1. Place – period - name
1.1 The African Film Festival has been held in Milan for seven days since 1991. In 2004, the Festival took the name of the Festival of African, Asian and Latin American Cinema, extending the selection to films from these three continents. Events are held in parallel, or immediately afterwards, in other Italian towns and cities.
2. Objectives
2.1 The Festival of African, Asian and Latin American Cinema is an opportunity to meet and become acquainted with the themes and languages of new movies which are, mostly, unknown to Italian audiences, for a growth in North-South dialogue and encounter. There is a multiplication of ways of viewing the most concealed cinema to stimulate intercultural dialogue. The presence at the festival of directors from the three continents represents an opportunity of exchange with professional operators from Italy and Europe as well as the opportunity to stimulate South-South co-productions. By involving the cinemas of Asia and Latin America, there is the ambition to give a new boost to African cinema, both in terms of economic development of production and inclusion of African professionals in the international panorama of culture and cinema.
3. Creation and Organization
3.1 Encouragement by the bodies concerned, of Ministry of Cultural Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union, the Italian Bishops’ Conference, and the favourable reception by the Lombardy Regional Council and the participation of the Milan City and Provincial Councils made the creation of the African Film Festival possible.
3.2 The Festival is organized by the Centro Orientamento Educativo (COE) Association, a non-governmental organization which has been working for several years on the promotion and distribution of cinema from the three continents.
3.3 The COE creates an Organization Management and an Artistic Management for the Festival.
4. Activities of the Festival
4.1 The film programme of the Festival is divided in the following film sections.
“Windows on the world” Feature Film Competition
Fiction films by directors from Africa, Asia and Latin America (minimum running time 60 mins.).
Prize: € 15,000
Public’s prize: € 5,000
“Windows on the world” Documentary Competition
Documentaries by directors from Africa, Asia and Latin America (minimum running time 60 mins.).
Prize: € 6,000
Best African Film Competition
Fiction films from the most recent African productions (minimum running time 60 mins.)
Prize € 7,500
African Short Film Competition
Short films ( fiction and documentary) only by African directors (max. running time 59 mins.).
Prize: € 5,000.
Extr’A
The section presents fiction films and documentaries made by Italian directors about Africa, Asia and Latin America and on migration and racism issues.
Prizes: ACRA CCS Prize €1,000; Babel TV Prize: €2,500 (for broadcasting rights).
Non Competitive Section
Films and documentaries about Africa, Asia and Latin America realised by directors who are not from these continents. This informative section includes those films that do not meet the criteria of the competition but which contribute to conveying a different image of the three continents for a greater and better knowledge of their social and cultural realities.
Thematic Section and Retrospective Section
4.2 In parallel with the programme the Festival organizes meetings with directors and round tables.
4.3 During the event, the Festival organizes the Festival Center, a meeting place for the festival guests and public, which also houses exhibitions and various multi-disciplinary activities inspired by the three continents.
4.4 The Festival devotes special attention to young people with a Schools Section and a University Section: special screenings and meetings with directors, seminars and workshops.
5. Registration for the festival
5.1 The films are selected by the Artistic Directors of the Festival according to their artistic values and contents.
5.2 Films and videos made in 2012 and 2013 can enter the competitive sections.
5.3 To apply for the festival the entry form must be completed and a DVD (with English or French subtitles) sent no later than the 25th of January 2013. Entrance is free of charge.
5.4 The entry form must be accompanied by a synopsis and photos of the film and a photo, a biography and a filmography of the director. (The photos must be in high resolution)
5.5 Notice of selection is sent to the producer or director by the Festival starting from the end of March 2013.
5.6 The DVDs sent for selection will not be returned. The Festival keeps them in its archives exclusively for private use.
6. Films
6.1 The copy of the film (film or video) must reach the Festival no later than the 17th of April 2013.
6.2 The festival pays for the shipment of the copies of the selected films (films, DCP and videos).
See the specifications for digital cinema with regard to the systems used by the Festival.
6.3 All the copies must be in their original version and, if possible, subtitled in Italian or in English / French.
6.4 In case of film copies without Italian subtitles, the Festival will take charge of the electronic subtitling (off screen) of the film. The list of subtitles with time code (in English or French) in sync with those on-screen and a 100% identical DVD to the final film version will be therefore required.
6.5 For the video projections, only the following supports can be accepted: Betacam SP (PAL), Digital Beta (PAL), DVCAM and MINIDV.
7. Juries and Awards
7.1 Personalities from the world of cinema and culture are invited by the Festival Directors and make up three Official Juries who award the official prizes.
7.2 Alongside the official Awards there are many special prizes and acknowledgements.
7.3 The public is invited to vote for the feature films in the “Windows on the World” Feature Film Competition, giving their votes on special cards distributed at the entrance of the cinemas. The Public’s Prize is awarded to the film that obtains the highest score.
8. Screenings and audience
8.1 The screenings are held in five cinemas in the centre of Milan.
8.2 The cinemas are open to the public on purchase of a ticket or pass valid for all the festival screenings.
8.3 Passes at reduced rates are available for cultural associations, over 65 and students.
8.4 Entry to the Festival Center is free of charge.
9. Press accreditation
9.1 Journalists can request free accreditation.
9.2 The requests for accreditation must be sent no later than the 5th of April 2013.
9.3 The requests for accreditation must be made on headed paper and signed by the Managing Editor of the publication. |
