African cinema is coming to Russia

Five films from South Africa, Angola, Kenya, and Tanzania are being screened in St.

Petersburg, Russia, from July 28 to 30 The free screenings are part of the film festival

“Africa. Together into the Future“.

From July 28 to 30, ROSKINO, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian

Federation, is organizing African Film Days in St. Petersburg—screenings of African films

as part of “Africa. Together into the Future" film festival. The event is part of the second

Russia–Africa Summit.

The ROSKINO screenings include some of the best films of recent years, which have been

presented at many international film festivals and won a number of awards.

African Film Days at the Aurora Cinema will open with a film from South Africa called

1960 This is a 2022 musical detective drama from directors Michael Mutombo and King

Shaft. The film was named Best South African Feature Film at the 43rd Durban International

Film Festival, Africa's oldest and largest film festival. Michael Mutombo co-created the 2009

cult science fiction thriller District 9, which has over 30 wins and over 100 nominations at

various international film festivals, including 4 Oscar nominations.

Kenya is represented by the drama Bangarang directed by Robin Odongo. The drama is

about a poor driver who, after a disputed presidential election in Kenya and street riots, flees

into exile for fear of being falsely accused of the death of a 6-month-old baby. The film won

Best African Feature Film at the 43rd Durban International Film Festival and Best East

African Film at the Uganda Film Festival; was nominated in three categories at the Kalasha

Awards, an annual award presented by the Kenyan Film Commission; and also has a number

of other awards. On July 28, director, Robin Odongo, will take part in the opening ceremony

of African Film Days.Also featured is the 2020 action drama Air Conditioner by Angolan director Mário Bastas.

The film immerses viewers in the atmosphere of Luanda, transmitting its history, and people

trying to rebuild their lives after the civil war. The film was presented in the competitive

nominations of three festivals: the Saint Paul International Film Festival in Minneapolis

(USA), the Friborg International Film Festival (Switzerland) and the Luxembourg Film

Festival.

There are two films from Tanzania: the dramas Kijiji Changu and Mwiga, directed by

Steven Lino. The 2019 film Kijiji Changu is a story about a love triangle and the disastrous

consequences of a woman’s choice. The film received a number of awards, including the

award for Best Actor at the American Golden Pictures International Film Festival. The film

was also presented at the Pan-African International Film Festival, the Zanzibar International

Film Festival (one of the largest African arts festivals), the RapidLion South African Film

Festival and others. Stephen Lino's new film, Mwiga, is about a young man trying to survive

in difficult life circumstances.

African Film Days are also part of the International Film Days project, which ROSKINO

has been implementing with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

The project acquaints Russian audiences with modern films from Asia, the Middle East,

Africa, and CIS. Screenings of Indian, Belarusian, and Iranian cinema have already been held

in Moscow and the Uzbek Film Days in St. Petersburg.