Afrika Eye 2015
Please note : this season finished in Nov 2015
Afrika Eye - the South West’s biggest celebration of African cinema and culture - returns to Watershed in November with a 10th birthday edition that adds a festival song and quilt auction to its traditional line-up of the best new and old Africa-related screenings, talks, debates, live music and participatory arts workshops. The focus for 2015 is Senegal with the additional, very topical, theme of migration.
Celebrations start with a debut performance of the Afrika Eye anniversary anthem sung by Dionne (Jill) Draper and the Afrika Eye choir (pictured), followed by a screening of the brilliant tragi-comedy Hyenas from Senegal. Then it’s time to dance the night away Senegalese style at our Opening Party with the highly rated singer and instrumentalist Amadou Diagne and Group Yakar.
Other highlights include fresh and classic films from Egypt, Ethiopia and Senegal plus the world premiere of a new urban drama set in Bristol with a Q&A from the local cast and crew.
The Afrika Eye outreach programme this year includes the stunning Kafountine Lino Print Exhibition at Hamilton House, with visiting artist Musa Camara. There will also be workshops at Spike Print Studios and Senegalese music and dance workshops in primary schools, and family workshops in printing and music at the festival itself.
Previous screenings & events in this season
Lamb
classified 12A Afrika EyeEphraim is a young Ethiopian boy, the son of a farmer. When Ephraim’s mother dies, his father sends him to live with rural cousins, far from his drought-ridden homeland and where his only comfort is his pet lamb and companion - Chuni.
100% Dakar - More than Art
classified 12A S Afrika EyeIn this lively documentary see how a new generation of Senegalese artists are pushing for social, economic and political change through the messages conveyed by their varied range of artistic pracitices.
Eyefull Shorts: Part 2
classified 18 Afrika EyeA look back at some of the best short films screened at Afrika Eye in previous years providing a fantastic opportunity to see again short snippets of life and stories from all over Africa and the African Diaspora.
Beats of the Antonov
classified 15 S Afrika EyeThis vibrant, music-rich, documentary showing how people in the Blue Nile/Nuba Mountains area of Sudan are responding to regular bombing raids by celebrating and taking strength from their culture.
Price of Love
classified 15 S Afrika EyeDespite a small budget, an untrained crew and non-professional actors, Hermon Hailay’s off-beat romance about a young taxi driver caught up in the dark side of love has rightly earned her a string of international accolades.
Black Girl
classified 12 S Afrika EyeThe acclaimed breakthrough film by Ousmane Sembène, now hailed as the founder of African cinema. A young Senegalese woman moves to France with hopes of a better life but finds instead that she is virtually a slave to the elegant Riviera set.
Cairo Station
classified 15 S Afrika EyeFrom the acclaimed Egyptian director Youssef Chahine, this is a tragi-comical masterpiece in which a newspaper seller takes drastic action to secure the love of the beautiful woman he sees every day at Cairo’s railway station.
Eyefull Shorts: Part 1
classified 18 Afrika EyeAn eclectic programme of short films and a fantastic opportunity to see short snippets of life and stories from all over Africa and the African Diaspora. The place to spot up and coming filmmakers.
Zarafa
classified PG Afrika EyeFeaturing beautifully hand-drawn land, sea and city-scapes, this is the animated story of Maki, a boy who befriends a giraffe called Zarafa, and how they stick together even when Zarafa is sent to Paris as a gift for the king.
Grade + Q&A
classified 15 Afrika EyeJoin the Bristol based cast and crew for the premiere of this inner city drama set in St Paul's. Janeece and Chantelle are young students about to make choices that will drastically affect their future.
African Voices Forum: Migration
Afrika EyeA panel discussion asks some tough questions about migration. Bristol’s African Voices Forum explores migration and its impact on society.
Afrika Eye Opening Party
Afrika EyeJoin us for the always lively Opening Party celebrating 10 years of Afrika Eye Festival with live music Amadou Diagne. Plus the Afrika Eye Community Choir. Come and party!
Hyenas
classified 12A Afrika EyeDebt-burdened villagers think their luck is in when ex-resident Linguère returns promising to share her fabulous riches. But this is a dark comedy with a catch. First, she wants them to kill the man who broke her teenage heart.