From "Bintou," directed by Fanta Nacro
Tonight the UW Cinematheque offers a FREE screening of three films from the 2007 FESPACO Pan-African film and television festival. Details below from Cinematheque via the 2010 Wisconsin Film Festival:
Pan-African Film Festival
FESPACO Winning Short Films
Thu.16.Jul | 2009 | 7:30 pm
UW Cinematheque, 4070 Vilas Hall, 821 University Ave. | Madison | free
Every two years, the city of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso hosts FESPACO, the Pan-African film and television festival. FESPACO was created in 1969 and is now the largest African film festival in the world and the biggest regular cultural event on the African continent. Its stated aim is “to facilitate the screening of all African films” and “to contribute to the expansion and development of African cinema as a means of expression, education and awareness-raising.” The Cinematheque is proud to support this mission with its screenings of outstanding 2007 FESPACO films. All films will be introduced by Professor Aliko Songolo who will also lead the discussions following each screening. Funding is provided by UW Madison’s African Studies Program, Department of French & Italian, Center for Interdisciplinary French Studies (CIFS) and the Evjue Foundation.
Article 15 bis
Democratic Republic of Congo | 2000 | 15 min | 35mm, color
in French with English subtitles
dir: Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda
with Michel Gohou, Michel Bohiri | While three guards reveal their nature by talking leisurely about public service, corruption, and back-pay, somebody urinates against the wall. That deserves a fine and the guards immediately try to extract money from him. This contemporary fable examines the abuse of power by private guards and won the Poitou Charentes Award at FESPACO 2001.
Bintou
Burkina Faso, France | 2001 | 31 min | 35mm, color
in Mooré with English subtitles
dir: Fanta Régina Nacro
with Hyppolite Ouangrawa, Alima Salouka | Bintou, a mother-of-three has only one wish: that her daughter can attend school to receive an education. Since her husband refuses to pay for it, Bintou takes things into her own hands, by growing millet sprouts. Winner of numerous awards, including Best Short Film at FESPACO and the Cannes Film Festival, 2001.
Menged
Ethiopia | 2006 | 20 min | 35mm, color
in Amharic with English subtitles
dir: Daniel Taye Workou
with Bewketu Belete, Shewaferaw Dessalegn, Alemu Gebre Arb | A lot can happen on the long way to the market in the Ethiopian countryside. A father and his son follow everybody’s well-intended advice, but regain their senses in this modern Ethiopian folk tale about a country in transition between tradition and modernism. Best Short Film FESPACO 2007.
