Danny Glover will be at the Zanzibar International Film Festival
The Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF) is growing in stature each year, featuring a wider selection of truly great films as it gains recognition internationally. The list of films that have been chosen for screenings are listed here and represent a great cross-section of Africa and the Diaspora. To view the screening schedule, visit this page.
Meet Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, the Talent behind “Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love”
At an early age, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi was well on her way to being a masterful and accomplished Director. At just 24 years old, she won the Best Director Award at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival for her documentary debut film - A Normal Life. It was after this that she decided to shift gears and in her own words, her next project was “to make an uplifting film about Africa and thought that music was one way to do it”. Her subject choice was none other than the best selling and most influential African artist of all time, the legendary Youssou N’dour.
“Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love” opens in NYC Theaters!!
After 5 years of dedication, hard work, and an incredible journey with Africa’s most influential and talented artist of all time, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi ’s documentary, “Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love”, opens in theaters in New York city on June 12th, 2009.
Chai, a Princeton graduate in comparative literature, is the American director and producer behind the documentary that retraces the daily life of N’dour throughout a 2 year period in Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Middle East, following his controversial Grammy award winning album “Egypt”, which brought a lot of criticism and rejection in his native country, Senegal, due to his release and performances during the holy month of Ramadan. » Read more…
Trailer: ‘Precious’ starring Gabby Sidibe and Mo’Nique
I did a post about this film sometime ago. This highly anticipated film has a tentative release date of Nov. 6 and is currently schedule to screen at the Cannes Film Festival.
Below is the trailer for the film. Warning: The trailer itself is a tearjerker. » Read more…
Faat Kiné
Faat Kiné will be playing at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) this Friday, May 8th at 2:00pm & 6:50pm.
The film revolves around Faat Kiné, a 40-year-old Senegalese woman, who refuses to accept the saying, “It’s a man’s world.” Kiné raises her two children alone while working as a gas station owner. Faat Kiné examines the role of women in modern, post-colonial Senegal. » Read more…
Jamati Announces Sponsorship of Film Night for Passport to Africa Week
Washington, D.C., May 6, 2009: Jamati.com is pleased to continue its partnership with Passport to Africa, which this year will include the sponsorship of a Film Night on Wednesday, May 20, 2009. The Jamati Film Section will introduce one of the most acclaimed African films of the year, “From A Whisper,” to a diverse Washington DC audience.
Celebrity Sightings
There are many celebrities that have shown up at the Tribeca Film Festival to celebrate film. Others were busy entertaining in their different fields, around the world.
Seal brought the house down at Radio City Music Hall in his inimitable style. Suzanne ‘Africa’ Engo took some time out to catch a movie screening, while Mel B. lent her celebrity status to the Invisible Children organization to draw attention to the abduction of children in Uganda to force into the army. Charlize Theron was at the 36th Film Society Of Lincoln Center’s Gala Tribute honoring Tom Hanks. » Read more…
Youssou Ndour: ‘I Bring What I Love’ at FilmFest DC
FilmFest DC is holding an International Film Festival that will highlight film gems from around the world. The festival, taking place from April 16 - 26, 2009, will be held in Washington DC at various locations. One of the African films to be featured will be Youssou N’dour’s movie, ‘I Bring What I Love’.
At the beginning of this decade, Youssou N’Dour, the “golden-voiced” Senegalese singer-songwriter conceived an album that would express his vision of Islam. Directed by Chai Vasarhelyi, this revealing documentary details the making of Youssou N’Dour’s gorgeous 2004 CD “Egypt” and the reaction to it. » Read more…
Idris Elba Will Be A Loser
Idris Elba seems to be able to rack up all kinds of roles. From a man who is fighting to get his kids back in Tyler Perry’s ‘Daddy’s Little Girls‘, to an executive who is fighting to save his family from an obsessed temp in Obessed, or the thug in The Wire, American Gangster, and RocknRolla, he has proven that he is versatile and a major box-office draw.
African Films at Howard Community College
Howard Community College is slated to showcase a series of great African films from March 30 to April 3, 2009. The African Film Festival is free to the public and will be shown at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College.
Shirley Frimpong-Manso’s Perfect Picture
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, a film writer/director/producer is emerging as the biggest force to reckon with in terms of quality Ghanaian movies. She has already produced two amazing movies that have enjoyed critical and commercial success across Africa, Europe and North America. She stunned movie buffs with the amazing picture and story quality of ‘Life and Living It’, and confirmed her grasp on the industry with the much-talked drama, ‘Scorned’, a movie about a woman fighting to keep her sanity in a marriage of abuse. The lead actress in that movie, Lydia Forson has been nominated for the most promising actor award in the 2009 Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
African Events Calendar
Upcoming Events
-
August 6, 2009
Korto Momolu Presents Fall Collection : Charlotte, NC
USA - South East
-
July 18, 2009
Concert Celebrating Nelson Mandela’s 91st Birthday: New York, NY
USA - North East
-
July 16, 2009
Celebrate Ethiopia @ Lincoln Theatre: Washington, DC
USA - North East
-
July 10, 2009
Miss South Sudan Beauty Pageant: Washington, DC
USA - North East
See more African Events | Submit Your Own
Browse by Region
- Asia (1)
- Australia (2)
- Canada (1)
- Central Africa (3)
- East Africa (9)
- South Africa (9)
- UK (10)
- USA - Mid West (3)
- USA - North East (109)
- USA - North West (3)
- USA - South East (22)
- USA - South West (5)
- USA - West Coast (5)
- West Africa (11)
- West Europe (12)
