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More than 10,000 turned up for the annual African Cine Week of Nairobi held at the landmark Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) and Nairobi Cinema in the Central Business District.

New and award-winning films at the 18th Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) and the 6th Festival of the Dhow Countries in Zanzibar were screened in the presence of leading filmmakers from Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda, and Kenya. Panorama Screen-featuring films from East Africa--were screened daily between 12.00 and 14.30 hours; feature films ran every evening from 19.00 hours.

Emmanuel Isikaku (Lagos Zone president of the Video Film Marketers and Producers Association), Senegalese director Moussa Sene Absa, and Ugandan screenwriter and star (Centre 4 TV series) Kaya Kagimu-Mukasa, graced the occasion. Debates on Training, Production, Distribution, and Audiovisual Regulation were held with investors, regulatory agencies, broadcasters, advertising firms, training institutions, distributors and exhibitors. The fora ran 15.00-17.00 hours at KICC.

Awards to deserving films were presented in five categories: Best Student Film, Best Fiction, Best Documentary, Best Technical Quality, and People's Choice Prize. The 2003 competition was stiffer with a record 46 entries being received for the Panorama Competition compared to 25 entries in 2002

African Cine Week: Kenya 2003 catalogue

To underscore the importance of promotion and distribution, the 6th African Cinema Week of Nairobi published African Cine Week: Kenya 2003, a catalogue aimed at marketing Kenya's audiovisual potential. This is the first time such a publication-researched, compiled and edited by ComMatters-- has been done in Kenya, arguably the leading audiovisual nation in eastern Africa. Launched in 1998, the African Cine Week's sixth edition was seen as a giant step taken by Nairobi towards establishing itself as a market for African films. It also brought to the fore the hidden audiovisual potential the East African country possesses as quality films came from unexpected quarters: rehabilitated street children, thespians, students and non-governmental organisations.

In its first two editions, the African Cinema Week had displayed mainly Kenyan productions besides initiating informative discussions on issues related to the future of local productions in the country. Since 2000, however, participation in the event has opened to professionals in the whole of Africa.

The 6th African Cine Week-- organised by the Kenya Film and Television Professional Association, the Kenya National Film Association, and the French Cultural and Cooperation Centre with funding from the French Embassy in Nairobi--was held in conjunction with the biennial African Television Programme Market (MAP-TV) organised by the continental Union of National Radio and Television Organisations of Africa (URTNA).

The following films were screened

1. Behind Closed Doors

Director: Jane Murago-Munene Country: Kenya Genre: Social drama Language: English Running time: 80 minutes Stars: Joyce Kanema, Eric Babu, Valerie Kimani and Brian Mwaura
This is a story of perseverance and hope. Rose, a professional woman--a dotting mother and loving wife--is locked into an abusive relationship. Despite advice from well meaning relatives and friends that she leaves, Rose clings onto the shell of the marriage for the sake of the family and good social standing.

2. Le Pari de l'Amour(Betting on love)

Director: Didier Aufor t Country: Ivory Coast Running time: 105 minutes Genre: Comedy, Soap Language: French with English subtitles Stars: Isabelle Beke, Djedje Apali, Virgile M'Fioulou, Aissatou Thiam, Patrick Kodjo Topou, and Virginie Racosta.
This is a racy love story looking at young adults in urban Africa. It begins in an Abidjan beauty salon full of gossipy women where hairdresser Caroline is engaged to Jean- Philippe (Djedje Apali). However, she is forced to re-examine her planned marriage upon winning US$20 million lottery. The film paints a slick picture of the bustling Abidjan, the Ivorian capital that almost diminishes images of social instability captured in the media .

3. L'extraordinaire destin de Madame Brouette(Madam Brouette)

Film director Susan Wambui Wamburi has made a historical documentary on Lamu

Director: Moussa Sene Absa Country: Senegal Running time: 104 minutes Genre: Comedy, Drama, Musical Language: French with English subtitles Stars: Ousseynou Diop, Rokhaya Niang, Aboubacar Sadikh Ba, and Kadiatou Sy
Mati has had enough of men. Or so she says after her divorce. Fiercely proud and independent, she lives by hawking groceries in a local market that earns her the name Madam Wheelbarrow. Together with her daughter Ndeye and a friend, Ndaxte-who has fled from a violent marriage--she hopes to one day own a small hotel that will enable them to have steady income. However, this is forgotten when Mati falls in love with Naapo, a charming, smooth talking, policeman

4. La Gčnese(Genesis)

Director: Cheikh Oumar Sissoko Year: 1999 Country: Mali Language: French with English subtitles
This film brings to life the Christian, Jewish and Islamic traditions found in Genesis and revolving around Jacob and Esau in exploring internecine wars and conflict in Africa. Singer Salif Keita plays Esau, bitter and nihilistic after his younger brother, Jacob, forces him to sell his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup. He blames fraternal strife on God, for not providing enough resources for all humanity

Madam Brouette earns a living through hawking her wares in the streets

5. The only son

Director: Theodore Anyanji Time: 90 minutes Genre: Social drama Cast: Tony Umez, Franca Brown, Clarion Abiola
Jacqueline, a black American, is married to Richard, a Nigerian. Parents of two daughters, there is no hope for the Odidigbo dynasty. Will Richard take a second wife according to tradition, and will Jacqueline swallow her pride and accept the arrangement? This sets the stage for intrigue as psychic forces come into play. Who will win: will it be Richard's mother Ezine, or his wife Jacqueline?

6. Jealous lovers

Director: Adim Williams Genre: Social drama Language: English Time: 90 minutes Cast: Genevieve Nnaji, Pat Attah
This film explores inability to draw a line between love and possessiveness. Nonso is obsessed with Chioma to the extent he assigns someone to keep an eye on her for him. However the spy, his cousin Cynthia, has her own plans: to displace Chioma with her own candidate. Will she succeed?

7. Late marriage

Producer: Emmanuel Isikaku Director: Adim Williams Language: English Genre: Social drama Time: 90 minutes Cast: Clarion Chukwurah, Kola Idowu, Tina Amuziam
When Doris rejects the 120th man that asks for her hand in marriage, she is waiting for her handsome knight in a shining armour. However when Mr Right fails to show up, Doris is forced to changer her standards. But is time still on her side? The once proud, delectable and irresistible Doris becomes a second wife. Then the stock fails to deliver as Mr Right's first wife gets back on the scene.

8. Taking Action

Director: Jakub Barua Year: 2002 Time: 30min Language: English Genre: Documentary
This documentary was made to encourage marginalised communities to take action against poverty and injustice as well as inspire development organisations to steer the course for justice. A breath-taking journey through Kenya, Taking Action is set in five Action Aid projects that are starting to put power where it belongs--in the hands of people.

9. The price of a Daughter

Director: Jane Murago-Munene Year: 2003 Genre: Fiction Language: English Time: 86 minutes
Cast: Sereya Leseni, Vincent Mbaya, Jane Seret, Helen Sayianka, Koinato ole Tiges, Rachel Saayioni Naisenya is pulled out of school at 14 to be forcefully circumcised before being married off to an older man. Will her defiance of her people's traditions bring a curse on her?

Betting on love is possible. But only through passionate French kisses

10. Spurts of blood

Director: Willie Owusu Time: 15 minutes Language: English
Mambo and Riziki are faced with the difficult task of going for an HIV/Aids test. Will they go for the test? Why is there omnipresent fear within then whenever the subject comes up?

11. The silent holocaust

Director: Sheila Joy Mulinya Time: 28 minutes
Vera, a 20-year-old student nurse, discovers that she is pregnant. With her end of year examinations pending and with the college administration policy that prohibits expectant students from studies, Vera is almost at the end of the tether.

12. Lamu: A Splendor of Heritage

Director: Susan Wamburi Genre: Documentary Language: English Duration: 21 Minutes
Dating to the 12th Century, Lamu is the only remaining Swahili living settlement in East Africa. The documentary samples some of this rich cultural heritage and a tranquil life that has defied modern influence. Against this ancient background is Maulidi, an annual colorful vibrant festival in honor of prophet Mohammed's birthday, that stirs this conservative island town from its slumber bringing it to life with song, dance, sporting fun and fond memories once every year.

Directed: Angela Loy Producer: AMREF Time: 58 minutes
This innovative film-about a man who lives on garbage dumps in Kawangware slums of Nairobi and is trying to save some money for fare to his rural home to visit his father-- is done by eight ex-street children.

14. When in Rome…

Director: Mark Kihara, Producer: Mohamed Amin Foundation TV School
Time: 1 minute Cast: Mark Kihara, Nic Otieno, Jusso Koponen, Aki Matilainen, Arto Tuohimaa, Keran Altug. Mark Kihara and Nic Otieno are in Helsinki, Finland, for the first time. The documentary describes how it is like to be a foreigner from a different culture, trying to fit in and do the right thing.

15. The Life Gamble

Director: Mathare Youth Sports Association Shootback Team Producer: MYSA and Ambatana Educational Trust Time: 6 minutes
This documentary calls for commitment and faithfulness in relationships as it cautions against drug abuse, a factor in the spread of HIV/Aids.

16. The Ivory Orphans

Director: Sonal Radia-Tyagi Time: 7 minutes
This film is about elephant orphans at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Orphanage. It follows two of the orphans as they make the transition from the 'junior' nursery at Nairobi to the 'senior' orphanage at Tsavo.

Duration: 30 minutes
A sample of what happens when a naďve young female doctor, a crooked male medical officer, a quirky always-appearing-at-the-wrong-time gardener, a cleaner who carts away clinical records to satisfy an insatiable desire for literature, and nurses of various shades, are thrown together.

18. Dangerous Affair

Director: Judy Kibinge Duration 112 minutes
A peek in the love lives of young Nairobi professionals, who believe commitment is a waste of time.

19. The Day I Will Never Forget

Director: Kim Longinotto Duration: 90 minutes
This is an exploration of female circumcision, love, marriage, family, rebellion and change, among select Kenyan communities.

Director: Medeva TV Students Duration: 28 minutes
One episode of the magazine that is designed as a hands-on training tool on factual television programming. It explores the obsession of Kenyans for Western countries and the pain they go through. Just to get to the United States.

Nairobi holds African Film festival