Mama Africa film series launch

This initiative collects for the first time the beauty, humor, fury, frustration, intimacy and spirituality of African womanhood. MAMA AFRICA's cinematic release - which includes the three short films: "Raya", "Riches" and "Close up on Bintou" - will move to Cinema Nouveau screened by Nedbank in Durban and Pretoria later this year.

"Close up on Bintou" was screened in the Directors Fortnight Section at the Cannes International Film Festival last year and won the Kodak Prize for best short film. New-wave director Fanta Regina Nacro's film is a lighthearted piece that gives a refreshing perspective on village life in Burkina Faso. "Close up on Bintou" portrays a downtrodden housewife, Bintou's (Alima Salouka) quest to improve her material condition against tremendous odds.

"Raya" with Rehane Abrahams follows the tribulations of three generations of women, their struggles and reconciliation in the pulsating coloured community of Cape Town. It also speaks of women's sparring to survive in a violent and drug-infested ghetto, and was directed by South African-based Zulfa Otto-Sallies.

Inspired by the writings of Bessie Head, "Riches" starring Cindy Simpson, is the story of a teacher and her son's exit from apartheid South Africa to Zimbabwe. She discovers a tough life in a hostile village, where the isolated community is resistant to changing their perception of women being subservient to men. "Riches" is helmed by critically acclaimed director Ingrid Sinclair (FLAME, 1998), and was awarded the Venice Prize from the 11th African Film Festival in Milan, 2001.

The MAMA AFRICA initiative has offered an unusual opportunity for African women to tell their stories through the all-embracing medium of film, and is a major victory for all women involved in the film industry. MAMA AFRICA is the first collection of short films ever to be released by Ster-Kinekor Pictures and FRU on the Cinema Nouveau screened by Nedbank-circuit.

MAMA AFRICA is currently on select release in the United States.

For more information about the films visit www.mama-afrika-online.org. Also, www.skpictures.co.za has production notes and visuals for publicity purposes.