South African Film Festival
The Africa Program and the Embassy of South Africa present South African Film Festival, a three-part summer film series.
Event Sponsor
Overview
The Africa Program and the Embassy of South Africa present South African Film Festival, a three-part summer film series.
All film screenings will begin at 3:00pm.
May 27
Have You Heard from Johannesburg?: Apartheid and the Club of the West
(2006, 89 minutes)
The documentary Have You Heard From Johannesburg?: Apartheid and the Club of the West, directed by Connie Field (The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter, 1980), explores how Americans of conscience banded together to challenge their nation's support of a racist government. This film follows the formation of the grassroots movement among politicians, activists, and community leaders, which eventually succeeded in imposing sanctions on the government of South Africa.
June 18
Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony
(2002, 108 minutes)
As in many political revolutions, music was an essential component of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. Winner of the Audience Award and Freedom of Expression Award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, this documentary, directed by Lee Hirsch (The Last and Only Survivor of Flora, 1993), explores the central role of music in boosting the morale of an oppressed people and galvanizing the forces against apartheid. Amandla!, the Xhosa word for power, features interviews and commentary from many prominent South Africa musicians including pianist Abdullah Ibrahim, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, singer Miriam Makeba, singer/songwriter Vusi Mahlasela, and singer Sibongile Khumalo.
July 1
Township Opera
(2002, 59 minutes)
The documentary, Township Opera, directed by Anthony Fabian (While the Music Lasts, 2005, Harmony in Hanoi, 2003), explores the Spier Music Festival in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in summer 1996, the Spier Arts Festivals are a celebration of African excellence in the performing arts. Although opera in South Africa was previously considered to be an exclusively white enterprise, Township Opera shows that apartheid's cultural barricades can be broken. From the heart of Zululand, this film features the production of a remarkable and groundbreaking performance of Faust.
Hosted By
Africa Program
The Africa Program works to address the most critical issues facing Africa and US-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial US-Africa relations, and enhance knowledge and understanding about Africa in the United States. The Program achieves its mission through in-depth research and analyses, public discussion, working groups, and briefings that bring together policymakers, practitioners, and subject matter experts to analyze and offer practical options for tackling key challenges in Africa and in US-Africa relations. Read more
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