Mati Diop’s Dahomey will open London’s Film Africa festival running 25 Oct – 3 Nov during Black History Month.
“For ten exciting days, Film Africa will transform London into a bustling hub of African cinema, with screenings taking place at some of the city’s most prestigious venues,” organisers write. “Bringing together visionary filmmakers from over 20 African countries and the diaspora, from Morocco to Madagascar, Sierra Leone to Senegal, Film Africa is an unparalleled showcase of contemporary African cinema, highlighting the diverse narratives and innovative spirit thriving across the continent today.”
Senegalese filmmaker Diop won the Golden Bear for Dahomey at the 2024 Berlinale. The documentary presents a dramatised account of the return of 26 royal treasures from a museum in France to their rightful home, delving into the complexities of cultural repatriation and restitution, a theme which runs throughout the festival. Dahomey is longlisted for Best Doc at the European Film Awards 2024.
Keith Shiri, Lead Curator of Film Africa 2024, comments: “African cinema is flourishing and this year’s festival has a line-up of over 70 films, from captivating features that tackle complex social issues, compelling documentaries that uncover untold stories, and innovative shorts from cutting-edge talent. Audiences will travel through the rich terrains of African storytelling, witnessing first-hand the creativity and indomitable spirit that defines African cinema today.”
Other docs in selection
Other documentaries in selection include Asmae El Moudir’s Arabic-language doc The Mother of All Lies(2023, Morocco/Egypt/Qatar/Saudi Arabia). The film, which took eight years to make, explores El Moudir’s search for truth in her family’s background. She crafts a set of miniature clay figurines to recreate her childhood street in Casablanca, Morocco. Family, friends, and neighbours interact with the miniatures, reflecting upon their past to unravel their collective history, in particular the 1981 Casablanca Bread Riots which resulted in the massacre of many residents. El Moudir won the Un Certain Regard Best Director Award at Cannes for the film.
Also screening is Billy Woodberry’s documentary Mário (2024, France) which explores the legacy of Mário Pinto de Andrade, a key figure in African revolutionary and anti-colonial struggles. Spending a life in exile, he fought tirelessly for African sovereignty. Woodberry is one of the leading directors of the L.A. Rebellion film movement, a generation of young African and African-American filmmakers who created a black alternative to Hollywood.
Tongo Saa (Rising Up at Night) (2024, Democratic Republic of the Congo/Belgium/Germany/Burkina Faso/Qatar) by Nelson Makengo follows the residents of Kinshasa after plans to build the largest power plant in the Congo plunge 17 million people into darkness and insecurity.
Industry Events, Workshops & More
Workshops include Film Lab Africa (31 Oct), a panel showcasing emerging young talent from Lagos, Nigeria, co-hosted by the British Arts Council. This is a cornerstone of the British Council’s Creative Economy initiative, designed to nurture emerging filmmakers and TV producers in Nigeria.
Film Africa LIVE! (26 Oct) at the Ritzy in Brixton will provide an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant musical creativity of African cinema. Attendees will be serenaded by soulful tunes, escalating to an electrifying dance party with a DJ. To complement the festivities, drinks and a variety of delicious African cuisine will be served.
“Film Africa is proud to support emerging talent in African cinema through prestigious awards such as the Baobab Award for Best Short Film and the Audience Award for Best Feature Film. These honours aim to spotlight up-and-coming filmmakers, providing a platform to showcase their work to a global audience,” write organisers. Winners within each category will be awarded $2500, sponsored by Rolling Stone Africa.
