By Ovwe Medeme
Notable African filmmakers are expected to storm the city of Dallas, Texas, in the United States from June 27, as this year’s edition of the prestigious The African Film Festival, TAFF, opens in earnest. Founder of African Movies Academy Award, AMAA, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe alongside Kenyan Hollywood star, Benjamin Onyango, who played a key role in “Tears of the Sun” with Bruce Willis will be honoured during the festival which ends on June 30. While Peace will be honoured with African Film Pioneer Award at the ceremony, Benjamin will smile home with African Film Legend Award.
In a statement released during recently, the Festival director cum founder of The African Film Festival, Mr. Kelechi Eke said that the prestigious award will be given to Peace Anyiam-Osigwe in recognition of her immeasurable contributions towards the development of the African film sector. It’s on record that Peace established AMAA as a veritable platform to celebrate the Continent’s film makers and stars. The opening, according to him, will witness a marathon of short films from across the continent.
Expected at the Festival is the Nollywood Travel Film Festival which will collaborate with the organizers and participate in the African Film Symposium scheduled to hold at the Dallas City Hall on June 28. Screening of future films will continue on June 28th and June 29th at the African American Museum, Dallas before the grand finale/presentations of the most coveted African Film trophy – TAFF Awards ceremony on June 30, which will be hosted by Nollywood legend, Patience Ozokwo a,k,a Mama G. Guests at this year’s Festival will include: Hon. Astrid Madiya Ntumba, the Democratic Republic of Congo Minister of Arts & Culture; Robert Peters, Nigerian Atlanta-based film director; Nevada Neville, Nigerian Atlanta-based producer. Others are Uche Jombo, Stella Damasus, Charles Billion, Emem Isong, Billy Richardson (Ghanaian Producer), Tiana Bibish (Cameroonian Actress/ Producer), Soleil Marie Diva (Congolese Actress/ Producer) and Mykel Ajaere Parish (Founder, Nollywood Travel Film Festival) among others.
According to Kelechi, TAFF will be introducing “Founder’s Best Story” also known as “Kelechi Eke Award” which would be based on the most compelling African story at the Festival; and “ROOTFLIX Viewers Choice Award” which is the most film desired by viewers on the online streaming platform, ROOTFLIX.COM. The three-day event will showcase films made by Africans, as well as a few made by non-Africans about issues important to different regions of the continent
