By Ogova Ondego
Published November 12, 2014
A platform that will use short movies to change the narrative about Africa has been launched.
The initiative, Voices Africa, whose aim is to ‘encourage the production of short films in Africa’, will be a monthly story challenge for up-and-coming filmmakers across Africa, according to the Nigeria-based Africa Film Academy (AFA) that also presents the annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA).
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“The best story from the challenge will be developed and produced into a short film,” said Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, President of AFA.
Announcing the new initiative at the ongoing American Film Market in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California in the United States of America, Anyiam-Osigwe said, “We hope to produce tens of short movies every year. We have decided to sponsor only the stories that project the light in Africa. We shall use these stories to explore the beautiful cultures and traditions that Africa is known for. Our stories will also explore the challenges of Africans and draw attentions to critical issues often lost in the News.”
Saying the best five stories will win a US$500 prize besides being produced into short films, Anyiam-Osigwe said, “We are looking for a new crop of film professionals to help us liberate the visual misery of Africa and create the reality of Africa with truth and light at the end of the tunnel.â€