The audiovisual industries on the African continent are undergoing dramatic changes. The digital revolution has led to the dawn of a new filmmaking era that opens up opportunities for
filmmaking in Africa. Increased African audiences for films that are screened on a variety of platforms, mean more filmmakers, including women, will enter the industry in the coming years.
What are the perspectives and challenges for women in this traditionally male dominated field? What lessons can be learned from experienced women of the craft? What impact will an increased numbers of women behind the camera and in decision making positions have on films yet to be made? What stories shall be told and how? Will choices of genre and aesthetics be affected? Finally, how are African women filmmakers claiming their space and with what vision?
These will be some of the discussion points during the open forum at the Goethe-Institut. This public forum will be following a two-day meeting of 25 African women filmmakers and guests with the objective to strengthen the intra-African exchanges and presence of women filmmakers on the continent.
In partnership with the Women of the Sun Film Festival, and with so many important voices from the African film industry present, the Goethe-Institut want to use the occasion to engage in an open discussion about operating as a woman in the film industry.
The forum participants come from all over sub-Saharan Africa and include names like filmmaker Fanta Regina Nacro from Burkina Faso, Rumbi Katedza from Zimbabwe and Monique Mkeba Phoba from DRC/Belgium. The forum will be moderated by the filmmaker and programmer of the Berlinale Dorothee Wenner and film curator June Givanni.
E-Mail: ke@johannesburg.goethe.org