4 films to see during African Season at the Dublin International Film Festival
Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF) opens this week and alongside the highlights in Irish storytelling, the festival will host an extensive international programme showcasing films from Georgia to Germany.
This year, the Festival will put a particular focus on African cinema through their 'African Season' programming, supporting and celebrating African filmmakers.
The line-up features films from emerging talent from countries including Morocco, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of The Congo and Cape Verde, amongst others.
Irish Aid 50 is delighted to support African Season at DIFF this year, and to celebrate, we have chosen four films from the line-up that you won't want to miss over the next two weeks.
Banel & Adama
First up during African Season is director Ramata-Toulaye Sy's debut film, Banel & Adama. Set in northern Senegal, this rich fable is a journey of young love, forbidden love, communal superstitions, family obligations and loyalty.
Banel & Adam premiered at Cannes Film Festival, and was the only debut feature screened in the main competition.
Showing: 18:30, Friday 23 February, at the Lighthouse Cinema. Followed by a Q&A with Ramata-Toulaye Sy.
Ama Gloria - Friends Gala
Ama Gloria is DIFF's Friends Gala this year. A heartwarming coming-of-age tale set in Cape Verde, this film deals with the child-nanny bond, colonial conscience, and complex economic and emotional relationships with affection and heartfelt sincerity.
Ama Gloria was chosen as the Cannes Critics' Week solo debut.
Showing: 18:30, Monday 26 February, at the Lighthouse Cinema.
Hounds (Les Meutes)
Director Kamal Lazraq's moody debut feature, Hounds, is a slow-burn, compelling drama about a father and son duo tasked with a kidnapping gone wrong in Casablanca, Morocco. This film probes into the incongruency of criminals with a spirtual conscience.
Hounds won the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes.
Showing: 18:30 on Wednesday, 28 February at the Lighthouse Cinema.
Omen
Rapper-turned-filmmaker Baloji’s directorial debut, Omen, is a magic-realist tale, exploring the weight of beliefs on one’s destiny through four intertwined characters accused of sorcery. A visually extravagant, entertaining and humorous depiction of troubling Congolese themes.
Omen premiered at Cannes in Un Certain Regard, where it won New Voice Prize.
Showing: 18:30 on Thursday, 29 February at the Lighthouse Cinema.
Bonus pick - African Season Panel: Crafting Authentic Narratives
DIFF are hosting a special African Season panel, bringing together accomplished filmmakers from across Africa, including emerging makers whose films have earned critical acclaim at Cannes Film Festival.
Join Oge Obasi, producer of Mami Wata and Ramata-Toulaye Sy, writer and director of Banel & Adama, to explore the challenges of sharing diverse cultures with a global audience, and approaches to navigating storytelling whilst maintaining a strong cultural authenticity.
Panel: 16:00 on Saturday, 24 February at The Complex
Dublin International Film Festival runs this year from 22 February - 2 March 2024. See the full programme and buy tickets at diff.ie.