AFRICA50 - 50 YEARS inDEPENDENCE
21st to 24th of October - 2010 FESTIVAL

Africa 50
Edition 1 - Africa : Independence Development Migration
Cinema - Photography - Lecture - Conference

This year, 17 African countries* are celebrating 50 years of independence from France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain. We too wish to celebrate the formation of Africa's nations, in all its historical complexity, by organising an event in Hamburg, where the presence of 25 000 Africans and the willingness of the German population to get to know these Africans, now in their second - even third - generation, give it a particular meaning. During the four days of the festival - taking place for the first time - the organisers propose to present films and photographs in the presence of the directors and photographers. In addition, an evening of "readings" and a conference linked to the themes of the festival will be held. Throughout the event, photographs in large format will hang in the streets of the area in which the festival is taking place, seeking to ‘go out and meet' the local population.

Film - 3001 Cinema & University
Ten films will be shown in the cinema'3001' (in'Sternschanze'), and in the Institute of Asian and African Studies, Hamburg University. These showings will be followed by "question - answer" sessions between the directors and the public.
The morning and early afternoon sessions of Thursday and Friday (21st and 22nd October) will be set aside for schools; Two sessions are envisaged each day, one for 14-16 year olds and one for 16-18 year olds. Teachers will have the choice between two films, choosing according to the age of their students.

Photography (Slide shows - large screen) - Haus73 & University
* One photographer each day will present and comment on a selection of images made in Africa and/or in Europe. These four slide shows will be shown on a screen measuring 260 x 180 cm.
* Large-scale photographs will be visible in the streets and passage-ways of the area throughout the festival; They will be displayed in the week preceding the festival and in the week following, informing the residents of the event and involving them in it.
* Photographers will participate also at the University day and for a session in a school (Slide show and talk).

Videos Art Installation - Haus73
During the four days of the festival, 12 videos made by African artists will be shown continuously in Haus73. They will be shown on different sized monitors spread throughout the building.

Reading - Haus73
A Journalist - Philosopher will read two texts related to the themes of the festival. A actor will read a text related to colonialism.

Conference - University
To celebrate the 50 years of independence, themes related to the festival will be discussed in two conferences at the university: The colonial and post-colonial history of Europe and Africa, as well as migration and its effects. This conference will be open to the public.

* Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and Togo.