Africa First - FilmInFocus

MENU:

Africa First 2010 Winners

Africa First 2009 Winners

What is Africa First?

The Africa First short film program is sponsored by Focus Features, and will award five (5) emerging African filmmakers $10,000.00 (ten thousand U.S. dollars) each towards pre-production, production, or post-production of their short film.

Loading the player ...

Africa First News

THIRD-YEAR WINNERS OF FOCUS FEATURES’
AFRICA FIRST PROGRAM ANNOUNCED;
$10,000 FOR SHORT FILMS AWARDED TO CHIKA ANADU, LEV DAVID, JACQUELINE KALIMUNDA, EBELE OKOYE, JULIUS ONAH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW YORK, October 12^th, 2010 – Focus Features’ Africa First Program for short films, the worldwide film company’s initiative earmarked exclusively for emerging filmmakers of African nationality and residence, has for a third consecutive year awarded five filmmakers $10,000 apiece. The five selected were announced today by Focus Features CEO James Schamus.

Read more...

Arts and Culture

"Restless City": An African Immigrant′s Experience
Monday, April 30, 2012
Directed by Nigerian-born filmmaker Andrew Dosunmu, Restless City tells the story of a young man surviving on the fringes of New York City, where music is his passion, life is a hustle, and falling in love is his greatest risk.

#Kladogo: Surviving the Streets of Kampala
Friday, April 27, 2012
“My name is Byandali Geoffrey. I’m originally from Bugerere,” he tells me. Geoffrey has been on street for less than a year, but is not sure how many months.

"Restless City”: Releasing This Friday in New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta
Monday, April 23, 2012
The African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM) is pleased to announce the premier of Restless City. This independent film tells the story of an African immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City.

“You Can’t Come Here with European Eyes”: A Letter to John Humphreys on His Trip to Liberia
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Originally published on the site of the Royal African Society, Richard Dowden pens a letter to BBC broadcaster John Humphreys, on Humphreys\'s recent reporting trip to Liberia.

The Nelson Mandela Digital Archive Project: Now Live
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
The life and history of Nelson Mandela, from his early life to his many great accomplishments as president of South Africa, are being memorialized in the Nelson Mandela Digital Archive Project.

Celebrating St. Patrick′s Day on the Continent: African Beers
Monday, March 12, 2012
This Saturday, beer drinkers around the world will lift a cold one to toast St. Patrick\'s Day. If you\'re looking to celebrate with pints from the continent in hand, here\'s a list of some famous African brews to seek out.

» Visit our Blog to read more.

At-A-Glance

The Focus Features Africa First Short Film Program supports films that aspire to artistic excellence and accomplished storytelling, and substantially contribute to the development of local film industries. Award recipients of the 2010 Focus Features Africa First Short Film Program can use award money received from Africa First to complete initial production and to pay for post-production costs such as laboratory fees, sound mixing, and editing.

Filmmakers selected as award recipients of the 2010 Focus Features Africa First Short Film Program will have the unique opportunity to participate in a three-day workshop in New York City hosted by the Focus Features Africa First Advisory Board. During the summit, the filmmakers will receive firsthand exposure to the inner workings of studio development, finance, marketing, and distribution; and participate in one-on-one sessions with the Focus Features Advisory Board members aimed at providing practical assistance to filmmakers as they produce their films. The summit weekend may also include activities such as screenings, networking receptions, a personalized guided tour of New York City, and a trip to a Broadway show.

Africa First Summit Weekend 2010 will be held from November 4 through November 8.