As part of the 50th anniversary of the Independence of Algeria on 5 July 1962, AfricAvenir Windhoek on Saturday 30 June 2012, at 19h00 presents the Namibian premiere of the film classic The Battle of Algiers by Gillo Pontecorvo (Algeria/Italy, 121 min, French with English subtitles).

The film is considered a masterpiece of political and anti-colonial filmmaking. H.E. Lahcene Kaid-Slomane, Ambassador of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, will introduce the film to the audience.

Date: 30. June 2012, Time: 19h00

Venue: Studio 77, Old Breweries Complex, entrance Garten Str.

Entrance: 30,-N$

AfricAvenir announces herewith also that its screening series at the Studio 77 will end with this film. The screening series African Perspectives will continue at a different venue, the Goethe-Centre Windhoek, every last Saturday of the month. We are herewith proud to announce the Namibian Premiere of Cameroon. Autopsy of an Independence by Valérie Osouf and Gaelle Le Roy, on 28 July 2012 which will take place in the above mentioned Goethe-Centre.

The Battle of Algiers chronicles the harrowing events of 1957, a key year in Algeria's struggle for independence from France. The French foreign legion has left Vietnam in defeat and has something to prove.

Based in part on the memoirs of Yacef Saadi, who wrote them in prison after serving as a leader for the historical FLN, the bulk of the film is shot in flashback, presented as the memories of Ali (Brahim Haggiag), a leading member of the Algerian Front de Liberation Nationale (FLN), when finally captured by the French in 1957.

Awards

    * International Film Festival Venice: Golden Lion and FIPRESCI-Prize (1966)

    * Nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Script and Writing (Gillo Pontecorvo and Franco Solinas), Best Director (Gillo

Pontecorvo) (1969) and Best Foreign Language Film (1967)

    * City of Venice Film Prize (1966)

    * The International Critics Award (1966)

    * City of Imola Prize(1966)

    * Silver Ribbon, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Producer, Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani (1967)

    * Ajace Prize of the Cinema d'Essai (1967)

    * Diosa de Plata at the Acapulco Film Festival (1966);

    * Italian Golden Asphodel (1966)

    * Silver “Diosa” at Acapulco Film Festival (1966);

    * Golden Grolla (1966)

    * Riccione Prize (1966)

    * Best Foreign Language Film, Kinema Junpo Award (1968)

    * Voted "Best Film of 1967" by Cuban critics in a poll sponsored by Cuban magazine Cine (1967)

    * UN-Award, British Academy of Film and Television Arts/BAFTA (1972)

    * NSFC Award, 2nd Place, Best Supporting Actor, National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA (1968)

    * United Churches of America Prize for 1967

    * In 2010, the film was ranked #6 in Empire magazines "The 100 Best Films Of World Cinema"

Issued by Hans-Christian Mahnke