Film Africa  –  the  Royal  African Society’s  annual film festival and London’s biggest celebration of African cinema  –  returns for  the fourth year with a bumper programme of films, premieres and visiting filmmakers.

Running from Friday 31 October to Sunday 9 November , Film Africa 2014 will take place across 11 London venues, including the Hackney Picturehouse, Ritzy Brixton, BFI Southbank, Ciné Lumière, Rich Mix and the South London Gallery.

With 2014 marking 100 years since  the unification of Nigeria, the 60th anniversary of the Algerian Revolution, and the 20th anniversary of both South Africa’s democracy and the genocide in Rwanda, the festival will present stunning cinematic reflection on African history and current politics in different genres, including crime thrillers, period dramas, comedy and documentaries.

Major titles include Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu and Tala  Hadid’s The Narrow Frame Of Midnight (the festival opening and closing films), Olivier Delahaye and Dani Kouyaté’s Soleils, Sana Na N’Hada’s Kadjike , Noaz Deshe’s White Shadow (executive  produced by Ryan Gosling), Hicham Lasri’s They Are The Dogs, and Dieudo Hamadi’s National Diploma.

Over 20 filmmakers and guests will be in attendance this year, including rising director Tala Hadid (The Narrow Frame Of Midnight) ; filmmaker and journalist Yaba Badoe (The Art of Ama Ata Aidoo); popular Nollywood director Kunle Afolayan (October 1) ; and Algerian filmmaker Belkacem Hadjadj (Fadhma n’Soumer); and Cape Town-based director Ian Gabriel (Four Corners).

In partnership with the rest of the UK African film festivals, Film Africa 2014 will host South Africa at 20: The Freedom Tour – a nation-wide season of South African cinema, which includes the classic Come Back, Africa, the gritty, award-winning Four Corners and the  controversial documentary Miners Shot Down about the 2012 Marikana massacre.

Marking the 60th anniversary of Algeria’s independence, the festival also showcases Algerian Cinema: Towards a New Wave – a programme of over 15 Algerian films highlighting the imaginative work of a new generation of daring filmmakers who are unmistakably shifting the country’s cinematic landscape.

Female filmmakers and women-centred stories feature prominently across the  programme with titles such as Sergio Graciano’s Njinga, Queen of Angola, whose central character is the 17th century Angolan leader who fought tirelessly against Protugese slave traders, and Fadhma n’Soumer a historical biopic of the 19th century Algerian mystic and resistance leader. Contemporary African women acting as powerful agents of change today are  featured in Joanna Lipper’s The Supreme Price Zeresenay Berhane Mehari’s Difret and  Dani  Kouyaté’s Women, Entirely Women, among others.

A selection of documentaries bring to life the creative work of a range of individuals who have made their mark  on  the African  literary  and music scenes, including Silvia Voser’s Ken Bugul – Nobody Wants Her, Rachel Samuel’s Asni: Courage, Passion & Glamour in Ethiopia,Lebogang Rasethaba’s Future Sound of Mzansi, and Mário Patrocinio’s I Love Kuduro.

Film Africa 2014 will also shine a spotlight on Lusophone  (Portuguese-speaking) African cinema bringing the newest titles from Guinea-Bissau, Angola and  Mozambique, and a discussion with respected producer Pedro Pimenta.

Other programme highlights include: The Industry Forum at the BFI, a free event which sheds light on the business of African cinema; The Baobab Award for Best Short Film; Film Africa LIVE! music nights featuring the hottest African music in London; a schools screening programme, in partnership with Picturehouse Education; and Westminster University’s  6th Annual  African  Film  Conference – Documenting Africa: Creating Fact or Fiction through the lens.

Film Africa is funded by Miles Morland, the BFI and the SA-UK Seasons, a partnership between the  South African Department of Arts and Culture and the British Council. Supporters include MOFILM and  the  Centre  of  African  Studies,  University  of  London.  Sponsors  include  Divine  Chocolate,  SAB Miller, Aduna and Crumbs & Doilies. Media partners include The Africa Channel and IC Publications (New African & New African Woman).

Find the full programme here

www.filmafrica.org.uk