THE OBENSON REPORT

Covering Cinema From All Across The African Diaspora
Showing posts with label Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Festival. Show all posts

New York African Diaspora Film Festival

Posted on 11:47 AM No Comments
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Certainly one of the more worthwhile black film festivals in the country. You're always guaranteed to find a wide variety of films from every segment of the Diaspora - both old and new. This year is no different, with around 100 films on the festival's schedule, from just about every continent, occupying its entire 2-week run to screen them all - November 28 to December 14.

Of particular interest to me:
  • The Prince of Broadway
  • An Ethiopian film titled 13 Months of Sunshine
  • Disappearing Voices - The Decline of Black Talk Radio
  • A Cameroonian Film called Paris A Tout Prix (Paris or Nothing)
  • Charles Burnetts's Namibia epic - Namibia: The Struggle for Liberation
  • Sexe, Gombo Et Beurre Sale (Sex, Okra and Salted Butter) - a French film by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, who previously brought us the critically acclaimed 2006 film, Daratt
Go to the NYADFF website for a list of every film screening, accompanied by any relevant information (synopsis, dates, times, etc...).

Show your support! We say we want change; we cry out for it; now, here's yet another opportunity for all of us to affect it.

I'll certainly be there for some of the films, and will share my thoughts on my podcast.

www.nyadff.org

Are You An 'Afro-Punk?'

Posted on 7:37 AM No Comments
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I'm actually ashamed to admit that in the 5 years I've lived in New York City I've never once attended the the 4-year old Afro-Punk Festival, even though it's always been in my borough, Brooklyn, at venues that are literally within a 20-minute bus ride from my apartment.

Every year, since the first time I found out about its existence, I've always told myself that I would go to some of the festival's events, but some opposing force pulls me in another direction. I suppose that's one of the challenges (if I may call it that) of living in a city like New York. One feels overwhelmed with the preponderance of available public (and private) activities - so much that often I don't partake in anything at all :o)

But that's no excuse for not attending the festival created by Mr Afro-Punk himself, James Spooner, writer and director of the critically acclaimed 2003 documentary film, Afro Punk: The Rock N Roll Nigger Experience. And this year, I WILL attend the festival of film screenings, live musical performances, parties and more. That's a promise, so feel free to hold me to my words! And I will report on my experiences afterwards.

I of course mention all this, because the Afro-Punk festival is coming, for its 4th year, to Brooklyn, NY, in 2 weeks - specifically, July 4th to July 13th - with a new slate of films, musicians, and other live events.

I'd like to be able to say, from firsthand experience, that it's a worthwhile experience, but I can't, since I've never attended. BUT, I will say that I have the trusted opinions of close friends who have experienced the festival, and they all say that it most certainly is worth your time and money!

So, for those of you in the New York area, or those planning on being in the New York area for the first 2 weeks in July, do yourself a favor and check out the Afro-Punk Festival taking place at several Brooklyn indoor and outdoor venues.

I WILL be there this year.

Go to www.afropunk.com for all the glorious details on what films are screening (a lot of really interesting films from yesteryear - many that I will review on this blog), what musicians are performing, and where all the parties are!
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