The twelfth edition of the New York African Film Festival will showcase 24 films from 12 countries, including a number whose national cinema are mostly unknown to US audiences, such as Niger, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Angola and Mozambique. The program will open with the US Premiere of the award winning film Forgiveness a moving testament to the cathartic rebirth of those who survived the cruel tragedies of apartheid.

AFF will take a close look at the construction of “Race in the Continent’s Diaspora” with a focus on race formation in South Africa. Several of the films in this year’s festival address the categorization of Coloreds in the Diaspora while redefining what race relations mean in today’s increasingly globalized world.

The wealth and beauty of African filmmaking is drawn from the unique and rich tradition of African storytelling. This year’s “A Peek Behind the Camera” program will look at the legacy of the Griot culture, and the art of storytelling with and without the tool of the camera, and its subsequent effects on a culture.

AFF is proud to present a mid-career retrospective of Pierre Yameogo, one of the most popular African filmmakers from Burkina Faso whose films are known for their direct approach to African reality. “Father of African Cinema,” Ousmane Sembène will also be present to introduce his critically acclaimed film Moolaade as well as the short documentary Making of Moolaade.

Our collaboration with Columbia University School of the Arts continues with a special screening of Keita: The Heritage of the Griot starring Sotegui Kouyate, at the Walter Reade Theater. Mr. Kouyate will introduce the film and lead a post-screening discussion with the audience.

The 12th New York African film Festival was organized by Richard Peria and the African Film Festival, Inc. (Mahen Bonetti, Aba Taylor, Alonzo Speight, Wilson Sherwin, and Muriel Placet-Kouassi). Thanks are due to Kaine Agary, Tracy Binta Austin, Joan Baffour, Patricia Blanchet, Luca Bonetti, Rumbi Bwerinofa, Gabriele Donati, Kevin Duggan, Tunde Giwa, Belynda Hardin, J. Michelle Hill, Sean Jacobs, Ekwa Msangi, Maguette Ndiaye, Prerana Reddy, Kojo Associates and AFF’s volunteer team.