In May of 2005, Academy Award-nominated actor Don Cheadle (Crash, Ocean’s Eleven, Traffic, Boogie Nights) traveled with his family to Kampala, Uganda to attend a charity screening of his award-winning film Hotel Rwanda. The screening was held to raise money for a group of children called the “night commuters”. They are called “night commuters” because every night they must flee their homes seeking refuge in large camps in the cities to keep from being kidnapped, dragged into the bush and ultimately forced to fight against the Ugandan government for the rebel Lords Resistance Army.
The Cheadles and a group of filmmakers traveled 5 hours outside the capital to the town of Gulu to see for themselves how these kids and their families are forced to live. Filmmaker and longtime ABC News producer Rick Wilkinson documented what they found in a 24-minute short called Journey Into Sunset. The documentary examines the lives and experiences of several of these boys and girls. Some of them have been able to avoid being kidnapped. Others who weren’t so lucky. They lived or died at the will and whim of their captors. They were forced to fight. And some committed horrible atrocities.
“Journey Into Sunset” will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in NYC on April 26, where both Mr. Wilkinson and producer John Prendergast will be present for a Q&A. The film will also be screening at the Boston Film Festival, and the Atlanta Film Festival in June. Rick Wilkinson is a 4-time Emmy Award winner who has traveled the world, covering many of the pivotal news events as a producer for ABC television’s Nightline.
Info: Boing Boing
Nokia picks the Face of Africa for 2006
On April 22 the Nokia Face of Africa 2006 contest will have its final casting in Johannesburg, South Africa. Having covered 12 cities since February, the contest is in its eighth year of selecting a unique model who will reign as the Face of Africa. In countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, Namibia and Nigeria, a scouting team has already chosen a semi-finalist. The winner of the continent-wide search will be chosen on August 13 in Sun City in Johannesburg.
Though the contest has been long running, with Nokia backing the efforts, the winner of the contest will gain more exposure than the winners of the past. Only one model so far has turned her win into an international modeling career, though others continue to work as models. Since winning the contest in 1998 at the age of seventeen, Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba was awarded a three-year contract by Elite Models Management. Oluchi (as she’s known in the modeling world) has since graced the covers of Italian Vogue, I-D, Elle, Untold, and Surface and has been featured in Nylon, Marie Claire, Allure, and Vogue while working with the who’s-who of the fashion world.
The Nokia Face of Africa 2006 contest is being filmed by South Africa’s M-Net channel for its African lifestyle program Studio 53 and will dedicate three programs in July to the search for Nokia Face of Africa 2006.
Western movies get African treatment
The Christian Science Monitor writes about the emergence of video jockeys (veejays) in Uganda. Emerging out of the phenomenon of homegrown video hall, the veejays act as cultural translators, providing colorful “voiceovers” of Western Movies for the native population. The veejays have gained such popularity as to become local celebrities. The unique way each veejay translates the films have even spawned genre specialists, with some being known for action movies and others for romantic comedies. This veejaying method lends creative license tot the “interpreter” with many choosing entertainment of their audience over accuracy. It’s an interesting article about how some African communities are customizing foreign movies for their market allowing them to earn a living and tap into their creative spirit.
Cape Town Fashion Week dates announced
One of the largest gatherings of African fashion talent will take place this July in Cape Town, South Africa. Nokia Cape Town Fashion Week will take place 11th -15th July 2006 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
With the rising interest in African fashion, Cape Town Fashion Week is positioning itself as the gateway to Africa and its fashion talent. Known as the place where many foreigners first experience Africa, Cape Town looks to be the center of African fashion as well. Guest designers, from over ten African countries such as Nigeria, Namibia, Kenya, Ghana, and Tanzania, will join local designers such as Stoned Cherrie, and Sun Goddess to showcase their Spring/Summer 06/07 collections.
House of Boateng coming to reality tv
If you haven’t heard already, on June 22 the Sundance Channel will air the first of an eight-part documentary series tracking the journey of Savile Row designer Ozwald Boateng as he launches his Bespoke Couture line in America. The series follows the Ghanaian born designer as he strives to duplicate his overseas success in the United States. Since becoming the creative director of men’s wear and haute couture house Givenchy, and dressing actor/singer/comedian Jamie Fox for his award win at the Academy Awards, Boateng’s celebrity has been catapulted to global proportions. The weekly series will air on Thursdays at 9:00pm e/p through August 10. Mark you calendars.
Mixtress X site launch
NY-based Liberian director Dante Kaba has launched the site for his film Mistress X. The film is a documentary about hip-hop’s under-appreciated female djs. From NYC’s Beverly Bond & Atlanta’s Shortee (Fauste and Shortee), to radio host Wendy Williams, the film shines light on the struggles of being a female dj in a male-dominated industry. A must see.