Montreal welcomes the 39th Vues d’Afrique International Film Festival, running from April 20th to 30th, 2023. Presented by Québecor and hosted at the Cinémathèque québécoise, the festival makes its return to theaters following previous virtual and hybrid editions. Patrons Halimatou Gadji and Stanley Février promise a rich and diverse program, featuring 109 films from 39 countries.
The opening night on April 20th at the Guzzo Cinema in Marché Central will spotlight the Canadian premiere of Fatou Cissé’s film “A Daughter’s Tribute to Her Father.” Chaired by Fatima Braoulé Meïté, Ambassador of Mali to Canada, this edition of Vues d’Afrique boasts a strong female presence: 42% of the scheduled works are directed by women, a 12% increase from 2022. This trend is supported by the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI), which promotes gender equality in African cinema.
The festival features four world premieres from renowned filmmakers and 64 Canadian premieres, showcasing the event’s global reputation. Various festival sections will compete in categories such as fiction, documentary, television or web series, animation, and emerging cinema.
The fiction competition includes 12 feature films and 26 short and medium-length films contending for awards presented by the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), as well as the best actor and actress awards offered by the Moroccan Cultural Center of Montreal. World premieres include “Irresistible Beauty” by Ines Umuhire Nyiarama (Rwanda), “Between Cry and Awakening” by R. Samuel Kwame Amenyenu (Benin), and “Such a Long Wait” by Habibou Zoungrana (Burkina Faso).
The international documentary selection features 7 feature films, 5 medium-length films, and 13 short films. The Canadian premiere of Cécile Allegra’s “The Song of the Living” will be screened, with the director in attendance.
In the Regards d’ici section, 16 recent works will compete for MELS Studios’ best feature and short or medium-length film prizes. Among them is “Elles” by Sabrina Hammoum, chronicling Quebec rapper Sarahmée’s journey through Africa.
Hosted by African series star Halimatou Gadji, the web or TV series and animation section presents nine series and 14 animated works, including Gervais Djimeli Lekpa’s “La remontada,” screened as a Canadian premiere, as well as Dramane Gnessi’s “The Imam, the Chicken, and the Pastor” and Alex Ogou’s award-winning series “Ô Batanga” at FESPACO.
The Regards sur la relève section highlights emerging filmmakers with three feature films and 51 short and medium-length films, including “Irréprochable” by Anaïs Lonkeu, a La Fémis graduate.
The International Center for Haitian, Caribbean, and Afro-Canadian Documentation and Information (CIDIHCA) will present the Human Rights Award, while Smith & Vigeant Architects will award the Sustainable Development Prize.
An international conference on trauma and cinema will gather experts from various universities and institutes as part of the festival. The Ciné-jeunesse mornings, organized in collaboration with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Montreal School Service Center, will offer a selection of films for young audiences from April 24th to 28th.
Special events, such as a classical music concert featuring “Taffot, Kakudji, Pergolesi” by Galileo, will enrich the festival experience. Additionally, evenings dedicated to events twinned with Vues d’Afrique will be organized in partnership with international festivals such as FESPACO (Burkina Faso), the Khouribga International African Film Festival (Morocco), FIFF Namur (Belgium), the Amiens International Film Festival (France), and Mashariki (Rwanda).
The Baobar, a meeting place for exchanging ideas among guests, film enthusiasts, and friends of Africa and Creole countries, will host musical groups every evening in a friendly atmosphere. A gourmet buffet and a bar will be available at the Cinémathèque québécoise.
Individual tickets are on sale for $10, with Ciné-carte packages (4 entries) priced at $32, CinéMax packages (10 entries) at $70, and Unlimited Passes at $150, or $100 for the first 100 buyers before April 16th.
