Timbal Fest 2008
Friday, 6 June 2008
African Genesis Preview (USA)
Bob Lott, film and television producer is developing and producing a four-part documentary series. Having gone to Egypt six times and Ghana four, Bob has captured the essence of African History like no one has done before. You will follow a group of African American teenagers and adults, as they experience for the first time the wonders, cultural history and significance of “the Motherland’ and become transformed to another way of looking at their lives.
See this journey of African-Americans united with their true ancestral beginnings, their true beauty and their true accomplishments, opening the channels for change in self-concept, attitudes and behavior. (60 min)
Burundi Film Shorts (Burundi)
This collection of short films is from the 2007 project at the Burundi Film Center. Located in Bujumbura, Burundi the program trains youth aged 18-25 in the basics in film theory and production. These outstanding shorts are an incredibly unique addition to the Timbal Fest. (55 min)
- Bigger Plans - Reveal Yourself
- Nothing’s the Same - Abuse
- Kivumvu: Basket Boy
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Democracy in Dakar (Senegal)
Nomadic Wax was started by founder Ben Herson who in the summer of 1999 stumbled upon a thriving hip-hop scene in Senegal, West Africa. Enthralled by the politically and socially conscious lyrics of the MCs he encountered - he went on to write ‘Fat Beats Dope Rhymes and Thug Lives: Hip-Hop, Youth and Politics in Senegal” his award winning undergraduate dissertation on the role of youth, hip-hop and politics in Senegal. Herson and McIlvaine (Sol Productions) document the Senegalese hip-hop scene with a series of CDs and documentary films, including the multi-part "African Underground: Democracy in Dakar”. Their work explores the hot fusion of hip-hop and activism in Senegal where political hip-hop is booming. (60 min)
The Luggage is Still Labeled (South Africa)
This documentary film explores the unique position of contemporary artists in post-apartheid South Africa. Julie McGee returned and Vuyyile Cameron Voyiya worked together to interview more than 20 artists. The title of the documentary, "The Luggage is Still labeled: Blackness in South African Art," comes from a quote from Peter E. Clarke, one of the artists interviewed. "The journey has ended, but the luggage is still labeled," which expresses the continuing struggle that the artists face. Most of the artists are virtually unknown outside their own communities— many are now in their 70s and 80s. This is the first time anyone has met with the artist and documented their experiences. (60 min)
Sunday, 8 June 2008
The Things We’ve Learned (Mozambique)
American volunteer Ali Pinschmidt began teaching in Mozambique in 2003. She soon found the Mozambican people and way of life captivating and she began to do some informal filming. This became a montage of interviews, music, and scenes of daily life and work from both a Mozambican and international perspective. This film lends insight into the struggles and joys of modern Mozambican society while frankly depicting the difficulties and triumphs that international volunteers experience while living and working in Southern Africa. These compelling stories paint an overwhelming testament to the value of and need for international exchange and grassroots development work in Africa. (70 min)
The American Princess of the Savannah (Cameroon)
Former Peace Corp volunteer Phyllis Jansyn lives in a village that is in some ways still in the dark ages. It takes 2 days over torturous dirt roads in a bush taxi to reach the nearest hospital and airport. The village has no plumbing, no electricity and no telephones. When Jansyn, a nurse, dropped off in Djohong, a village of the Adamawa province, she felt she could make a difference. She has spent the past 15 years battling the parasitic infections that infected 90% of the population and weakened the adult population. Most live in unrelieved poverty due to their inability to work. Jansyn has worked tirelessly to eliminate the debilitating parasites. Her efforts have made grateful people call her “The American Princess of the Savannah”. (60 min)
Obara and the Merchants (USA)
In this animated short of a Yoruba legend, Obara the hunter is finally able to eat after a long famine. But just as he is about to eat, a group of hungry merchants come up the path! Obara must decide what to do. And in the end, his decision is rewarded in a completely unexpected way. (8 min)