Caméra d’Afrique

Venue

Francesca Beale Theater

Address

165 W 65th Street, New York, NY 10023

Dates and Times

Saturday, May 9

Collaborators

Director: Férid Boughedir

Activity Description

This documentary, which premiered at Cannes in 1983, recounts the initial two decades of sub-Saharan Africa's auteur cinema. It explores how newly independent Africans, despite limited resources, utilized the movie camera to depict African reality from their own perspective, following decades of colonial cinema that often exoticized the continent and denied the humanity of its people. The film incorporates excerpts from significant films, interviews with filmmakers, and rare vintage footage.

The screening will be followed by an extended conversation with director Férid Boughedir and an audience-led Q&A. This offers an opportunity to engage with Boughedir's work and legacy, highlighting connections between sub-Saharan and North African cinemas and revisiting themes of authorship, memory, and self-representation. Férid Boughedir is recognized as a key figure and honored pioneer at this year's festival, having played a central role in preserving, studying, and understanding early African cinema. The film has undergone a 2K restoration from its original 16mm print by the Laboratory of the CNC with support from L’Institut français.

Language

English and French with English subtitles