Celebrating African film and culture

The festival will take place at Cinema Nouveau screened by Jameson Rosebank and Cavendish, Ster Kinekor Junction at Maponya Mall and Festival Mall, and also at Museum Africa.

The festival aims to showcase the best in new and quality African films within mainstream cinema environments, while also reaching out to audiences with educational and classic African films. This year's festival includes roughly 24 films and five animated shorts, from animation to documentaries. The festival will host no less than 10 South African premieres of films from across the continent including Africa Unite, Zimbabwe, Return to Goree, Clouds over Conakry and Sur les traces du Bembeya Jazz (On the Heels of Bembeya Jazz).

Ster Kinekor has gotten behind Africa on Screen by providing four premiere venues for the festival. Cinema Nouveau screened by Jameson at Rosebank and Cavendish have both become known as favourite locations for festivals and for the first time will play host to an African film festival.

In support of the festival's goals of audience development, Africa on Screen will also take place at the Ster Kinekor Junction Maponya and Festival Mall, venues which would never normally play host to non-commercial films.

In addition, once again Museum Africa in Newtown will play host to the festival with selected free screenings and workshops. This venue has proven popular in the past and its central location makes it accessible to many more people. The free screenings are a critical component of the festival and its goals of audience development.

Workshops and discussions

Museum Africa will host workshops aimed at film industry professionals and amateurs alike. All workshops are free and open to the public. Various Q&A sessions with directors after select screenings will also be announced.

Friday 23 May, 11am: Director's Round Table. Join South African and other African directors as they discuss their work and the state of African cinema. Final line up to be announced.

Tuesday 27May, 2pm: Following the screening of Zimbabwe at 12.30pm, there will be a round table discussion on xenophobia and migration, followed by a screening of Conversations on a Sunday Afternoon.

Wednesday 28 May, 2pm: Following a screening of the claymation feature Tengers and the CGI Backyard shorts at 12:30, director Michael Rix and producers and directors from Anamazing will lead a workshop to discuss animation in South African film.

Thursday 29 May, 2pm: Following the screening of Heritage Africa at 12.30pm, there will be a round table discussion on African views on African cinema.

Special Programme: Sci Bono Discovery Centre, Newtown: Science in Africa, 19 - 23 May:
Science and Technology film screenings and career workshops hosted by celebrities from your favourite television shows and with industry experts.

Themes:

• Electricity: How electricity gets to your home
  
• Satellites & Communication: How the picture gets to your TV. How the sound gets from your phone to the next.
  
• Women in Science: Celebrating Africa's women scientists
  
• Hip2b²: Innovators and inventers
  
• Tube

  For more information, go to www.sci-bono.co.za or call +27 (0)11 639 8400.

  There will be a free concert at Mofolo Park in Soweto on Sunday 25 May, starting at 1pm, with music performances from local artists and a special outdoor screening of Africa Unite.

  The festival continues to grow due to the support from filmmakers across the continent and from partners and funders, including SABC Africa, Amarula and Ster-Kinekor. Other sponsors include Africalia (Belgium), DHL, SABC 3, The French Embassy, Gauteng Film Commission, Museum Africa and The City of Joburg, Sci Bona.

  For the full festival schedule, go to www.sterkinekor.com.