Festival Watch: 16th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival

Gospel Hill starring Angela Bassett opens the 16th Annual African Diaspora Film Festival, which opens tonight in Manhattan.

Returning to New York City for its 16th year, the African Diaspora Film Festival is one of the city’s most diverse film events, offering a rich mixture of high-profile debuts, off-the-beaten-path independent features and foreign films you won’t be able to see anywhere else.  As the name of the festival implies, the ADFF features a wide-range of films from black directors, some of whom are homegrown here in the USA and others that are from as far away as Barbados and Senegal.

The 16th edition of the ADFF begins tonight at 8:30pm at the Anthology Film Archives on the Lower East Side with a gala screening of Gospel Hill, the directorial debut of character actor Giancarlo Esposito, best known for his works as Buggin’ Out in Spike Lee’s seminal Do the Right Thing.  Featuring a cast of heavy-hitting A-listers like Danny Glover, Angela Bassett, Samuel L. Jackson, Julia Stiles and Wu Tang’s RZA, the film takes place in a small southern town that’s readying to observe the fortieth anniversary of the killing of a civil rights worker.  Against this backdrop, a married couple fights to save their largely black neighborhood from being transformed into a golf club.  Due out on DVD in February, this may be one of the only chances to see Gospel Hill on the big screen.

Here are the program entries for some of the other highlights unspooling at this year’s festival, which runs from November 28-December 14 at various theaters around Manhattan (including the Thalia Theater at Symphony Space, Clearview 62nd Street and The Riverside Theater).  Visit ADFF’s website for a complete schedule and to purchase tickets.

As Old as My Tongue
An intimate portrait of legendary singer Bi Kidude, probably the oldest singer on the world stage today. A strong woman with a defiant personality that challenges the perception one has about women’s behavior in Muslim oriented societies.
Directed by Andy Jones, 90mins, 2006, Tanzania/UK, doc. in English and Swahili with English subtitles.
Fri. Nov. 28, 5:45pm at Cowin Center
Sat. Nov. 29, 7:30pm at Anthology Film Archives

Glorious Exit
Upon the death of his father, whom he hardly knew, a man leaves Los Angeles for Nigeria. As the eldest son, it is his duty to arrange for the funeral and burial of his father. As the camera fallows Jarreth, one is exposed to the cultural shock this African-American man is going through and the emotional challenge he is dealing with.
Directed by Kevin Merz, 75mins, 2008, Nigeria/ Switzerland, doc. in German with English subs.
Sat. Nov. 29, 6:15pm at Cowin Cinema
Sun. Dec. 7, 2:00pm at Cowin Cinema

Nambia: The Struggle for Liberation
Namibia depicts the long struggle waged by the people of Namibia for their independence, which they ultimately won with the help of Cuban troops.
Directed by Charles Burnett, 161min, 2007, Namibia/USA, epic drama in English.
Thu. Dec. 4, 7:30pm at Anthology Film Archives
Sat. Dec. 6, 3:30pm at Anthology Film Archives

13 Months of Sunshine
The story of an Ethiopian man who marries a woman so she can get a green card. In exchange, her family pays him $20,000, enough to open up his own dream business-an authentic Ethiopian coffee house. They must live together and accept each other under the terms of the agreement. However, this marriage of convenience becomes complicated through love, jealousy and the clash of cultural values each must face in following their dreams.
Directed by Yehdego Abeselom, 102mins, 2008, Ethiopia. drama in English, Amharic and French with English subtitles.
Fri. Dec. 5, 8pm at Riverside Theatre.

Sex, Okra and Salted Butter
Mr. Haroun reveals an incredible sense of humour in this comedy that seriously takes a shot at Black life in Paris from several angles. The director of Daratt (Dry Season) and Sotigui Kouyate: A Modern Griot introduces us to Hortense, a 40 year-old nurse originally from Cameroon in an extra-marital affair leading to separation from her African husband. Malik, her husband, a very traditional African man, is in for a ride as he learns more about Hortense’s love affair, his eldest son’s secret love life and the responsibilities of single parenthood raising two black kids in Paris.
Directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, 81min, 2008, France, comedy in French with English subtitles
Sun. Dec. 7, 9:40pm at Anthology Film Archives
Tue. Dec. 9, 1:30pm at Thalia Theatre.

Paris or Nothing
Suzy’s dream is to leave her native Cameroon and settle in Paris. After several dangerous attempts, she manages to reach Paris and begin a new life. However, her life in Paris is a long road plagued with obstacles. A realistic film with an inquisitive presentation of immigration, jealousy and sacrifice.
Directed by Yehdego Abeselom, 102mins, 2008, Ethiopia. drama in English, Amharic and French with English subtitles.
Tue. Dec. 9, 9:00pm at Anthology Film Archives
Wed. Dec. 10, 8:30pm at Anthology Film Archives