On occasion of the World Aids Day AfricAvenir presents the German premiere of ‘Stigma’ by Dagogo Dimina. The screening will be followed by an open discussion with the director Dagogo Reeves Diminas and the Rivers State Commissioner of Health Hon. Dr. Sampson Parker as well as by small reception in the foyer.

Stigma tells the story of Ibiso and her daughter Vanessa, who become infected with HIV through their work as traditional birth attendants in a small Nigerian village. When people around them find out about this diagnosis, Ibiso and Vanessa are rejected by their family and the society and left to themselves. This stigma and loneliness, coupled with financial difficulties overwhelm Ibiso and eventually drive her to death. Devastated over her mother’s fate, Vanessa decides to fight against social exclusion and to defy death. The Nollywood drama « Stigma » is a movie about the consequences of a social stigmatization, but also about the possibility to overcome the situation, to positively live with HIV and to realize one’s dreams.

« Stigma is still the biggest barrier to public action. It’s the main reason why so many people are afraid to go the doctor and get their diagnosis or treatment. AIDS can be a « silent killer », because people are too ashamed to speak about this disease in public or to use easily available contraceptives. Stigma is the reason why AIDS as an epidemic continues to destroy the societies all over the world. (Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon)

With a friendly support from the Nigerian Embassy, 13Fatman Films and Pinguindruck.
Media partners: Africiné, SEV-Magazin, Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin Poche, Exberliner, multicult.fm, Art Labour Archives.

Dagogo Reeves Diminas has been part of the Nollywood industry for over 20 years and is considered a pioneer in the field of costume and stage design. After getting a degree in theater studies at the University of Port-Harcourt in Nigeria, he specialized in stage design, masks, costumes and characters development. Thanks to his passion and creativity, he coined the Nollywood film decisively, for example by the introducing special effects and stunts. He later worked with numerous national and international personalities, including Opa Williams or Mark Dornford-May (U-Carmen), realized the movie « Wake of Death » with Jean Claude van Damme and worked under Roland Emmerich in « 10.000 BC ». « Stigma » is his directorial debut.

Stigma
Nigeria/South Africa/Germany, 2013, 92 Min., with Engl. subtitles
Director: Dagogo Reeves Diminas;
screenplay: Jackie Appiah, Emake Ike, Hilda Dokubo, Francis Duru, Clem Ohameze, Soibifaa Dokubo and Ngozi Nwosu

30 November 2014 5 – 7pm 

Hackesche Höfe Kino
Rosenthaler Straße 40/41
10178 Berlin

Tickets: 7,50€

www.africavenir.org