Creative Africa - AGORALUMIERE

AGORALUMIERE cinema is an African concept to promote Africa and its Diaspora cinema at the Festival of Cannes. AGORALUMIERE’s programme in Cannes every year includes:

Film Market Screenings
Films on Demand Programme which aims at developing new networks and new markets for the Pan-African films
The celebration of the official International Africa Day in Cannes "AFRICADAY"
The representation of the Pan-African Federation Filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival.
Agoralumiere Cinema, also gathers information on all the other programmes relating to the presence of films and professionals of Africa and its Diaspora at the Cannes Festival through the various selections, programmes and initiatives both national and international.

Due to the Creative Africa programme prepared by Agoralumiere and launched in April at UNCTAD XII in Accra, GHANA, we decided to postpone our programme in the Film market to the Edition 2009. For more details on the Creative Africa programme, www.creative-africa.org

However, this year, one film in the film market was part of Agoralumiere’s Africa Day Programme. “COUNT BASIE” by Gary KEYS was screened twice in the presence of the filmmaker.

AGORALUMIERE “Film on demand series” is continuously developing with new films and producers joining this initiative.

This programme remains opened to all the producers and distributors of Africa and its Diaspora who wish to take advantage of Agoralumiere’s network and websites.

The programme of this annual celebration included a conference-debate about development of the Pan-African Film industry issues,the "AFRICAN VISION AWARDS CEREMONY" and a closing screening.

Panel Discussion

“THE IMPACT OF THE DIGITIAL CINEMA IN THE MARKET PLACE”

Agoralumiere in collaboration with Silhouette Films and hosted by The Hollywood Reporter organised a Panel Discussion on the future of digital cinema and its impact on the industry’s market.

From the historical background to the fast evolution of the Digital Cinema’s technology, the speakers shared views on the impact of digital on the global film industry in the areas of production and distribution.

Panelists:Afolabi ADESANYA, Gary KEYS, Marc NEKAITAR, Calvin SAUNDERS, Rashid BAHATI Moderator : Annalisa SAN JUAN -
Photo Agoralumiere

“The Digital cinema is offering flexibility and facilities to make films with a small budget and giving access to the distribution market. But the downside is that it has offered uncontrollable possibilities to piracy” says Mr Gary KEYS.

The panel also explored the legal aspects of the impact of digital cinema on the industry, addressing the issue of piracy and new rights to be considered by the filmmakers.

The panelists presented how the Digital Cinema is strengthening the filmmakers and producers today in the distribution of their films. Mr Gary KEYS shared his own experience in making films with small budgets today.

A special focus on the positive impact of digital cinema in the developing countries was presented citing the case of Nigerian film industry. Mr Afolabi ADESANYA, President of the Nigerian Film Corporation confirmed that the Digital technology has allowed his country to the third film industry in the world after Hollywood and Bollywood. But he recognized that Nigerian films are also pirated all over the world thanks to the digital technology and this is creating a great lost for the country and his industry stakeholders.

the panel ended with the presentation of new digital distribution models by the panelists which offer possible solutions against massive piracy and more control by filmmakers on the distribution of their films.


Calvin SAUNDERS/ Rashid BAHATAI: CEO LeadDog Distribution Photo AGORALUMIERE	Annalisa SAN JUAN, Vice President, International Sales and Marketing, ITN Distribution Photo AGORALUMIERE

In order to sustain this process initiated in Cannes to provide independent filmmakers with concrete knowledge on the new market development, an Agoralumiere digital cinema group was agreed to be formed as one of the outcomes of the panel discussion.

The African Vision Awards Ceremony

The African Vision Award Ceremony 2008 took place at the Hollywood Reporter Conference room at the Hotel Stephanie on the Croisette.

The African Vision Award for Lifetime Achievement 2008 was presented by Mr Afolabi ADESANYA, President of the Nigerian Film Corporation to GARY KEYS for his oustanding work on the promotion of the heritage of jazz music and its prominent personalities through his films.

Agoralumiere also presented a Special Africa Vision Award in memory of KATOUCHA NIANE, the famous African Model who fought against excision of girls in Africa. KATOUCHA started to put her talent and personality into the African film industry and she was the main character in the film “RAMATA” directed by Leandre Alexandre BECKER (Congo) to be released in 2008. Sadly, KATOUCHA died in dramatic conditions in Paris last October.

Agoralumiere attributed this year a Special African Vision Award in Memory of KATOUCHA NIANE for her great commitment to Africa.

The closing screening highlighted the work of the African Vision Award winner, GARY KEYS on the promotion of the heritage and memory of Jazz Music and personalities. His latest film “COUNT BASIE” is a documentary based on the artist's compaanions(musicians and friends) who reminisce the time spent with Count BASIE.

AGORALUMIERE INTERNATIONAL HOSTS
SARAH OURAHMOUNE AT THE CANNES FESTIVAL

Agoralumiere hosted the event “SARAH OURAHMOUNE, FROM THE BOXING RING TO THE RED CARPET OF THE CANNES FESTIVAL”, to support Sarah OURAHMOUNE, a young French boxing female champion of Algerian origin to attend the Cannes Festival.

This special event was initiated by Mr Nicolas DRUZ, CEO of the Europe-Asie Magazine and stakeholder of LANVIN, and supported by RFI, Dessange and L’Oréal.

Agoralumiere was delight to host at the Cannes festioval, Sarah OURAHMOUNE who won the French and European boxing championship titles.

“I wanted to reward this young promising champion in organizing for her a special day in Cannes where she can walk the famous Cannes Festival’s red carpet and enjoy the event, as have done big sport stars such as Mike Tyson, Maradona or Claude Makelele”, said Mr Nicolas DRUZ.

His Excellency Senator Tokunbu AFIKUYOMI from the State of Lagos and his delegation presented the project of the Lagos Film City.

Senator AFIKUYOMI explained that the Film City aims at creating jobs and reduce poverty in Nigeria. “We can succeed in reducing poverty in Africa only through the creation of millions of jobs and not just through classic Aid” said Senator.

In line with the vision of the African Union’s Nairobi Plan of Action, Agoralumiere will contribute through its CREATIVE AFRICA Network programme to encourage the African filmmakers to use this creative platform in Lagos.

This Nigerian platform will complete the production infrastructures in Africa which include today Moroccan, South African and Egyptian studios.

Mr Afolabi ADESANYA, President of the Nigerian Film Corporation and Head of the Nigerian pavilion at the Cannes International village said that Nigeria will continue to work with the African stakeholders to develop the Continent’s Film industry through various ways including Nigerian support to FESPACO, inter-African co-productions and distribution of African Films in Nigeria.

Agoralumiere will continue to work with the different African National Film industries to develop concrete south-south and north-south partnerships.

OTHER EVENTS AND STANDS RELATED TO AFRICA AND DIASPORA

The African stands this year at the film market included Nigeria, Tunisia, Morrocco, South Africa, Kenya and Algeria. Some African films were also shown at the stand of “CINEMAS DU SUD”.

OTHER AFRICAN AND DISAPORA STAKEHOLDERS PRESENT AT THE CANNES FESTIVAL 2008

Film Directors and actors from Africa and Diaspora present in Cannes this year included Moufida Tlatli, Souleymane Cissé, Spike Lee and Danny Glover, Malick Bowens, Eriq Ebouane, Aïssa Maiga, Tony Coco-Viloin and Jimmy Jean-Louis among others.

See you next year in Cannes!