Africa in Motion (AiM), the UK’s biggest African film festival, is taking place from21 October-5 November 2010 this year at Edinburgh’s Filmhouse Cinema and other venues across the city. This year’s festival takes as its main theme Celebrations, in commemoration of 50 years of independence of 17 African countries, as well as celebrating the 5^th birthday of this groundbreaking festival. 

More than 70 films – fiction features, shorts and documentaries – from 28 African countries will keep audiences focused on the continent over the 16 days of the festival. The festival will open with the delightful comedy Sex, Okra and Salted Butter, by award-winning Chadian director Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, whose latest film A Screaming Man won the jury prize at Cannes earlier this year. 

A range of vibrant fiction and documentary films celebrating everything from African dance, music, sport, the environment, design, beauty and fashion, to the 20-year anniversary of Mandela’s release from prison and 50 years of Congolese and Nigerian independence, will make this the festival’s most diverse programme yet. Some of the highlights are two days entirely devoted to African music and dance, with films about Senegalese Sabar and Tanzanian Taarab; about the West African talking drum; the rhythms and musical fusions from Zanzibar; Sufi sounds and songs from North Africa; Angola’s electrifying Kuduro, and colourful choirs from the Cape Peninsula.

A range of free events will allow audiences to appreciate the poetry of emerging Scotland-based African poets; to attend a masterclass in African dance presented by a celebrated Zimbabwean dancer; and to experience live performances by African musicians from all over the continent. Younger audience members will get the chance to create their own animation film in a workshop presented by Kenyan animator Alfred Muchilwa in collaboration with Edinburgh-based animation studio Red Kite. Audiences will recognise his work from the much-loved Tinga Tinga Tales on CBeebies. 

Africa in Motion will close with a spectacular African fashion extravaganza on the 5 November, organised by Noir!, a collective which has been setting the Edinburgh social scene alight with their cutting-edge fashion shows over the past two years. 

Festival co-director, Stefanie Van de Peer, says of this year’s programme: “Having built up close relationships with so many people and events over the past four years has proved to be amazing. It has given us the opportunity to collaborate with more events organisers and venues all over Edinburgh, and every one we have approached has shown us real enthusiasm and dedication. Lizelle and I think this year’s festival is going to be the best one yet, not only because the films are so good but also because there is so much to celebrate in all the events.”

Issued by Africa-In-Motion