By Lola Kenya Screen Publicity
Published September 23, 2012
Two films made by children in Kenya have been selected for screening in the United Kingdom in October-December 2012.
The films–Little Knowledge is Dangerous animation by Adede Hawi, Samora Oundo and Karama Ogova; and Vanessa’s Dream documentary by Adede Hawi and Daki Mohammed–were made during the skill-development programme in filmmaking offered by the Nairobi-based Lola Kenya Screen motion pictures platform for children and youth in eastern Africa.
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Besides being showcased in the official programme of the Africa in Motion Edinburgh African Film Festival in Scotland, the films shall also be streamed online and aired on television across the UK. They shall also be screened to children in less well-provided areas in rural Scotland during Africa in Motion’s Schools & Rural Tour in November 2012.
Ogova Ondego, the managing trustee and creative director of Lola Kenya Screen, is expected in Scotland where he will present the films, run a workshop with children and their parents, present the Lola Kenya Screen approach to children, youth, mass media, culture and development issues, and address an international conference on ‘Trends and Creative Entrepreneurs: Youth Culture; New Markets’. The conference is organised by Creative Scotland in collaboration with Africa in Motion (AiM).
Saying the theme for AiM 2012 is ‘Modern Africa’, Isabel Mendes, AiM festival director, says, “We will focus on films and events that represent Africa as part and parcel of the modern, globalised world; the urban, the new, the provocative, the innovative and experimental. We regard ‘modern’ not as belonging solely to the ‘West’, and through the festival we want to emphasise Africa’s important role in the modern world. We are interested in discovering and exploring through this year’s festival how modernity manifests in African cultures.”
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Among others, AiM says it shall be seeking answers to questions such as:
*How has Africa become part of the global world through processes such as migration, exile and the increasing role of the African Diaspora?
*What is Africa’s relationship with the international community in political and economic spheres?
*How has the digital revolution affected Africa through the prevalence of technology such as the increasing use of mobile phones, satellite dishes and digital filmmaking?
*How can modern art forms be observed in African cultures such as contemporary dance, architecture, modern street fashion, conceptual art, new fusion musical styles, street art, graffiti, graphic novels and cartoons?
*How have African countries found modern, innovative and grassroots solutions to contemporary challenges such as resource control, environmental protection, poverty, conflict resolution, education and economic emancipation?, and
*How has modern life affected African societies and individuals in terms of traditional customs and rituals, religion, rural community life, family dynamics and the role of women?
“We are very excited to announce that AiM 2012 will include Glasgow screenings in addition to our annual Edinburgh festival. AiM Glasgow will run parallel with the Edinburgh festival between October 25 and November 2,” Mendes says.
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The film screenings will be accompanied by a wide range of complementary events such as directors’ Q&As and master classes, workshops, discussions, music performances and an arts exhibition.
Since its inception in October 2005, Lola Kenya Screen has been presented as an example of best practice in child fare in Berlin, Munich, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Merida, Sheffield, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kampala, Zanzibar, Nairobi, among other places while the films it has produced with youngsters have been screened in China, United Kingdom, Mexico, Colombia, Germany, South Africa, Australia, South Korea, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, eastern Congo-Kinshasa, and Poland.
