The 14th New York African Film Festival
April 4 - 12, 2007
In 2007, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana––the first sub-Saharan nation to gain independence from colonial rule––with an especially strong lineup for the 14th New York African Film Festival. With 47 features, documentaries and shorts from 20 countries ranging from Algeria to South Africa, the festival will once again serve to dismantle long held notions and prejudices about African society, expanding and challenging Americans' perceptions of tradition, modernity and the role of women. As a special feature this year, we offer a unique selection of rarely seen archival footage, ranging from colonial propaganda films to newsreels made at the very moment of independence; remarkable if at times unsettling images of Africa and Africans that remind us of the immeasurable importance of self-representation.
Filmmakers and other guest speakers will be on hand to present their work during the festival (those shows are indicated by an asterisk in the Program Overview). On Monday, Apr. 9, the African Film Festival will present its annual roundtable discussion at the Furman Gallery, a chance for audiences and filmmakers to explore and discuss in further detail the guiding themes of the 2007 festival, as well as the complex and multifaceted role of cinema in postcolonial, national and pan-African liberation. The festival continues at the Bronx Museum of the Arts on Apr. 20 and 21 and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s BAMcinematek, May 25 through 28.
From March 19 - April 26 in the Frieda and Roy Furman Gallery, adjacent to the lobby of the Walter Reade Theater, see African Cinema in Pictures an exhibition of photographs by Antoine Tempé and Stephan Zaubitzer. The gallery is open daily 2 - 8. This exhibit is presented by Galerie Chab (Bamako) in collaboration with the 14th New York African Film Festival, under the banner Celebrating 50 Years of African Independence and Cinema.
Films for the 14th New York African Film Festival are in English except where noted. All non-English films are subtitled in English.
For a listing of the films in the series go to Program Overview.
Click on
Calendar to view the schedule, film descriptions and, to purchase tickets online.
The 14th New York African Film Festival was organized by Richard Peña of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the African Film Festival, Inc. (Mahen Bonetti, Aba Taylor, Muriel Placet-Kouassi, Alonzo Speight, and Wilson Sherwin), with special thanks to the AFF Board of Directors. The programs of the AFF are made possible by the generous support of the Ford Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, JPMorgan Chase, the New York State Council for the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York Foundation for the Arts, New York Times Community Affairs Department, Time Warner Cable, French Cultural Services, Bloomberg, Tides Foundation, American Express, GoCard, WNYC, Continental Airlines, 57 Main St. Wine Company, Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, Putumayo World Music and Omnipak Import, Enterprises, Inc.
