The 19th annual African Film Festival at WashU invites the St. Louis community to see Africa’s most acclaimed films on the big screen. This year’s showcase features six films for the evening screening, some of which have won prestigious prizes at international film festivals.
The matinee will take place on Saturday, March 29th at 3 PM, and will include animation and short narratives. The highlight of the festival is Village Next to Paradise by Mo Harawe, the first Somali film to be featured as an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. The story follows a novelist attending the courtroom drama of a woman accused of infanticide. The festival has screened Mamadou Dia’s short and feature film in previous festivals and the festival is proud to screen his third film (2nd feature), Demba. Renowned filmmaker Ekwa Msangi (in-person) will lead a Q&A after the film with the film’s producer as well as Abbesi Akhamie, the director of The Incredible Sensational Fiancée of Sèyí Àjàyí.
The festival will take place in Brown Hall. The event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.
A golf cart is available to transport movie goers who need assistance from the WashU East End Garage to the venue. The festival is sponsored by African & African American Studies and Film & Media Studies in Arts & Sciences, and the African Student Association. It is funded in part by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency and the Women’s Society of Washington University.