Top 5 Must-See Films

The 10th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival returns to San Jose October 4-6.

Chike Nwoffiah, Festival Director of the event, gives his Top 5 films to watch for this weekend.

 

 

VERONICA’S WISH

Director: Nisha Kalema, Uganda

“[A] beautiful film from Uganda […] by a young director - 26 years old. And she will be [at the film festival].”

Veronica's wish changes from marrying her millionaire boyfriend to launching a campaign that could save lives after she gets diagnosed by cancer at the late stage just days away from her wedding.
 

NO SHADE

Director: Clare Anyiam-Osigwe, United Kingdom

“[A] film from the UK that deals with colorism and its effects within the community.”

Told through the prism of love, relationships, dating and marriage, No Shade provides a raw perspective on the issue of colorism and what happens when looking for love in the right place, goes wrong.
 

LOVE MAKER

Director: Boris Kpadenou, Togo

“[A] beautiful animation from Togo. It’s hilarious, you can't afford to miss that.”

Willy is young and unemployed but loves women's companies. His biggest flaw is that he likes to live beyond his means. And to maintain his high standard of living, nothing more natural than the wealthy "cougars". One day he meets a "Nana Benz" named Royal. The latter too experienced and cunning to indulge in the simple game of seduction, offers him a deal including an electronic chip to control her spouse from a distance.
 

MOUTH CANNON

Director: Angelo Lopes, Cape Verde / Guiné-Bissau

“[A] a documentary film from Cape Verde Islands… it’s a very politically charged documentary.”

During the fight for the liberation of Guiné-Bissau and Cape Verde, Amílcar Cabral used the expression Mouth Cannon to refer to “Liberation Radio” as a more powerful weapon than all the war arsenal they could possess. Having the Cape Verdian experience as a starting point and looking out to the world, the documentary “Canhão de Boca” fictionalizes a radio program with Amélia Araújo, who gave her voice to the programs at the Liberation Radio spreading the ideals of the fight between 1964 and 1973; and Rosário da Luz, a voice incorporating critical information as a fight for the contemporary deconstruction in Cape Verde. Their fights are specific of each period, but, in their essence, they are the same.
 

BIRTH OF A NATION, CHILDREN OF AZANIA

Director: Madu Dube, South Africa

“[A] documentary film you can't afford to miss […] from South Africa.”

Birth of a Nation, Children of Azania is an hour and 15 minutes’ documentary about the born free generation of South Africa and their struggle with education in the developing country. Sparked by the uprising of the "fees must fall" protests, we witness how a generation responds to the difficulty brought by their circumstances through painful but ultimately positive discussions about the system in this country and how it is structured.

“Come see the films and see all the stuff we have in store for you! Thank you!” – Chike Nwoffiah, Festival Director of Silicon Valley African Film Festival