This is the ARCHIVED WEBSITE for the 2014 Sports Stories from around the African Commonwealth.               For up-to-date information visit: www.africa-in-motion.org.uk

Showings

Inverness | Tue 10 Jun | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Bike Shed

Cromarty | Sat 14 Jun | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | Resolis Hall

Details

Country: South Africa

Lloyd Ross | South Africa 2004 | 50m | 15 | Documentary

Direct Link

10 Gears of Change

Ten Gears of Change

In rural South Africa, having a bicycle can make all the difference between freedom and confinement. It provides mobility and the chance to look for a job in a nearby village. In an effort to give the underprivileged workers at a local farm a new goal in life, the boss enters them as a cycling team in a large race in Cape Town. Surrounded by tall buildings and thousands of people, and blessed with innumerable new impressions, the proud, eleven-headed farm team cross the finishing line, winning not only a medal, but riding away with the experience of a lifetime.

Showings

Dundee | Tue 3 Jun - Fri 6 Jun | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Ardler Complex


The films in this programme are:

» Africa United

» Invictus

» Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

» Otelo Burning

Direct Link

A South African in Dundee

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This year marks the 20th year of democracy and freedom in South Africa, and to celebrate we are screening a strand of South African sports films in Dundee. South Africa is paired with Dundee as their second team during the Commonwealth Games so this seems like the ideal place to reflect on the role sport played in South Africa’s journey to democracy, equality and freedom.

Showings

Dundee | Fri 6 Jun | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Ardler Complex

Dundee | Fri 6 Jun | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Ardler Complex

Details

Country: Rwanda/South Africa

Debs Paterson | Rwanda/South Africa 2010 | 1h28m

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Africa United

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Africa United tells the extraordinary story of three Rwandan children and their bid to achieve their ultimate dream – to take part in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Football World Cup in Johannesburg. On the way to the vital selection trial, disaster strikes when Fabrice, Dudu and Beatrice board the wrong bus and cross into the Congo. Without papers, money or a believable story, they are escorted to a children's refugee camp. But with considerable ingenuity and sass (and a World Cup wall chart for a map), our pint-sized heroes escape the camp and set off in pursuit of their dream, picking up along the way a "dream team" of displaced kids, who help them negotiate a series of thrilling and hilarious adventures. During their 3,000 mile journey, we encounter an Africa few people ever see, experience an epic adventure across seven countries, and feel the joy, laughter and hope that comes from making an incredible journey together.

Showings

Glasgow | Wed 9 Jul | 7pm - 9.30pm | £20 per head. | House for an Art Lover | Book Now


The films in this programme are:

» Gun to Tape

» Kushaya Igagasi

» Sabbat El Aid (My Shoes)

Direct Link

AiM Film and Food Marathon

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Attention film and food lovers! We have partnered with the unique and architecturally stunning House for an Art Lover, designed by beloved Glaswegian architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, to take you on a tantalizing and nourishing African journey through our Film and Food Marathon. Your senses will be awakened as you run alongside a young boy who wants to defy gravity in Tunisia, follow the training of Olympic athletes in Kenya, and surf on the wild waves of South Africa, each with an accompanying course giving you a true flavour of Africa.

STARTER

Couscous with sweet peppers, spicy lamb and tomato sauce

Couscous with Mediterranean vegetables (v)

Country: Tunisia

Film: Sabbat El Aid (My Shoes)

****

MAIN COURSE

Chicken in coconut sauce, pilau rice

Orzo pasta, sun-blushed tomatoes, broad beans and asparagus (v)

Country: Kenya

Film: Gun to Tape

****

DESSERT

Mini custard tartlet

Chilled lemon posset, berry compote

Country: South Africa

Film: Kushaya Igagasi

 

Showings

Glasgow | Thu 10 Jul | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Andrew Stewart Cinema

Details

Country: Kenya

Emil Langbelle | UK/ Kenya 2013 | 27m | 15

Direct Link

Beach Boy

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Juma is one of many so-called ‘beach boys’ on the coast of Mombasa – young men who date older European ‘sugar mamas’ in pursuit of money, success or a visa to Europe. In this vérité documentary we follow Juma as he embarks on a relationship with Lynn, an older British woman in Kenya on holiday.

Rain and Beach Boy are screened in collaboration with the Commonwealth Film Festival, taking place in Glasgow during the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Film Festival is a cinematic crossroad where diverse Commonwealth communities meet to exchange their views of the world. The selected films celebrate their cultural uniqueness and simultaneously reveal overarching similarities across continents. This first look at the Commonwealth Film Festival will explore the everyday lives of a teenage girl and a young man. Although in two completely different spots of the world, they share a struggle for identity and dreams.

Showings

Cromarty | Sun 15 Jun | 7.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Lighthouse Field Station

» View Trailer


The films in this programme are:

» Otelo Burning

Direct Link

Beside the seaside

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Waves will be crashing on and off the screen as we sit back in the boat shed by Cromarty harbour, and ride alongside three young boys who find escape and freedom in the waves during the apartheid years in South Africa.

Showings

Glasgow | Fri 20 Jun | 6pm - 10pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Climbing Academy


The films in this programme are:

» Streetball

» Two Wings Many Prayers

» Unfinished Business

Direct Link

Camera, Adventure, Action

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We are taking the bouldering experience to another level at the Climbing Academy, as we explore new and exciting angles both on the climbing walls and on screen. We join adrenaline junkies in Africa as they search for the next rush and new adventure. The film screenings will take place in the café of the Climbing Academy. Join us for a screening of an action-packed African film before or after your climbing practice, or just come along to experience something new.

Showings

Inverness | Tue 10 Jun | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Bike Shed

Cromarty | Sat 14 Jun | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | Resolis Hall


The films in this programme are:

» 10 Gears of Change

» Gun to Tape

Direct Link

Cycling and running for your life

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Join us at The Bike Shed for two documentaries exploring different angles on sport and endurance in Africa. 

Showings

Glasgow | Sat 28 Jun | 6pm | Free but ticketed: Get a ticket at the Museum on the day or call in advance, tel no: 0141 287 2720 | Riverside Museum


The films in this programme are:

» Rising From Ashes

Direct Link

Cycling through the land of a thousand hills

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Share camaraderie with your fellow cyclists on and off screen as you embark upon an epic adventure across the land of a thousand hills in the Riverside Museum, Scotland’s Museum of Transport and Travel. You will be caught up in the journey, as you will find out how a bicycle is both essential to the lives of the people in Rwanda and to the screening, as the entire film will be pedal-powered by you, the audience!

We are working in partnership with Take One Action Film Festival to hold this bike-powered screening of the Rwandan cycling film Rising From Ashes. The screening will be used to raise awareness about the social and environmental impact of cycling.

Showings

Edinburgh | Sun 13 Jul | 6pm - 9pm | Free but ticketed. Get a ticket at the door on the day. | Dance Base


The films in this programme are:

» Movement (R)evolution Africa

» Tango Negro

Direct Link

Exploring African culture through dance

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Overlooked by Edinburgh Castle, Dance Base is located in the heart of Edinburgh and provides a hub of expression and excitement for the people of the city. We are using this space to explore different forms of dance from Africa, both off and on the screen. Two films will be accompanied by two dance performances given by instructors from Dance Base. Come along and learn about the African roots of the Tango and contemporary African dance, and watch as the films come to life through live performance.

Dance Base is Scotland’s National Centre for Dance they offer a vibrant and uplifting programme of dance which inspires well-being and creativity and cultivates a future for dance in local, national and international communities. Dance Base also offers a range of African dance classes. For further information see: www.dancebase.co.uk.

Showings

Glasgow | Mon 28 Jul | 2pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Empire Café


The films in this programme are:

» The Price of Memory

Direct Link

Exploring Slavery

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We are partnering with The Empire Café to explore the role the UK played in the African slave trade and its continued effects today. The Empire Café is an innovative exploration of Scotland’s relationship with the North Atlantic slave trade through coffee, sugar, tea, cotton, music, visual art, academic lectures, poetry, debate, workshops, historical walks, film and literature. The café will be based in the Briggait (home of the Merchant’s Steeple) in Glasgow’s Merchant City from 24th July - 1st August 2014.

Showings

Dundee | Sat 7 Jun | 11am - 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Finmill Centre


The films in this programme are:

» Lezare (For Today)

» Mwansa the Great

» Sabbat El Aid (My Shoes)

» Zebu and the Photo Fish

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Family Day in Finmill

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We are working in partnership with Finmill Centre’s Local Management Group to host a free event for families in celebration of the Commonwealth Games. The event will include access to the Power Plate fitness machine for adults, arts and crafts workshops, including decorating masks and flags, making necklaces and Kufi hats, and film screenings for children. Through our selection of African short films, suitable for children of all ages, we will travel through Zambia, Tunisia, Kenya and Ethiopia to share in the adventures and dreams of children in Africa.  

Finmill Centre is a registered charity no: SCO27261.

Showings

Glasgow | Tue 15 Jul | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Glad Café

» View Trailer


The films in this programme are:

» The African Cypher

Direct Link

From hip to hop: A cultural collision at The Glad Café

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Fusing the hip and trendy arts scene of The Glad Café in the Southside of Glasgow with the hip street dancers of Cape Town, we explore the physicality of dance and its ability to empower and provide a new form of self-expression. Featuring a live performance from local Glasgow hip hop dancers followed by a South African documentary looking at how different dance forms are used to enrich and change lives.

Showings

Inverness | Tue 10 Jun | 7pm | Free non-ticketed | The Bike Shed

Cromarty | Sat 14 Jun | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | Resolis Hall

Glasgow | Wed 9 Jul | 7pm - 9.30pm | £20, to book please email: [email protected] | House for an Art Lover

Details

Country: Kenya

David Forbes | Kenya 2012 | 48m | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Gun to Tape

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Kenya has been a powerhouse in athletics for many decades. Iten, a dusty Kenyan town with red dirt roads, has become famous amongst the world’s top runners and is acknowledged as the home and major training ground of most of Kenya’s world class athletes. Gun to Tape explores the human side of the making of an Olympic champion as we follow the training regimes of two top Kenyan runners preparing for the 2012 London Olympics, gaining an insight into the physical and psychological pressures facing world class athletes as they train for a major event.

Showings

Glasgow | Tue 8 Jul | 6.30pm | Grosvenor Cinema | Book Now

Details

Country: Kenya/South Africa

Rolie Nikiwe | Kenya/South Africa 2011 | 1h38m | English and Swahili with English subtitles | 15

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Inside Story

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Kalu is a young talented football player from Kenya who dreams of playing in the professional leagues. His life dramatically changes when he gets an offer to play football in South Africa and at the same time is unknowingly infected with the HIV virus. The battles Kalu has to fight on and off the field are the backdrop for his remarkable journey to understanding the HIV virus and its impact on his future. Together, we race past skin, bone, and muscle to reveal the battle going on inside his body. Kalu eventually confronts the challenges of HIV, and ultimately realises that knowledge is power. Produced by the Discovery Channel and filmed in Kenya and South Africa, this engaging film uses football, one of the most popular sports on the African continent, to encourage discussions about HIV. The screening will be followed by a discussion led by an expert on issues surrounding HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Showings

Dundee | Wed 4 Jun | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Ardler Complex

Details

Country: South Africa

Clint Eastwood | South Africa 2009 | 2h14m | Various languages with English subtitles | 15

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Invictus

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Nelson Mandela will go down in history for being a protester and a prisoner, but most of all he will be remembered for his role as a peacemaker, and the significant part he played in South Africa’s transition to democracy. Set during the 1995 Rugby World Cup hosted by South Africa, this film shows how Mandela joined forces with Francois Pienaar, the captain of the South African rugby team, to help unite the country through one of their most cherished sports. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa's rugby team as they make their historic run to the 1995 Rugby World Cup Championship match.

Showings

Glasgow | Sun 6 Jul | 6pm | Free and non-ticketed | Govanhill Baths

Glasgow | Wed 9 Jul | 7pm - 9.30pm | £20, to book please email: [email protected] | House for an Art Lover

Details

Country: South Africa

Omelga Mthiyane | South Africa 2013 | 23m | English and Zulu with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

Direct Link

Kushaya Igagasi

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Kushaya Igagasi, which means ‘hitting the waves’, is a documentary that tells a story of four guys who ended up on the streets when they were very young. They join Umthombo, a non-governmental organisation that empowers street children towards alternatives to street life. The documentary shares the lives of the four boys and the challenges they face on the streets, their love for surfing and life beyond Umthombo. It highlights the plight of street kids and shows that there is hope for a brighter and safer future.

Showings

Glasgow | Sat 28 Jun | 3pm - 5pm | Free and non ticketed | Riverside Museum

Glasgow | Sun 29 Jun | 11am - 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Details

Country: Ethiopia

Zelalem Woldemariam | Ethiopia 2010 | 15m | Amharic with English subtitles

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Lezare (For Today)

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Based on an Ethiopian folktale, Lezare is a revealing and touching story about a homeless boy in a small village in southern Ethiopia. This beautifully shot film conveys a powerful message about global warming, environmental protection, poverty and hunger.

Showings

Dundee | Sun 1 Jun | 7pm | Bharatiya Ashram | Book Now

Coll | Tue 24 Jun | 7.30pm | An Cridhe & Coll Bunkhouse

Details

Country: Nigeria

Tunde Kelani | Nigeria 2011 | 1h32m | Yoruba with English subtitles | 15

» View Trailer

Direct Link

MAAMi

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MAAMi is an enthralling story of a poor, devoted single parent's struggles to raise her only child, Kashimawo, who goes on to become an international star in an English football club, and consequently, a national hero. Set over a two-day period in the southern Nigerian town of Abeokuta leading up to the 2010 World Cup, the film retrospectively accounts Kashimawo’s childhood through his own thoughts, addressing his turbulent childhood and unresolved issues with his absent father. MAAMi is a film about love, fate, hard work and goodwill.

Showings

Dundee | Tue 3 Jun | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Ardler Complex

Details

Country: South Africa

Justin Chadwick | South Africa/USA 2013 | 2h32m | English, Afrikaans and Xhosa with English subtitles | 15

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

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Based on Nelson Mandela’s 1994 autobiography of the same name, this is the story of an ordinary man who rose to the challenge of his times and triumphed - an intimate portrait of the making of a modern icon. This epic motion picture span Mandela's extraordinary life journey from his childhood in a rural village to his 27 years in prison for his activism against apartheid; his emotionally-charged marriage to Winnie Mandela and through to his inauguration as the first democratically elected President of South Africa, as he works to rebuild the once-segregated country.

Showings

Glasgow | Wed 9 Jul | 6.30pm | Grosvenor Cinema | Book Now

Edinburgh | Sun 13 Jul | 6pm - 9pm | Free but ticketed. Get a ticket at the door on the day | Dance Base

Details

Country: Various African countries

Joan Frosch & Alla Kovgan | USA 2007 | 1h05m | English and various languages with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Movement (R)evolution Africa

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In an astonishing exposition of choreographic creations, nine African choreographers tell stories of the emergence of contemporary African dance. Stunning choreography and riveting critiques challenge stale stereotypes of "traditional Africa" to unveil soul-shaking responses to the beauty and tragedy of 21st century Africa. From Senegal to South Africa, this film offers an insight into perspectives and creative processes of how these dancers and choreographers present fresh images of Africa, and bring to life the continent’s contemporary identity. Combining innovative narrative techniques and striking footage of dancers at work in the studio and on stage, Movement (R)evolution Africa explores an astonishing exposition of choreographic fomentation, and a fresh perspective of 21st century Africa.

Showings

Dundee | Sat 7 Jun | 11am – 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Finmill Centre

Glasgow | Sat 28 Jun | 3pm - 5pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Glasgow | Sun 29 Jun | 11am - 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Details

Country: Zambia

Rungano Nyoni | Zambia/UK 2011 | 23m | Nyanja with English subtitles

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Mwansa the Great

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An eight-year-old boy who aspires to be a hero embarks upon a journey to prove his greatness, with unexpected consequences. A moving insight into childhood where fantasy jostles with reality as a young boy's imagination transforms and empowers everyday life.

Showings

Isle of Skye | Thu 12 Jun | 7.30pm | Sabhal Mòr Ostaig | Book Now


The films in this programme are:

» Sabbat El Aid (My Shoes)

» Town of Runners

Direct Link

On foot at Skye Film Club

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Showings

Dundee | Thu 5 Jun | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Ardler Complex

Cromarty | Sun 15 Jun | 7.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Lighthouse Field Station

Details

Country: South Africa

Sara Blecher | South Africa 2011 | 1h12m | English and Zulu with English subtitles | 15

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Otelo Burning

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Shot in Durban and set in 1989, in the final years of the crumbling system of apartheid, Otelo Burning tells the story of a group of township kids who discover the joy of surfing. When 16-year-old Otelo Buthelezi takes to the water for the first time, it is clear that he was born to surf. But then tragedy strikes. On the day that Nelson Mandela is released from prison, Otelo is forced to choose between surfing success and justice. Jealousy, betrayal and political turbulence impact the lives of these young boys in ways that will change them forever. This is a beautifully made, insightful and entertaining film that captures a turbulent time in the history of South Africa.

Showings

Glasgow | Thu 10 Jul | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Andrew Stewart Cinema

Details

Country: Bahamas

Maria Govan | Bahamas 2008 | 1h33m | 15

Direct Link

Rain

Rain

A young Bahamian girl, Rain, boards a local mail boat from Ragged Island and sets sail for Nassau. The death of her grandmother has forced her to get out and explore the world on her own. When she arrives in Nassau, the sights of the big city overwhelm her, and soon she finds her idealistic illusions shattered when she finds how destructive her mother's lifestyle has truly become. Stranded in an unfamiliar environment that fills her with dread and confronted by a mother she has never known, Rain searches desperately to find her own place in the world.

Showings

Inverness | Mon 9 Jun | 6.15pm | Eden Court Cinema | Book Now

Dumfries | Wed 18 Jun | 7.30pm | Roberts Burns Centre Film Theatre | Book Now

Glasgow | Sat 28 Jun | 6pm | Free and ticketed | Riverside Museum | Book Now

Edinburgh | Thu 3 Jul | 6.15pm | Filmhouse Cinema | Book Now

Details

Country: Rwanda

T.C. Johnson | Rwanda/US 2013 | 1h22m | Kinyarwanda, English with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Rising From Ashes

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In Rwanda, ‘The Land of a Thousand Hills’, the bicycle is essential to life. It is how you move. It is how you work. And during the genocide of 1994, it was how you survived. Stand on any corner of any village throughout the country, and farmers will scream down hillsides barefoot on 25-year-old bikes loaded with 100 pounds of potatoes, bicycle taxi drivers peddle diligently with a mother and daughter in tow, and a child amuses himself for hours guiding a bent wheel down alleyways. It seems natural, maybe destined, that bike racing has a rich history in Rwanda. Rising From Ashes is a documentary about two worlds colliding when cycling legend Jock Boyer moves to Rwanda to help a group of struggling genocide survivors pursue their dream of a national team. As they set out against impossible odds both Jock and the team find new purpose as they rise from the ashes of their past.

Showings

Glasgow | Sat 12 Jul | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Britannia Panopticon


The films in this programme are:

» The Price of Memory

Direct Link

Rule Britannia, Britannia Rules the Waves

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The Britannia Panopticon is situated in the heart of Glasgow; founded in 1857 it is the UK’s oldest music hall. Full of old British charm, this unique venue is set in a time warp, the walls lined with bunting, old music sheets, posters and Union Jacks. We are fusing this quintessentially British backdrop with a taste of Africa and the Caribbean.

Using this aesthetic hybrid we are screening sport-related short films from the British Colonial Film Archives alongside the thought-provoking documentary The Price of Memory. Following the films there will be a discussion about the history of ‘The Empire and the Commonwealth’ and its continued legacy today.

Showings

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Dundee | Sat 7 Jun | 11am – 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Finmill Centre

Isle of Skye | Thu 12 Jun | 7.30pm | Sabhal Mòr Ostaig | Book Now

Glasgow | Sat 28 Jun | 3pm - 5pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Glasgow | Sun 29 Jun | 11am - 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Glasgow | Wed 9 Jul | 7pm - 9pm | £20 - to book please email: [email protected] | House for an Art Lover | Book Now

Details

Country: Tunisia

Anis Lassoued | Tunisia 2012 | 30m | Tunisian dialect with English subtitles

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Sabbat El Aid (My Shoes)

Nader Tlili in My Shoes by Anis Lassoued

Nine-year-old Nader loves to run, as if he wants to defy gravity. We follow him as he journeys through his village, down winding paths bordered with lush green forests, greeting each neighbour as he passes, until he climbs up a large mountain to the tallest point where he looks down over his small village with a sense of awe and freedom. While shopping for Eid clothes with his parents, he sets his heart on a pair of expensive shoes beyond what his father can afford. A touching short that transports the audience into a boy’s dream world through the magic of animation.

Showings

Dunoon | Wed 25 Jun | 7.30pm | Dunoon Burgh Hall | Book Now

Glasgow | Fri 11 Jul | 7pm | Centre for Contemporary Arts | Book Now

Details

Country: South Africa

Demetrius Wren | South Africa 2010 | 1h18m | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Streetball

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Years after the end of apartheid South Africa remains one of the most unequal countries in the world. In 2008, as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup, everyone is brimming with excitement, and new airports and stadiums are built to welcome visitors from across the world. Streetball looks behind the scenes of this euphoria and tells the stories of South Africa’s 2008 Homeless World Cup team. The Homeless World Cup is an annual soccer tournament that draws teams from over 56 countries - comprised of the homeless and excluded. The SA Squad consists of ex-convicts, former gangsters, orphans and recovering drug addicts that band together to represent their country, proving that no one is beyond redemption. This documentary highlights the dreams and aspirations of the team and shows the hope, endurance and resilience that dwell within the human spirit.

Showings

Edinburgh | Sun 13 Jul | 6pm-9pm | Free but ticketed. Get a ticket at the door on the day | Dance Base

Details

Country: Angola

Dom Pedro | Angola/France 2013 | 1h33m | Spanish with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

Direct Link

Tango Negro

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Angolan filmmaker Dom Pedro explores the expression of the tango’s African-ness and the contribution of African cultures to the creation of the tango. Tango was a reflection of the social life of the slaves who were taken to South America from central Africa. The film reveals the depth of the footprints of African music on the tango through a combination of musical performances and interviews from many tango fans and historians in Latin America and Europe, including the renowned Argentinean pianist Juan Carlos Caceres.

Showings

Edinburgh | Wed 2 Jul | 6.15pm | Filmhouse Cinema | Book Now

Glasgow | Tue 15 Jul | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Glad Café

Details

Country: South Africa

Bryan Little | South Africa 2012 | 1h28m | English, Zulu, Sotho, Xhosa and Afrikaans with English Subtitles | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

The African Cypher

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This is the physicality of the dance; the awe of a body flowing through space, flipping, spinning, and snaking as if giving birth to a new means of self-expression. Across South African cities and townships, dance has long been a mirror of the community, replaying allegorical stories that both educate and entertain. Through stunning visuals director Bryan Little harnesses the energy of the unique and diverse performance styles of isiPantsula and sBhujwa to Krump and B|boy. In an African community overpowered by crime and poverty we see how dance has enriched and even changed the lives of the inhabitants.

Showings

Inverness | Wed 11 Jun | 7.15pm | Eden Court Cinema | Book Now

| Fri 13 Jun

Oban | Mon 23 Jun | 7.30pm | Oban Phoenix | Book Now

Glasgow | Thu 10 Jul | 6.30pm | Grosvenor Cinema | Book Now

Details

Country: Ethiopia

Davey Frankel & Rasselas Lakew | Ethiopia 2009 | 1h33m | Amharic, English, Oromo, Norwegian with English subtitles | 15

» View Trailer

Direct Link

The Athlete (Atletu)

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Running the streets of Rome in 1960, an unknown, barefoot Ethiopian man stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in the marathon. Overnight, Abebe Bikila became an Olympic legend. A hero in his own country and on the continent, Bikila was the first African to win a gold medal and, four years later in Tokyo, the first person in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in the marathon. This soldier and quiet son of a shepherd is considered by many to be the greatest long-distance runner in history. But his life story only began with Olympic medals. One evening while returning to his home in Addis Ababa after training in the Ethiopian countryside, fate would present this remarkable champion with his greatest challenge; to dig deep within, not just to run the next mile but to find the will to live. The race of his life had a new beginning and would lead him to places he could never have imagined.

Showings

Glasgow | Mon 7 Jul | 7pm | Centre for Contemporary Arts | Book Now

Edinburgh | Sat 12 Jul | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | Summerhall | Book Now

Details

Country: Ghana

George Amponsah | Ghana 2007 | 1h20m | Ga with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

The Fighting Spirit

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It is not easy to leave Bukom. A poor village in Ghana, its main industry is fishing, with a paltry annual salary of $300. So its young people are fighting their way out – literally. Thanks to tenacious coaches who turn rough street fighters into money-churning professional boxers, the village has produced several world champions, including the legendary Azumah ‘Zoom Zoom’ Nelson, and is now looking for its next superstar of the ring. 22-year-old George Ashie is excited to box overseas for the first time, but has girlfriend troubles back home. Known as the first lady of boxing, Yarkor Annan is using the memory of her cheating ex-boyfriend to fuel her fire, but is struggling to win her first big fight. Having already achieved international success, Joshua Clotty is campaigning for the world welterweight title, with the help of ‘connected’ manager Vinnie Scolpino. This is a spirited look at Ghana through the eyes of those fighting for their dreams.

Showings

Glasgow | Sat 12 Jul | 6.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Britannia Panopticon

Glasgow | Mon 28 Jul | 2pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Empire Café

Details

Country: Jamaica

Karen Mafundikwa | Jamaica 2013 | 1h30m | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

The Price of Memory

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The Price of Memory is a poetic documentary that explores the enduring legacy of slavery in Jamaica and the decades-long movement for slavery reparations. In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II visits Jamaica to celebrate her Golden Jubilee celebrations. While there, she is petitioned by a small group of Rastafari for slavery reparations. For Rastafari, reparations are linked with their quest to move back to Africa, the land of their African ancestors who were brought to Jamaica as slaves. The film looks at the visible ruins left by slavery in Jamaica and also explores the British royal family’s past as investors in slavery as well as the enduring legacy of slavery in England.

Showings

Edinburgh | Tue 17 Jun | 7pm | Free and non ticketed | Summerhall | Book Now

Details

Country: Western Sahara

Saeed Taji Farouky | Western Sahara/Ireland 2012 | 1h34m | Arabic with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

The Runner

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"Running is part of my resistance. It's the only weapon I have." Salah Hmatou Ameidan is willing to risk his life, his career, his family and his nationality to run for a country that doesn't exist. He is from Western Sahara, officially Africa's last colony and under Moroccan occupation since 1975. Salah grew up under Moroccan occupation in Western Sahara, he is a Sahrawi, a native of the area. By 14 he was recognized as a talented athlete and was forced to join Morocco's junior athletics team. In 2003, during a race in France, he took a risk from which he and his family have never recovered. Today, Salah is not only one of the highest profile Sahrawi activists in the world, but is seen by his people as a hero, a symbol, an ambassador and a spokesman for the Western Sahara liberation movement. The Runner tells the story of a champion long-distance runner whose journey transformed him from an athlete into the symbol of a national liberation movement.

Showings

Glasgow | Sat 28 Jun | 12pm - 2pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Glasgow | Sun 29 Jun | 11.30am - 1.30pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum


The films in this programme are:

» Lezare (For Today)

» Mwansa the Great

» Sabbat El Aid (My Shoes)

» Zebu and the Photo Fish

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Through Africa on a Bicycle

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Through this selection of African short films, suitable for children of all ages, we will travel by bicycle, fishing boat, on foot and by toy car through Zambia, Tunisia, Kenya and Ethiopia to share in the adventures and dreams of children in Africa. Come and enjoy a tour through the moving wonders of Scotland’s Museum of Transport and Travel, stop by the bike-powered screenings of this selection of short films for families, and be transported to Africa!  

Showings

Isle of Skye | Thu 12 Jun | 7.30pm | Sabhal Mòr Ostaig | Book Now

Edinburgh | Fri 11 Jul | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | Summerhall | Book Now

Details

Country: Ethiopia

Jerry Rothwell | UK/Ethiopia 2011 | 52m | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

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Town of Runners

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Town Of Runners is a feature documentary about young people from the Ethiopian rural town of Bekoji, whose runners have won 8 Olympic Gold medals, 32 World Championships and broken 10 world records in the last 20 years. The film follows two girls as they strive to emulate their local heroes, making the journey from school track to national competition and from childhood to adulthood. Their mentor is a former PE Teacher who has discovered and trained many of the world’s leading long distance runners including Tirunesh and Genzebe Dibaba, Kenenisa Bekele and Deratu Tulu.

Showings

Glasgow | Sat 5 Jul | 3pm | Glasgow Film Theatre | Book Now

Details

Country: Tanzania

Nisha Ligon | Tanzania/USA 2010 | 1h20m | English and Swahili with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

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Twiga Stars: Tanzania’s Soccer Sisters

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This inspiring documentary follows a year in the life of the Twiga Stars, Tanzania's national women's football team, as they come together for their biggest competition ever. Through the gruel of intensive practices, the heartbreak of team cuts, and the tragedies of life that strike along the way, the girls support each other and work together to achieve what no one could have imagined. We cheer on the Twiga Stars as they fight together to prove 'wanawake wanaweza’, meaning 'women are capable’.

This screening is co-hosted by the Glasgow City FC, Scotland’s top women’s football club. A number of their international players will be in attendance to take part in a discussion about women in football after the screening.

Showings

Glasgow | Fri 20 Jun | 6pm - 10pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Climbing Academy

Details

Country: South Africa

Lloyd Ross | South Africa 2013 | 52m | 15 | Documentary

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Two Wings Many Prayers

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Two South African friends with a love for aviation and adventure decide to design and build their own tiny aircraft. As if this isn’t challenge enough, they also want to put their money where their mouth is and attempt to fly the little single engine two-seater around the world. Technically, attempting to fly around the world in such an aircraft may just be possible, but without a doubt it would be a high-risk endeavour that most pilots would classify as insanity.

James Pitman and Mike Blyth aren’t aeronautical engineers, they’re not even mechanics. But they have seen a gap in the market for an affordable, reliable light aircraft and decide to go for it, hoping to make the deadline for Oshkosh, the world’s greatest airshow. With the clock ticking down, they rush to complete the build of the plucky little plane that will become known as The Sling.

Showings

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Glasgow | Fri 20 Jun | 6pm - 10pm | Free and non-ticketed | The Climbing Academy

Details

Country: South Africa

Graham Shillington | South Africa 2009 | 23m | 15 | Short

» View Trailer

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Unfinished Business

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Unfinished Business is a dynamic and quirky short documentary with a madcap premise. It follows the vertigo-inducing exploits of solo South African climber Jeremy Samson and his pipe dream to put a pinnacle atop Table Mountain so he can take his sport to the limit and beyond. A refreshingly funny and intelligent look at the thrill-seeking sports culture in Cape Town.

Showings

Glasgow | Sun 6 Jul | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | Govanhill Baths

Details

Country: South Africa


The films in this programme are:

» Kushaya Igagasi

» Zulu Surf Riders

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Waves, Vibes and Vim

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Govanhill Baths were first opened in 1917 by Glasgow’s municipal fathers and over the course of 85 years it established itself as a centre for community in the ethnically diverse south of Glasgow. We will bring South Africa to South Glasgow with a programme of African water-sports films, providing audiences with a sensory and site-specific audio-visual experience. The film programme will be accompanied by South African house and afrobeat DJ sets - get ready to be transported to the golden beaches of South Africa!  

Showings

Dundee | Sat 7 Jun | 11am – 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Finmill Centre

Dundee | Sat 7 Jun | 11am – 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Finmill Centre

Glasgow | Sat 28 Jun | 3pm - 5pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Glasgow | Sun 29 Jun | 11am - 1pm | Free and non-ticketed | Riverside Museum

Details

Country: Uganda

Zipporah Nyaruri | Uganda 2011 | 12m

» View Trailer

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Zebu and the Photo Fish

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Ten-year-old Zebu is struggling to look up to his fisherman father as his hero, ever since he stopped bringing fish home. Zebu’s father is paying a big debt to a businessman in the village who bailed him from being locked up in jail. One day, Zebu’s mother falls ill and Zebu comes up with a clever trick.

Showings

Glasgow | Sun 6 Jul | 7pm | Free and non-ticketed | Govanhill Baths

Details

Country: South Africa

Carlos Francisco | South Africa 2008 | 50m | English and Zulu with English subtitles | 15 | Documentary

» View Trailer

Direct Link

Zulu Surf Riders

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Evidence of South Africa's shifting cultural identities can be seen on KwaZulu Natal's shores with young Zulu surfers emerging as keen competitors. Zulu Surf Riders tells the story of a pair of second generation surfing twins, Cyril and Mishak Mqade, who have made a life for themselves through this sport. Having grown up in a small community where employment is scarce and education lacking, the film documents the twins' journeys from their early endeavours to their present day successes. Cyril and Mishak are inspirational figures in their neighbourhood, teaching local youngsters to continue on the path of the 'Zulu wave'. This film captures the lives of these brothers who, against all odds, have defied traditional taboos to bravely discover a new world.

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