The fifth edition of the Addis International Film Festival wrapped up last week. On the closing day, two films were awarded prizes in two categories: best documentary film, the Chinese film, Last Train Home and the US produced Malian film, Mrs Goundo’s Daughter. The jury comprised actors, filmmakers and enthusiast that include, Lucy Gebre-Egziabher, Monique Mbeka Phoba, Paulina Tervo, Abebe Balcha, Yourba Richen, Dario (mickey) Fonesca, Esmael Endris, Bahiru Duress and Morgan Robinson, who also screened a film in this festival entitled Morgan Robinson.
The award-winning films were chosen from among 114 films that were screened over four days(June 23-26), at ten venues in Addis Ababa, including Sebastopol Cinema, British Council, Alliance Ethio-Française and five youth centres in the city: Kirkos, Lideta, Addis Ketema, Gulele and Arada.
It was the first time for the films to be screened in 10 venues. The organizers decided to add more venues in order to make the films more accessible to viewers. The organizers did not hide the fact that they encountered problems with electricity interruptions and difficulties with managing all those places.
The annual film festival dealt with different themes. Even though this year’s theme was ‘Go Green; films also that revolve around issues of destitution, human trafficking, human right, culture, music, economic crisis, alienation were covered.
Some of the films that were screened during the festivals include Children of Gaza. This film documents the devastation caused to the Palestinian people, especially the children, during the Gaza War (December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009). 1,300 Palestinians’ were killed in the Gaza strip, 300 of them children. The filmmaker follows four children who tell their stories of the war, and investigates what kind of an impact the war has left on their young minds.
The other film, Cultures of Resistance, shows how oppression is fought by people from different countries. For example, in Iran, graffiti and rap became tools in fighting government repression and Burmese monks practice non-violent resistance against a military dictatorship. In Brazil, musicians reach out to slum kids and transform guns into guitars and in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon photography, music and film have given a voice to those rarely heard.
This year’s best social issue documentary winner, Mrs Goundo’s daughter, depicts a story of a courageous woman who is determined to save her two-year-old daughter from Female Gentile Mutilation (FGM). 85% of females undergo FGM in Mali but for Mrs Goundo’ this was unacceptable. So she seeks out political asylum in the US.
The investigative film entitled Indentured is also part of this film festival. The film portrays the harsh reality of South Asian labourers in Iraq who work as food servers, custodians and construction workers, making less than two dollars an hour in contrast to American contractors who often make six figure salaries.
The Healthy Workplaces Leipzig film festival awarded film, A Blooming Business, depicts the life of Kenyan workers who have to work at least twelve hours a day in flower farms under oppressive working conditions. These workers tell stories of corruption, toxic chemical exposure and other hardships which are hidden under the booming business.
Moroccan story tellers are depicted in the film entitled Al-Halqa-In-the Storyteller’s Circle. This film explains how story-telling is more than just about voice, rhythm and intonation but that it also about conveying an identity. The Ethiopian film, Troubled Waters, shows how the Akaki River is being contaminated by industrial and sewage waste which are pumped into the river by local factories, households and hospitals. It also shows how some of the residents are forced to use this contaminated river as a source for drinking water and the film asks different stakeholders to find a solution to the problem.
On the closing day, Destino: A Contemporary Dance Story was screened. The film depicts the journey of two Ethiopian contemporary dancers: Junaid and Addisu.
Their performance on the closing day at Sebastopol Cinema wrapped up the whole film festival.
