The following African Pictures selections are the first announced
films of the 2013 Seattle International Film Festival:
The African Cypher
North American Premiere | Dir Bryan Little | South Africa | 2012 |
89 min
Beginning as a survey of the extraordinary street dance styles across South
Africa, director Bryan Little's vibrant documentary drills deeper into the
philosophy of the dancer's self-expression and, especially, the souls of two
extraordinary young performers.
Coming Forth by Day (Al-khoroung lel-nahar)
North American Premiere | Dir Hala Lotfy | Egypt / United Arab
Emirates | 2012 | 96 min
An exciting new female auteur from the Arab world, Hala Lotfy makes her debut
with Coming Forth by Day. The daily struggles of a mother and daughter are a
far cry from the riots of Tahrir Square, but offer equally compelling insight
into Egyptian society today.
Comrade President (Camarada Presidente)
North American Premiere | Dir Mosco Kamwendo | Zimbabwe | 2012 |
89 min
The life and suspicious death of Mozambique's revolutionary leader, Samora
Moises Machel is explored in this documentary, providing insight into the
Mozambican fight for independence and subsequent political changes.
Fanie Fourie's Lobola
Dir Henk Pretorius | South Africa | 2013 | 90 min
After he takes Dinky, a strong Zulu woman, to his Afrikaans family wedding, the
two find an unexpectedly fun cross-cultural romance. But, if Fanie is going to
marry Dinky the right way, he must negotiate with her family to pay Lobola (a
South African dowry).
Finding Hillywood
World Premiere | Dir Leah Warshawski, Chris Towey | USA / Rwanda |
2013 | 57 min
Hillywood, the Rwandan Film Industry, is given the spotlight in this
affectionate portrait featuring the filmmaking community, the blossoming film
festival culture, and the joy of the people as they experience Rwandan cinema
on the big screen.
Kampala Story
North American Premiere | Dir Mugisha, Kasper Bisgaard | Uganda |
2012 | 62 min
Apio, a 14-year-old Karamojong girl and her mother run their household on money
wired from her father who works in the capital of Uganda. When the money
transfers stop, Apio must travel alone to the big city in search of her father.
Last Flight To Abuja
North American Premiere | Dir Obi Emelonye | Nigeria / United
Kingdom | 2012 | 78 min
An ill-fated flight provides the setting for this suspenseful multi-character
pot-boiler filled with romance, blackmail, and murder in Obi Emelonye's
Nollywood box-office smash.
The Pardon (Imbabazi)
Dir Joel Karekezi | Rwanda | 2013 | 73 min
Bridging narrative simplicity and emotional depth, first-time Rwandan filmmaker
Joel Karekezi showcases friends who find themselves on opposing sides of the
Rwandan genocide. Years later, they must navigate their horrific past toward an
emotional future.
The Repentant (El Taaib)
Dir Merzak Allouache | Algeria / France | 2012 | 87 min
Nearly a decade into the country's civil war, a young Algerian Jihadist takes
advantage of a national amnesty to leave the mountains and rejoin civil
society. But the past is not so easily set aside. A beautifully made, deeply
felt drama from veteran director Merzak Allouache.
Sand Fishers
Dir Samouté Andrey Diarra | Mali / France | 2012 | 72 min
Having lost their jobs due to climate change and overfishing, a group of
fishermen have been dubbed Sand Fishers, and now harvest wet compact sand and
gravel from the bottom of waterways for use by the construction industry.
Spud 2
World Premiere | Dir Donovan Marsh | South Africa | 2013 | 90 min
Spud is still marching slowly toward puberty as a sophomore at a South African
boarding school. While he's no longer the youngest in school, that's not going
to save him from challenges of growing up. John Cleese returns in this
spectacular sequel to the SIFF 2011 favorite.
(stay with me for more information on more films by filmmakers of OR about the African Diaspora)
You can browse the complete list on the SIFF
website for play dates and time
