The 2010 New York African Film Festival, presented under the banner “Independent Africa,” spotlights 17 African Nations, as they observe 50 years of independence from colonial rule. These nations include: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), DR Congo, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia and Togo. Complimenting the theme of independence, the festival incorporates rare archival footage of African nations as they transitioned from colonial rule, alongside independently produced classic and contemporary African cinema, to bring into full view a strong visual narrative, which chronicles the changes throughout the continent, over a fifty-year period. Rounding off the festival are films that highlight the World Cup in South Africa!

The 17th New York African Film Festival was organized by Richard Peña of The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the African Film Festival, Inc. (Mahen Bonetti, Toccarra Holmes Thomas, Maguette Ndiaye, Morgan Seag and Alonzo Speight).

With special thanks to the AFF Board of Directors, Jane Aiello, Joan Baffour, Luca Bonetti, Francoise Bouffault, Sean Jacobs, Mamadou Diouf, Sarah Diouf, Gabriele Donati, Jacki Fischer, Jana Haimsohn, Belynda M’Baye, Alexander Markov, Andrew Milne, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Marina Pieretti, Muriel Placet-Kouassi, Prerana Reddy, Keith Shiri, Mohammed Sillah, Claudia Akyeampong, Cheryl Duncan & Co. P.R., Kojo Associates and AFF’s volunteer team.