I used to run an annual post mocking Sundance’s offering of Africa-themed films or films by directors of African descent. (I didn’t bother last year, but here’s 2010′s version complete with a good dose of indignation.) It’s gotten slightly better, but Sundance still comes with the usual offerings of pirates, mostly films by Westerners (not a bad thing in itself, if they’re made well and with good stories) or about Westerners finding themselves or saving Africans. Anyway, there’s some news to celebrate from this year’s festival: the first woman director of African descent has won the award for Best Director for Dramatic Film at the festival. She is Ava DuVernay, director of the drama “Middle of Nowhere,” a film about a woman whose husband is incarcerated. See above for an interview with DuVernay and below the trailer.
Btw, I saw DuVernay’s debut feature film, “I will follow“–a beautifully filmed languid contemplation on death and family–last year at a New School film conference. DuVernay is also a leading figure in a movement to organize African-American film festivals and orchestrate theatrical releases for black independent films, usually neglected by mainstream advertising and theaters. Maybe things can get better. Congratulations to her. Here‘s a video interview at Sundance 2012 with DuVernay about “Middle of Nowhere.” Below is a teaser for the film:
Yes!
And I can’t wait to see MoN
Congrats to Ava! And as always THANKS AIAC for keeping us all in the loop.
But I must say I’m a bit surprised by this opinion piece.
It’s time Africans have our own festivals & recognize our
own talents, and care less whether were FINALLY
Recognized by festivals or organizations that have
apparently left us out (or at the least black women)
until 2012! It’s obvious they dont think highly of our
contributions to art, and by giving them props now,
Further magnifys our own dependence on them to validate
Our work. We have FAR to go! But we MUST start
The journey.
@Speech, Africa does have its own film festival. Its called FESPACO and it was founded on the same ideas that you are talking about nearly 50 years ago.
http://www.fespaco-bf.net/
Thanks #fespaco; just to add, there’s a ton of outlets now for African film including countless other festivals on the continent; as for festivals focused on films by people of African descent here in the US there’s a few–NYAFF and PAFF in LA, the most notable; but if you want to make art and make money or live decently off your art, mainstream appeal and praise does not hurt.
Reading this post and the comments, I am somewhat baffled. Is this not a film made by an American – a Westerner?