AiM 2010 begins this week

18 Oct 2010

The 2010 Africa in Motion (AiM) Film Festival begins this week from 21 October to 5 November 2010 at Filmhouse Cinema in Edinburgh, Scotland, with screenings of over 70 films from 28 African countries.

Festival highlights

Cameroonian documentary filmmaker Jean-Marie Teno, will be leading a masterclass for all who want to learn more about documentary filmmaking on the African continent. The masterclass is taking place on Fri, 22 October from 2-5pm at the Edinburgh College of Art, and is free of charge and open to everyone.

On Saturday, 23 October there is a free poetry event in the Scottish Poetry Library. Storytellers and poets are invited to present their work to the public.

Sunday, 24 October is the day dedicated to Nigeria and Mandela respectively. There will be a screening of a Nollywood film as well as a documentary about contemporary Nigerian arts and culture. Also on the programme are two documentaries about Nelson Mandela, South Africa's hero. The documentaries will be followed by a discussion on the legacy of Mandela.

"Trashy bags" sale

The first full week of the festival is dedicated to two films from the Maghreb. Tuesday is focused on environmental issues in Africa at which fashionable "trashy bags" will be for sale. A short film competition will be hosted, in which the audience gets to vote as well. The young and emerging East African cinema takes place on Thursday, 28 October with films focused on beauty, fashion and design screened on Friday 29 October.

The annual exhibition this year consists of the photographs of two long-time friends and supporters of the festival; Fiona Macalistair and Moragh Reid will showcase photographs of their travels in Africa in the Filmhouse cafe bar. The photographs will be for sale and the proceeds will go to worthy causes.

To view the full programme, go to www.africa-in-motion.org.uk.

To view trailers, shorts, documentaries and interviews, go to the online TV channel, www.africa-in-motion.tv hosted by Ethical TV and Hand Up Media.

Tickets are available in person from Filmhouse box office (88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh), on the phone on 0131 228 2688 or online at www.filmhousecinema.com. Concessionary discount and ticket deals are available.

AiM is funded by Creative Scotland; Commonwealth Foundation; Awards for All; and Regional Screen Scotland, with sponsorship from University of Edinburgh's Centre of African Studies; Scottish Documentary Institute; University of Stirling's School of Languages, Cultures and Religions; Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Edinburgh; Global Concerns Trust; Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies; The Africa Channel; African Movie Channel; Scotland Food and Drink; and Framed.

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