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Mobile film festival Africa announce official selection
Organisers of the Mobile Film Festival Africa has announced the official selection of its second edition, which is composed of 54 films from 21 countries.

The 54 films were selected from 886 films received from 40 African countries for this edition which is organized in the framework of “Rabat, African Capital of Culture” and held in partnership with United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa) and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Organisers hinted that the official selection features films offered with subtitles in French, English, Arabic, Portuguese and Spanish and that tackles important societal questions throughout all cinematographic genres: comedy, fiction, thriller, and documentary. ‘’We are proud to be able to share all of these young Africans’s visions with as many people as possible, in Africa and around the world. This is how we make their voices heard”, Bruno Smadja, founder of the Mobile Film Festival Africa said adding that the festival has returned to the African continent with the same rules that previously made it successful: 1 Mobile, 1 Minute, 1 Film.

All the selected films will be expected to enjoy a great international exposure and be ensured to be seen in many places, starting with screenings in a few film festivals in early May (the FCAT, the Festival de Cine Africano de Tarifa-Tánger in Spain and Morocco, and the MIFF, the Master International Film Festival of Hammamet, in Tunisia). For this second edition, $46,000 in creative grants will be awarded to the winners.

Submission open for second edition of AuthenticA Series Lab
Following a highly successful first edition, with positive industry feedback and investor deals being negotiated, Realness Institute in partnership with the Storyboard Collective, and with the support of Series Mania Forum and the French Embassy in South Africa and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) has opened calls for submissions for the second edition of AuthenticA Series Lab, beginning in September 2023.

The AuthenticA Series Lab is a programme designed for African episodic screenwriters to support the development of their series scripts. This is one of six programmes from the Realness Institute designed, with partners, to grow the African film industry by seeking out new ideas and supporting these in their development process.

The Lab is offered to four African screenwriters from African countries and the Diaspora working in any genre. The aim is to give episodic screenwriters an indispensable opportunity to bolster their craft, enhance their skills and highlight genuine, up-to-date viewpoints about the continent that frequently receives inaccurate and inauthentic representation.

The six-month programme comprises a stimulating combination of online and in-person sessions in a variety of locations from 19 September 2023 to 30 March 2024. “This programme is the dream — to have enough time to immerse oneself in the development of a series one is passionate about, among like-minded peers, without having to worry about keeping a roof over your head,” enthuses Story Expert Mentor Selina Ukwuoma and co-designer of the programme adding that the first cohort of writers grabbed that opportunity and really made an impact at Series Mania. “The first edition was a great success. We sense a great desire for creation in many African countries,” says Laurence Herszberg, General Director of Series Mania. “Séries Mania wants to be the gateway for those projects to the industry, as we know that there is a strong interest from the international professionals.” Submissions close on 14 June 2023

Nigerian film corporation endorses maiden AiLFF
The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has endorsed the hosting of the maiden edition of the African Indigenous Language Film Festival (Ailff). The festival is scheduled to hold as from July 4 to 7 in Lagos. In a letter signed by the Managing Director of the NFC Dr. Chidia Madueke, the NFC said it was endorsing the festival given the objective of the festival and most importantly its anticipated contribution to the promotion of Nigeria’s indigenous languages through the visual medium.

‘’NFC wishes to inform you of its endorsement for your kind consideration, support and partnership’ the letter read. Festival Director and promoter Osezua Stephen-Imobhio had disclosed that the festival aims at projecting and furthering the progress of African Indigenous language filmmaking through film screening, training workshops and conferences.

He also announced the festival jury who according to him will be chaired by Prof. Jeremiah Methuselah, who is the Rector of the National Film Institute, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Members of the jury include Nigerian award-winning actors, Mallam Sanni Mu’azu, Chief Ngozi Ezeonu, former president of the Actors Guild Nigeria (AGN) Emeka Ike, Doyin Amodu (UK based filmmaker and Chairperson, TAMPAN UK chapter), Ketsia Fridjon (Cameroun-based film lecturer, dubbing producer and distributor of African content).

Ailff, which focuses exclusively on films shot in African indigenous languages, also has notable Nollywood actress Ini Edo, film director Pat Oghre, Ms. Rahab Njeri Kimani, Nairobi, Kenya-based film distribution expert and Frank K. Hemans, Ghanaian Indie Filmmaker resident in South Africa as jurors.