Highlights of Watch-Africa 2022
We had a fantastic festival in 2022, going to 7 venues across Wales. From Q&A's to panel discussions and a range of workshops, the festival was packed with activities. And now it's time to look back and look at some of our highlights - Enjoy!
Workshops
Fri 11th Nov
11:00AM - 01:00PM
Masterclass on Documentary Filmaking by Saitabao Kaiyare
The Atrium, 86-88 Adam St, Cardiff
CF24 2FN
Synopsis
Saitabao Kaiyare, a filmmaker from Kilifi, Kenya will undertake a documentary masterclass teaching the various forms and types of documentary films. Through the masterclass, Saitabao will tackle how to approach sensitive themes, working with characters, visual language and shaping the narrative arc of a documentary. The masterclass will reference his award-winning documentary ‘If Objects Could Speak’ that centers along the themes of colonialism, restitution and repatriation of African artifacts from European Museums. At the end of the masterclass, attendees will learn which type or style of documentary will suit their story and how to navigate the eco-system of highly sensitive themes
About Saitabao
Saitabao Kaiyare is a writer, director and producer from Nairobi, Kenya. He has studied and was part of the International Class at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Some of his films have been critically acclaimed such as ‘PSYCHO’ nominated for NUFF 2015 (Norway), ‘DECEIT’ nominated at the AMVCA 2014 (Nigeria), 35th Durban International Film Festival (South Africa) and The Arusha International Film Festival (Tanzania). The film ‘SEPTEMBER’ was officially selected at the Zanzibar International Film Festival (Tanzania), Burundi International Film Festival (Burundi) and The Arusha African International Film Festival. He has also directed and co-produced 2 TV shows titled ‘Career Talk’ and ‘Entrepreneurs Haven’.
Fri 11th Nov
02:00PM - 04:30PM
Watch-Africa Introduces Masterclass on Surviving a First Feature Film
The Atrium 86-88 Adam Street Cardiff CF24 2FN
About this event
In collaboration with University of South Wales and NFTS Cymru and supported by British Council East Africa - Part of Filamu Zetu Project!
Synopsis
Surviving A First Feature
What goes into the making of one’s first independent feature? What are the goings-on in the weeks leading up to production? What are the shoot days like? And what goes into the several months of post-production? Does a film really get written three times; on the script, on set and in the edit suite? And what’s the deal with festivals and premieres? Join actor, writer, director Mugambi Nthiga for a masterclass on the making of his debut feature film, LUSALA. Mugambi will share the journey to making the film, from the writers’ room to department meetings, to shoot, to post and finally to its world premiere, just before the pandemic hit. This session will let you in on the tumultuous, colourful, human process of making a film.
Entry is open to all
Screening of LUSALA prior to the masterclass
Fri 11th Nov
06:00PM
An evening of African films and object handling at Amgueddfa Cymru
National Museum Cardiff Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3NP
About this event
As part of Remembrance Day, Watch-Africa Film Festival and Amgueddfa Cymru are delighted to host an evening of African films covering heritage, identity and remembrance. We will screen 2 features and 1 short fim which will include Question and Answers with filmmakers. Curators at Amgueddfa Cymru do a live show and tell of Museum objects.
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Join us for a chance to see documentary screening of, If Objects Could Speak, by Saitabo Kaiyare and Elena Schilling, building on conversation around colonial belongings, identity and fear. They are filmmakers who embark on a journey to find and learn the roots and background of pieces found in European museums, many of which have lost its story.
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We will be showing short films by Welsh and Cameroonian artists who will share with us thoughts on issues of identity, heritage and what it feels to be Deep Within Our Skin. And the opportunity of a show and tell of a collection selected by Jessica Dunrod for attendees to view and build dialogue around.
To commemorate unheard stories about WW1 & 2, we will screen a documentary called ‘A Place Called Wahala’ by Jurgen Ellinghaus Ellinghaus. The film opens one of the many unknown chapters of Afro-European past and colonial history. There is an overlap of pictures from present-day life and testimonies more than a hundred years old, from a time when European colonial expansion was at its peak.
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Sat 12th Nov
12:00 - 13.00
A role for everyone - Finding your career in TV & Film
Chapter Arts Centre Market Road Cardiff CF5 1QE
About this event
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Culture Connect Wales (CCW) in connection with the Watch-Africa Film Festival is inviting you to the workshop - A role for everyone - Finding your career in TV & Film
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We are focused on bridging the gap between ethnic diverse communities and the TV and Film Industry.
The workshop will talk you through the many roles that you can do in Film/TV set production. You don't need to be experienced, just have a great and positive attitude towards work and a keen interest in learning new skills.
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The presenter Adam Knopf, (Producer) who has worked on many TV series - from Doctor Who (BBC) to Broadchurch (ITV), Marcela (ITV), War of the Worlds (Canal+/Fox), The One (Netflix), Lazarus (Sky), The Pact - will tell you all that you need to know, including how you can get your first opportunity, if you are inexperienced. And if you are already experienced, how do you get to the next level. You don't want to miss this workshop!
So hurry up and REGISTER your place before the booking is FULL!!
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Sun 13th Nov
11:00AM - 01:30PM
Afrobeat Dance with Jukebox
​Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Cardiff CF5 1QE
Synopsis
Join Jukebox in this exciting, high-energy, empowering Afrobeats dance class which focuses on Modern African social dances from Nigeria, Ghana, and more!
In this class you will learn latest Afrobeat steps, moves and groves, incorporating fun, active footwork with high energy rhythms that makes you feel-good afterwards.
About Jukebox
We are a community-rooted, youth-led collective nurturing tomorrow’s creative voices. We do this through our multidisciplinary classes, academy and creative agency where we specialise in artist management, casting, curation & consultancy.
Sun 13th Nov
2:00PM - 04:00PM
Decolonising African Cinema
​Chapter Arts Centre, Market Rd, Cardiff CF5 1QE
Synopsis
African films have long dealt with ideas of decolonisation, the lasting impacts of colonisation and post-colonialism. African films have dealt with themes of racism, exploitation, historical erasure and the dismantling of continental African cultures by colonial exploits.
Some argue that the legacy of African film is that of which dismantles the work done by colonialism to destroy cultures. It offers a more representative look at history and a point of view otherwise stolen. However, it outlines how African curricula in Film Studies still is very western and is actually increasingly westernised and can only be truly decolonised by producing ‘an-Other’ curricula.
This symposium will focus on the wealth of works surrounding the need for Continental African film to work out of the clutches of colonisation. Focusing on African filmmaking, it will explore
- What is an ‘Africa film or cinema’
- Ideas that led to the emergence of African cinema
- Steps are needed to decolonise film studies in Africa
- What makes ‘authentic’ African films and
- Similar to other themes, these works centre continental Africa in the struggle to decolonise and dismantle western domination in film studies and film at large.
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