films A Week Of Adventures In Africa and music workshops on Sunday morning.
Programme:
Monday 4 April
8pm PHILOSOPHICAL MEETING – PRE-PREMIERE SCREENING
LINGUI | LINGUI, LES LIENS SACRÉS
dir. Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, Belgium/Chad/Germany France 2021, 87’
The screening will be followed by a discussion on the film moderated by Anna Piskorska (Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University)
Tuesday 5 April
8pm ŻEGNAJ, MOJA MIŁOŚCI | FAREWELL AMOR
dir. Ekwa Msangi, USA 2020, 101’
Wednesday 6 April
8pm SYN | A SON
dir. Mehdi M. Barsaoui, Tunisia/France/Lebanon/Qatar 2019, 96’
Thursday 7 April
8pm MAKONGO: GĄSIENICE | MAKONGO
dir. Elvis Sabin Ngaïbino, Central African Republic/Argentina/Italy 2020, 72’ (documentary)
Friday 8 April
8pm MOFFIE | MOFFIE
dir. Oliver Hermanus, South Africa/UK 2019, 103’
Saturday 9 April
8pm TO NIE POGRZEB, TYLKO ZMARTWYCHWSTANIE | THIS IS NOT A BURIAL, IT’S A RESURRECTION
dir. Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese, Lesotho/South Africa/Italy 2019, 120’
Sunday 10 April
11am CHILDREN’S MATINEE
A WEEK OF ADVENTURES IN AFRICA – short stories, 40’
The screening is followed by music workshops.
6.30pm HAINGOSOA | HAINGOSOA
dir. Edouard Joubeaud, France/Madagascar 2020, 72’
8pm MORNING STAR | AZA KIVY
dir. Lova Nantenaina, Madagascar 2020, 77’ (documentary)
