Until I became friends with Mohamed Ghazala, ASIFA International Board member from Egypt, I did not know nearly as much as I should about animation in Africa. I had seen work from Burkina Faso and South Africa and I knew the most prominate names such as The Frenkel Brothers who made the first Egyptian animation over 70 years ago and Moustapha Alassane who is considered the father of African animation but I would have been hard pressed to write about animation activity in that vast continent.
I hope that Animafrik Animation Festival will help to give a higher profile to African Animation. The Festival is seeking to promote art and animation from Africa as well as black animators world wide. They will also host regional film tours throughout the month of October 2009
In co-operation with Alliance Francaise, Accra and ASIFA Egypt, the festival plans to help the African animation industry grow with screenings and workshops. Animafrik will host (in English and French) a children's animation workshop, a 2 day introduction to animation and a round table discussion on "Prospect and Challenges of the Animation Industry in Africa" along with programs on creative use of technology.
The deadline for submitting DVDs is approaching, but there is still time to send your work. Mohamed has assured me that all films will be treated under the strict guidelines set down by ASIFA.
Submission Deadline: August 31, 2009
Send To: Courier: Animafrik Festival
No. 5 Anowa Link
Tesano, Accra, Ghana
Or Mail To: P.O. Box KN 150
Kaneshie, Accra, Ghana
For more details visit their web site:
