AiM reveals short film entries

19 Oct 2011

The fourth Africa in Motion (AiM) Short Film Competition has revealed this years shortlisted entries. Seven films from across the continent will compete for the prize, sponsored by The Africa Channel, as part of the annual film festival that provides African filmmakers the opportunity to showcase their work to an audience in the United Kingdom.

The short film competition is aimed at 'young and emerging' African filmmakers, who have not yet produced feature-length films. This shortlisted films this year deal with themes ranging from myths and folktales, families and relationships, to mysterious powers and the magic of storytelling.

The short films, which will be screened on Friday 4 November 2011, at Filmhouse cinema in Edinburgh at 5.45pm, reflect the filmmaking talent in Africa, particularly in countries which may not have an established filmmaking industry such as Mozambique and Ethiopia. In previous years, the shortlisted films in AiM's Short Film Competition reveal new talent and names to look out for.

In these short films, the filmmakers continue to address serious and relevant social issues, such as religious fundamentalism, enviromental protection and domestic abuse, and how the scope of the genre is expanding through more films experimenting with style and narrative.

Short film entries

Lezare (For Today) by Zelalem Woldemariam, Ethiopia
Based on an Ethiopian folktale, Lezare is a story about a homeless boy in a small village in southern Ethiopia. This film conveys a message about global warming, environmental protection, poverty and hunger.
The Tailored Suit by Kitso Lelliott, South Africa
This film tells the story of Mathilda, a young woman in rural South Africa in the 1940s. She dreams of moving to the city, a place of liberation and emancipation, and she discovers a path to the city through an oppressive marriage.
Dina by Mickey Fonseca, Mozambique
When 14-year-old Dina falls pregnant, her mother, Fuzia, realises that the violent behaviour of her husband Remance has reached extreme heights.
Garagouz by Abdenour Zahzah, Algeria
Mokhtar earns his living as a puppeteer with the help of his son and protégé. Using his old van, he travels between the few schools the Algerian countryside.

Khouya (My Brother) by Kuossim Yanis, Algeria
Three sisters, a brother and their mother: these are the protagonists of Khouya, a chamber piece that unfolds in a typical Algerian home. Tarek beats and terrorises his three sisters Yamina, Nabila and Imen, while their mother stands aside. But when one of the sisters refuses an arranged marriage, the violence reaches a point of no return.
Umkhungo (Gift) by Matthew Jankes, South Africa
A disillusioned Johannesburg street thug rescues an orphaned child with uncontrollable supernatural powers. On the run, he must help the sickly boy master his gift before a superstitious family member finds them.
Tinye So by Daouda Coulibaly, Mali
At the intersection of tradition and the modern world, Tinye So traces the quest of the ancestors as they struggle to be heard by their people, in this experimental tale exploring a range of innovative storytelling techniques.

The winner of the Short Film Competition will be selected by a jury of international film specialists and will be announced directly after the screenings. The audience will also get a chance to vote for their favourite film in The Audience Choice Award, and the winner of this contest will be announced at the closing screening of the festival on 6 November 2011.

'The short list is extremely strong making it quite a challenge to select a winner. The technical standard of production is getting higher and higher. It was also lovely to see countries such as Algeria and Ethiopia represented in the competition.' commented Noe Mendelle, director of Scottish Documentary Institute and one of the short film competition judges.

The festival takes place from 2 - 6 November 2011 at Filmhouse in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

For more, go to www.africa-in-motion.org.uk