A scene from 'The Village Next to Paradise' by Mo Harawe/Photo: FreibeuterFilm/AFRIKAMERA

Afrikamera 2024 explores faith and identity in African cinema

The annual Afrikamera Festival returns to Berlin from 12 to 17 November 2024 with this year’s theme, BELIEVE, focusing on faith, spirituality and empowerment. Hosted across various venues – Kino Arsenal, fsk, Sinema Transtopia, Brotfabrik Kino and City Kino Wedding, the festival highlights diverse and thought-provoking perspectives from the African continent, exploring how belief systems shape personal and societal experiences.

This year’s lineup includes critically acclaimed films that have garnered international recognition. The festival opens with The Village Next to Paradise by Somali director Mo Harawe, the first Somali film to premiere at Cannes in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section. Another highlight is Mohamed Ben Attia’s Behind the Mountains, which captivated audiences at the Venice Film Festival. Both films delve deeply into personal struggles and spiritual quests.

Afrikamera also features a special program, Black Jews – Beta Israel, shedding light on the Ethiopian Jewish community’s migration to Israel. Through films and panel discussions, the program offers insights into the complex intersections of identity, religion and migration.

In addition to feature films, the festival presents short film collections, live music at a Ciné-Concert and a marathon series screening followed by a party. The diverse programming underscores Afrikamera’s mission to foster intercultural dialogue and celebrate African cinema’s richness and variety.

Organized by toucouleur e.V., Afrikamera has been a vital platform for African films in Germany since 2008. Supported by institutions like the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Senate Department for Culture and Europe, the festival continues to promote contemporary African narratives, challenging stereotypes and encouraging reflection on global and local societal issues.

For more details, including programme information, trailers and more, visit https://www.afrikamera.de


AFRIKAMERA 2024 delves into spirituality in African cinema

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