Category Archives: Events

Markets, Film festivals, conferences, or other events for movie makers

Le Maillot De Cristiano

Films Made by Children at Lola Kenya Screen Show in South Korea, Australia, Iran, Kenya

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BY OGOVA ONDEGO. NAIROBI, KENYA (CINEMA MINIMA) — Lola Kenya Screen productions — HAPPY TIMES by Elaine Nesbitt, MANANI OGRES by Samuel Musembi, Joseph Hongo, Marcus Kang’ethe and Norrick Mwangi, and SANTOS THE SURVIVOR by Rupinder Jagdev — have been selected for the Ready Action! competition section of the 6th Busan International Kids’ Film Festival in Busan, South Korea. Seven other Lola Kenya Children’s Screen productions shall show in the Kids For Kids Festival section as part of the global Kids For Kids Festival programme.

Additionally, Lola Kenya Screen’s most successful production — LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS — that has been to the nook and cranny of the four corners of the globe, has been selected for the Jump Cut screening programme of the 2011 Bayside Film Festival that holds August 17-20, 2011 at Palace Brighton Bay, Bay Street, Brighton, Victoria, Australia.

LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS that was made in Kiswahili in 2007 (and reformatted for TV broadcasting with the help of UNESCO in 2010) by Adede Hawi, Samora Oundo and Karama Ogova has played on virtually every continent. When three non-literate friends decide to learn English in an attempt to impress, little do they know they are scooping red hot coals into their lap. The story is simply told from the children’s own perspective. Realised under the guidance of Finnish Maikki Kantola with the support of the Danish Film Institute, LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS was in December 2010 shown at the Museum of Modern Art in Bogota, Colombia where it was shown to more than 1500 boys and girls. The film has won awards and accolades across the world where it has been screened. It continues to be one of Lola Kenya Screen’s all-time favourites with children in Oceania, South America, North America, South-East Asia and even in the Middle East.

While HAPPY TIMES, MANANI OGRES and LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS are films made by children aged 6-15 years, SANTOS THE SURVIVOR is one of the six short documentaries for children and youth made by practicing filmmakers during a Lola Kenya Screen film production workshop supported by the Jan Vrijman Fund/IDFA. This was one of the many hands-on workshops conducted by Duco Tellegen nd Meike Statema with the aim of sensitising practitioners in the film sector on the need for creating specialised documentary film content for hildren and youth in 2008. Jagdev’s SANTOS THE SURVIVOR has been a favourite on the world film festival circuit. It was part of the Jan Vrijman Fund documentary tour in various film festivals in 2010 after being nominated for best short documentary film at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in Nigeria in 2009.

With more than 32 films produced, Lola Kenya Screen has also been promoting the productions from Kenya through the weekly community screenings that have since October 2011 provided dwellers in Nairobi’s Kibera and Mathare informal settlements with a chance to watch films made by children and youth. Lola Kenya Screen’s productions that address issues such as caring for the environment, exploring and nurturing children’s talent as well as the benefits and threats of technological advancement are part of this initiative.

PASSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, FACEBOK ERA, HOUSE OF TALENT, BROTHER…BROTHER (THE QUIET KATOTO), LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS, THE UNENDING ADVENTURE, and SANTOS THE SURVIVOR have all been shown in the informal settlements to much acclaim from the audience comprising children, youth, and adults.

Lola Kenya Screen is focused on film 365 days a year through weekly skill-development mentorship programmes in schools, school/community mobile cinema, monthly Lola Kenya Screen Film Forum, annual Lola Kenya Screen film festival, and special audiovisual media outreach programmes. The mobile cinema programme covers the breadth and width of the Nairobi metropolitan area, including the Mathare and Kibera informal settlements.

While Lola Kenya Screen is an initiative that explores, identifies, nurtures, and flaunts creative talent among children and youth, Lola Kenya Screen also champions the need to see the Kenya and eastern African film sector mature into a veritable film industry. Consequently, this Nairobi-based initiative that serves children and youth in the Horn, Great Lakes and Southern Africa is a member of the International Centre of Cinema for Children and Young People (CIFEJ) — an organisation founded in 1955 under the auspices of UNESCO and UNICEF to promote excellence in cinema for children and youth. Lola Kenya Screen organises and presents Kids For Kids Festival Africa, besides identifying with various local and international film initiatives.

Since 2006 Lola Kenya Screen has been showcasing the best possible international productions for children and youth in Nairobi every second week of August. During this time of the year selected participants are given a chance to experience filmmaking; cultural journalism; creative writing; film criticism; media literacy; and event planning and presentation through special, learn-as-you-do mentorship initiatives led by local and international experts specialising in issues related to children, youth, film, mass media, culture, and development.

The sixth edition of Lola Kenya screen is scheduled for August 8-13, 2011 in the Nairobi CBD. The hugely popular skill-development mentorship programmes that form the centre piece of the festival will introduce screen-writing and screen acting to participants. The festival that has become a permanent fixture on the calendar of many film lovers will exhibit more than 250 films from 102 countries.

And — yes — you can follow the progress of Lola Kenya Screen online:

- lolakenyascreen.org
- facebook.com/lolakenyascreen
- twitter.com/lolakenyascreen
- youtube.com/lolakenyascreen
- flickr.com/lolakenyascreen

Spurgeon Academy

Lola Kenya Screen Presents Films for Enjoyment, Learning and Participation in the 21st Century

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BY OGOVA ONDEGO. NAIROBI, KENYA (CINEMA MINIMA) — On 2011 July 12, Lola Kenya Screen — audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorship programme and market for children and youth in eastern Africa — released its film line up for its sixth annual festival to be held 2011 August 8 – 13 in Nairobi on the theme, “Films for Enjoyment, Learning and Participation in the 21st Century.”

Lola Kenya Screen received more than 300 films from 102 countries from which the selection was made following a rigorous viewing selection process by children, youth, mass communication students, journalists, critics and parents. Fewer films shall be programmed than ever before following the introduction of media literacy seminars in 2010 and film discussion at the end of every film in 2011.

The selected films shall be presented in 10 categories, including the 6th Golden Mboni Award for the best children’s film, the 3rd 14-Plus Award for the best youth film, the 5th Kids for Kids Festival Africa, Films by Students, Films by Children for Children, Eastern Africa Prism, World Panorama, and three special focus areas: Documentary, Busan International Kids’ Festival (BIKI, South Korea) and George Washington University’s Documentary Centre (USA) productions. 

All the 10 categories have particularly strong films that will keep the audience busy and discussing them over the entire six-day of the festival that shall be held in both the Nairobi City Centre and the densely populated Eastlands residential neigbourhood.

 Besides film shows, Lola Kenya Screen shall host a two-day roundtable for the independent audiovisual media producers. Motivational speakers drawn from the fledgling audiovisual media sector are also expected to interact with children and youth.  

Since its inception in October 2005, Lola Kenya Screen identified itself as a specialised audiovisual media initiative exclusively designed for children and youth. Consequently, the festival takes the content for children and youth seriously, only selecting the content that is must be creative and demonstrate artistic and technical mastery; The content should speak positively to children and youth of diverse backgrounds and cultures be…sides providing strong role models for both boys and girls; The action of the film should be child/youth-driven and the stories should be culturally authentic, timely, and of universal appeal; the content should be made BY, WITH and FOR children and youth rather than ABOUT children and youth. If it focuses on children and youth, then it will be of appeal to the family as well. This is what guides the children, youth, film practitioners, journalists, critics, teachers and members of the public who constitute the committee that selects films for exhibition at Lola Kenya Screen.

6th Lola Kenya Screen Call for Film Submission

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The Lola Kenya Screen — audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorship programme and market for children and youth — is calling upon interested participants to submit quality films to the sixth edition of the annual event that will take place 2011 August 8-13 in Nairobi, Kenya.

Lola Kenya Screen, a Nairobi-based charity specialising in issues related to children, youth, mass media, culture and development, accepts all kinds of moving images made by professionals, students, amateurs, youth and children that focus on children, youth and family.

Experimental films, television series, video games and even creatively packaged music videos tackling issues related to children, youth and family and that provide strong role models to children and youth while speaking positively to children of diverse backgrounds are accepted.

Selected films are showcased under various categories with those starring children aged 6-13 years competing for the prestigious Lola Kenya Screen Golden Mboni award for the best children’s film and those featuring children above 14 years competing for the Lola Kenya Screen 14-Plus Prize for the best youth film.

While the Golden Mboni has been awarded since 2006, the 14-Plus award was inaugurated in 2009.

All entries submitted must be suitable for children ages 13 and under, youth aged 14-25 years, or family (25+).

Film entry form with regulations is available online

The deadline for applications is 2011 April 15.

More about Lola Kenya Screen

More information about Lola Kenya Screen,  a global movement that established in October 2005 to explore, identify and nurture talent among children and youth in areas such as journalism, filmmaking, arts appreciation, and organisation and presentation of cultural and creative events, is  available online:

Africa Converges in Nairobi for the 7th Annual Film Awards

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Nairobi will come alive on 2011 February 25 and 26 when leading film practitioners in Africa and the Diaspora converge on the Kenyan metropilis for the 7th edition of the annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Nomination Night and Music Concert.

According to an AMAA Press Statement issued in Lagos on February 2, 2011, the event–-dubbed Nairobi Rocks with Stars–-the Nomination Night will take place on Friday night at the Ole-Sereni Hotel and some of the stars set to attend it include Nollywood greats like Rita Dominic,Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Mike Ezuronye, Chinedu Ikeduze, Kate Henshaw-Nuttal, Jim Iyke, and Ini Edo, among others.

Tony Anih, the Administrative Secretary of AMAA, says the two-pronged Nomination Night and Music Concert is aimed at building the brand AMAA and increasing its presence and visibility in the Eastern African region to the extent that participation in the award from the region will double in subsequent years.

The Nairobi event is thus planned as an entry point to eastern Africa that comprises Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, eastern DR Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia and Southern Sudan.

“Eastern Africa has made very strong showing and presence in AMAA since we started, particularly in the last three editions. Apart from submitting films for the awards filmmakers and allied practitioners from these countries have come to Nigeria to attend the awards,” Anih says.

He explains that it was largely because of the region’s contribution to Africa’s premier film awards that the Secretariat of AMAA “felt it is time to make them have a feel of the award by taking the Nomination Night to them and thereby increasing the AMAA brand’s visibility in that region of Africa. Nairobi is central to East Africa and it is the economic hub of the region. It will be easy for people in East Africa to
come to Nairobi. It will be a great Night.”

Another feature of this year’s Nomination Night is a concert that is scheduled for Saturday, February 26, at Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi’s Lang’ata area. The main performers will be P-Square, J Martins, Edge, Kwela Tebza and Amani.

African Academy Awards 2011 Poster

African Movie Academy Awards nominees to be announced 2011 February 12 at event in Nairobi, Kenya

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The Seventh African Movie Academy Awards Nomination Night will take place on February 12, 2011, in Nairobi, Kenya. Filmmakers — from all over Africa, and from the African diaspora worldwide — will attend the event at the Safari Park Hotel, which will start Saturday afternoon at four o’clock. Over 300 African motion pictures had been submitted in 2010 for consideration by the Africa Film Academy.

The AMAA Nomination Night will be an all-Africa event: Fifty-three countries will represented at the gathering, which expresses the aspirations of players among the continent’s burgeoning audiovisual media.

The African Movie Academy Awards

The awards recognize and honor excellence among the directors, actors, and writers who create Africa’s audiovisual media. They also promote exemplary works of African filmmaking.

The Seventh African Movie Academy Awards ceremony will be held in Nairobi on March 26, 2011. The glamorous ceremony has become a prestigious event in the African entertainment industry calendar.

Links

[This story is based on reporting by Cinema Minima Correspondent Ogova Ondego in Nairobi. Lilian Baksalevowicz at FilmContact.com in Cape Town, South Africa, also contributed to this story.]

FYRO Macedonia Still from MOTHERS

European Film Promotion screens 13 Oscar contenders 2010 November 3-10 in Beverly Hills

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BY AUSTIN BURBRIDGE. LOS ANGELES (CINEMA MINIMA) — European Film Promotion — a consortium of 32 European film organizations — will host industry screenings for 13 feature films which are up for consideration to be nominees for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 83rd Academy Awards.

European Film Promotion poster image

The films — from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Macedonia, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland — will be shown in Beverly Hills (Los Angeles) 2010 November 3–10, in afternoon and evening screenings for film professionals, selected press, and Academy members. The screenings coincide with the American Film Market, in order to give the films exposure to the many buyers who come from all over the world to do business there.

“These screenings are a great chance to highlight some of Europe’s best films during the Oscar campaigns, and also, for the buyers who attend the AFM,” observed Éva Vezér, who is President of EFP, and General Manager of the Hungarian film organization Magyar Filmunió. “We are extremely pleased to be able to present 13 of our films this year — a big increase compared to the eight in 2009 and six in 2008. This shows that more and more members of our EFP network want to make use of this opportunity and spotlight the films where the decision makers meet.”

Guide to EFP Screenings

For the convenience of Cinema Minima’s readers the entire screening schedule is presented here in chronological order, and with handy indices, by country, and by title.

All screenings will take place at the Wilshire Screening Room → Map.

Screenings: Index by country

Screenings: Index by title

Schedule of screenings

Each entry includes –

  • A still from the film, which is linked to its handbill
  • A link to its entry in the EFP Film Database
  • A link to professional information about its director
  • A link (if available) to its website or trailer
  • A link to its handbill. Each handbill — which is in Adobe Reader (PDF) format — is a complete résumé of the film, with sales information for buyers. These handbills are superb productions. They testify to the high standards and excellence of the EFP’s Film Sales Support organization.
2010 November 3 Wednesday 6:15 PM
Still from MAMA GOGO Iceland — MAMMA GÓGÓ by Fridrik Thór Fridriksson.
Trailer. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 3 Wednesday 8:00 PM
Still from TIRZA The Netherlands (Holland) — TIRZA by Rudolf van den Berg.
Website. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 4 Thursday 8:00 PM
Still from EVEN THE RAIN Spain — TAMBIÉN LA LLUVIA | EVEN THE RAIN by Icíar Bollain.
Website. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 5 Friday 5:00 PM
Still from 9:06 Slovenia — 9:06 by Igor Šterk.
Trailer. Handbill.
2010 November 6 Saturday 2:30 PM
Still from THE BORDERSlovak Republic — THE BORDER by Jaro Vojtek.
Website. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 6 Saturday 4:00 PM
Still from LA PIVELLINA Austria — LA PIVELLINA by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel.
Trailer. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 6 Saturday 6:00 PM
Still from THE BLACKS Croatia — CRNCI | THE BLACKS by Zvonimir Jurić and Goran Dević.
Trailer. Handbill.
2010 November 7 Sunday 4:00 PM
Still from LA PETIT CHAMBRE Switzerland — LA PETITE CHAMBRE by Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond.
Website. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 7 Sunday 6:00 PM
Still from THE ANGEL Norway — ENGELEN | THE ANGEL by Margreth Olin.
Website. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 9 Tuesday 6:15 PM
Still from SIMPLE SIMON Sweden — I RYMDEN FINSS INGA KÄSNLOR | SIMPLE SIMON by Andreas Öhman.
Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 9 Tuesday 8:00 PM
Still from BIBLIOTHEQUE PASCAL Hungary — BIBLIOTHÈQUE PASCAL by Szabolcs Hajdú.
Trailer. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 10 Wednesday 6:15 PM
Bulgaria. Still from EASTERN PLAYS Bulgaria — EASTERN PLAYS by Kamen Kalev.
Trailer. Handbill (PDF).
2010 November 10 Wednesday 8:00 PM
FYRO Macedonia Still from MOTHERS FYR of Macedonia — MAJKI | MOTHERS by Milcho Manchevski.
Handbill (PDF).

European Film Promotion

European Film Promotion (EFP) organizes the screenings. It is an international network of organizations from 32 European countries, which promotes and markets European cinema around the world.

Each member organization employs experts in promoting and marketing its own national cinema; and they coöperate to promote European cinema.

EFP was founded in 1997. It is supported by the European Union’s Media Programme and by its member organizations.

EFP Film Sales Support

EFP FSS logo Film Sales Support (FSS) — which will have an umbrella office at the American Film Market — is EFP’s support scheme for the promotion of European films outside of Europe.

FSS financially supports up to 50% of the marketing campaigns of European sales agents — or production companies in cases where films are not handled by a sales agent — at selected non-European film festivals or markets. In 2009, FSS backed 165 films at FILMART, the Asian Film Market, and the AFM.

For more information

The EFP Project Coordinator is Luisa Graeve

Lola Kenya Screen hosts two cutting-edge mentorship programs for children and youth

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BY OGOVA ONDEGO. NAIROBI, KENYA (CINEMA MINIMA) — The Nairobi-based Lola Kenya Screen — audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorship program, and market for children and youth in eastern Africa — marks five years of service to children and youth in November 2010 with two cutting-edge skill-development mentorship programs.

Workshops: Documentary Filmmaking, Critical Writing

Consequently, Lola Kenya Screen is inviting children and youth in Nairobi and environs to apply to the mentorship programs in Documentary Filmmaking and Critical Writing, scheduled for 2010 November 29 through December 4 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The training is scheduled for November and December, to enable form-four students, and standard-eight pupils who will have done their national examinations, to participate and to gain the life skills required at the next stage of their formal education.

Lola Kenya Screen has, since 2006, showcased some 1,750 best-possible films for children, youth and family, from 98 nations; and has helped train 61 children in filmmaking, 23 in journalism, 19 in events organization & presentation; and 20 in critical appreciation of creativity. Those trained have come from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Zimbabwe. Many more children have been exposed to media literacy through the Lola Kenya Screen’s school outreach program.

Apply to participate in workshops

To celebrate five years of service, Lola Kenya Screen calls upon interested candidates to apply for consideration in either its critical writing workshop, or its documentary filmmaking workshop.

These — as is usual with the ever popular Lola Kenya Screen programs for children and youth — will be intensive, six-day, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM learn-as-you-do programs, that will be faciltated by renowned international experts specializing in issues related to children, youth, mass media, culture, and development.

Although preference will be given to applicants who have already participated in any of Lola Kenya Screen programs (2005-2010), anyone interested in the November–December training should apply without exception.

Every application, written by the child/youth and specifying the program in which one is interested, must include:

  • Intention
  • Expectations
  • School
  • Age
  • Email address
  • Telephone, preferably cell/mobile number
  • Physical address
  • Letter of permission from parent/guardian

The applicant must be 6-16 years old (9-18 for production workshop). She (or he) must be both knowledgeable and interested in audiovisual media. The applicant must have the ability to understand, speak, and write in English; and must be able to compose, type, and submit articles of 500–1,200 words daily. The candidate must be ready to work under strict deadlines; and should be supported by parents or guardians.

Deadline for Applications 2010 October 30

The application material is to be sent to director@lolakenyascreen.org. The DEADLINE for application is 2010 October 30 at 5:00 PM East African Standard Time | 14:00 GMT.

Admission to the workshops is on the first-come, first-served basis.

This training, part of the Pan African Cinetoile mobile cinema, will be offered by Lola Kenya Screen in conjunction with Africalia of Belgium, the Belgian Development Cooperation, the European Union, ComMattersKenya, and ArtMatters.Info.

Support Lola Kenya Screen

Lola Kenya Screen appeals for support from other well wishers interested in helping shape the destiny of Kenya, Africa, and the world through mentoring children and youth. Any one interested in sharing this vision in any way may contact the Directorate of Lola Kenya Screen through:

  • director@lolakenyascreen.org
  • Mobile telephone: 254 733 703374
  • Mobile telephone: 254 722 486531
  • Mobile telephone: 254 752 745423
  • Telephone: 254 20 315258
  • Telephone: 254 20 2213318

More about Lola Kenya Screen

Incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Kenya as a charity, Lola Kenya Screen is an international audiovisual media festival, skill-development mentorshop programme and market for children and youth in eastern Africa.

Lola Kenya Screen operates in eastern and southern Africa, helping train children and youth in countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania mainland, Zanzibar island, and Zimbabwe.

The annual Lola Kenya Screen film festival is held every second week of August to showcase the best possible international productions for children, youth and family alongside learn-as-you-do skill-development metorship programmes in film production, film appreciation, creative journalism, event planning and presentation, and media literacy.

Lola Kenya Screen also gives awards to the best children’s film (Golden Mboni Award), the best youth film (14-Plus Award) and the Kids For Kids Africa Festival Award.

Lola Kenya Screen conducts a mobile cinema programme to schools in and around Nairobi throughout the year and mentor pupils and youth in filmmaking, film appreciation, media literacy, event organisation & presentation.

Lola Kenya Screen runs a monthly Lola Kenya Screen Film Forum (LKSFF), a discussion platform aimed at critiquing, encouraging and exploring ways of how to integrate film production in Kenya and eastern Africa with other socio-cultural and economic sectors in order to come up with a vibrant film industry.

Held in conjunction with Goethe-Institut in Kenya, LKSFF enables audiovisual media practitioners to watch and discuss short films from eastern Africa, to exchange ideas, and to network every last Monday of the month throughout the year. This forum is often one of the first places where new films can be seen and young talent spotted.

Since December 2005 when the first LKSFF was held, more than 100 films have been shown: films from Willie Owusu to Just A Band, from Wanuri Kahiu to Judy Kibinge.

LKSFF is part of the annual Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media event.

Follow the Lola Kenya Screen progress:

  • lolakenyascreen.org
  • FaceBook
  • Twitter/LolaKenyaScreen