Classics in the Park - Special Edition 2023
Africa Film Society has been organizing Classics in The Park since 2016. It is a free screening event that was held on the last Saturday of every month before Covid-19 Pandemic. However now, since 2022 the free screenings now come off every March during Independence Day week. We screen old, classic African films shot in Africa or about Africa, including short films by young African filmmakers. Classics in The Park was scheduled for 4th-5th March at Akola Boni Park at Osu - Ako Adjei, 6pm â 10pm on both nights. It attracted a unique and a diverse audience which was exciting.
We believed and still believe that African audiences and young African filmmakers need to see the good classic films so it presents them with new ways of understanding our past and present.
We put out a call for short films and were impressed by the number of submissions we received. The official selection of short films featured works from different parts of the continent.
11 films
7 countries
For the Classic feature films, we programmed and screened âMaangamizi: The Ancient Oneâ (2001)
Itâs an essential work of Tanzanian cinema as well as a vital story of the relationship between three women - a doctor, her patient and an ancestor who unites them. It is a story that seeks to reclaim the connection between Africa and her Diaspora.
We are grateful for the help from ajabuajabu - a film collective in Tanzania that has been leading the re-release of the film.
Trailer - c. AjabuAjabu
Our very own King Ampawâs film Nana Akoto/Juju(1985) was the other classic film we screened at the special edition and it was definitely a crowd pleaser. A comic tale about a stubborn village elder who resists slipping gently into retirement.
Classics in the Park 2023 was really special.
To everyone that joined and supported us, thank you so much!
So grateful to the AFS team, the filmmakers whose films we screened and the group of dedicated volunteers who made the two day screening possible.
We look forward to returning again next year!! We canât wait to show you exciting classics and contemporary African shorts. Follow us on social media to get updates and information about our programming.
Classics In The Park 2019 SHORT FILM FULL SCHEDULE
Aug 31st
Life - Dir: Ramesh Jai (Ghana)
Afro x Beats x Berlin - Dir: David Yaw Debrah (Germany)
Vagabonds - Dir: Amartei Armar (Ghana)
Sept 28th
Woman Beings - Dir: Nyembezi Phiri (South Africa)
Rise - Dir: Camilla Pontiggia (South Africa)
Oct 26th
Catch - Dir: Rich Adofo (U.S.A)
To Be Free - Dir: Adepero Oduye ( U.S.A)
Voice of Monolith - Dir: Bryan Edwards (USA)
Nov 30th
Jungle Justice - Dir: Idowu Okeniyi (Ghana)
The backwaters - Dir: Cletus Clement (Nigeria)
Loosing My Religion - Dir: Damilola E. Orimogunje (Nigeria)
Dec 28th
The German King - Adetokumboh MâCormack (USA)
Idi Amin's Boat - Grace Nabisenke (Uganda)
We do what we can - Dir: Kwaku Awuku Asabre (UK)
Classics In The Park 2019
We are excited to announce our Opening Night Film for#ClassicsInThePark 2019 will be @TheBurialOfKojo with Director Q&A on Saturday Aug 31st 6pm at Akola Boni Park (Osu). We will be celebrating our 4th Year of FREE Outdoor Film Programing. Stay tuned for full calendar of films.
#CITP2019
Classics In The Park
We are excited to announce the 2nd Season of #ClassicsInThePark will begin on Jan 27th at Akola Boni Park, Accra. We will screen Kwaw Ansah's 1980 classic 'Love Brewed In The African Pot' and the Short Films 'Obeiro' by Nnenna Onuoha and 'Mother Tongues' by Victoria Adukwei Bulley.
See You There.
CLASSICS IN THE PARK CALL FOR SHORT FILMS
Africa Film Society is proud to announce our 2nd Season of Classics In The Park will feature a selection of short films from contemporary African filmmakers on the Continent and in the Diaspora. Our call for short films submission is now open.
Below are Eligibility and Submission Guidelines.
1. Short-length (under 20 minute) narrative, documentary, animated and experimental films.
2. No Submission Fee required.
3. As applicable, a password protected streaming link of the film must be submitted to africafilmsociety@gmail.com. Submission must include:
a) Title of Film
b) Name of Director
c) Year of Production
d) Name, Email, Phone Number and Title of Applicant. (ie: Director, Producer, Distributor etc)
4. Non-English language works must have English subtitles at the time submitted
5. ALL territories and countries are eligible. Director or Producer of film MUST be of African descent.
6. Only one film submission per applicant.
7. Submission Deadline is July 30th 11pm GMT
8th CLASSICS IN THE PARK - SEASON FINALE (ANIMATION)
Africa Film Societyâs free outdoor ďŹlm showcase âClassics in the Parkâ will showcase African Animation for its Season Finale. Slated for April 29th, 6pm at Akola Boni Park in Osu, our 8th edition aims to reacquaint Ghanaian ďŹlm audience with 1998 cult classic Kirikou and the Sorceress. We will open screening with Ghanaian animated short film Agorkoli (2014) by Francis Yushau Brown.
This will be our last screening for the Season. We will return in September for Season 2. We encourage our audience to bring a canned good on April 29th to be donated to South Labone Girls Vocational School which is opposite Akola Boni Park. We believe in making a positive impact in the communities we screen. Thanks in Advance. DIRECTIONS to Akola Boni Park can be found HERE
7th CLASSICS IN THE PARK - Kwaw Ansah
Arguably Ghanaâs most accomplished filmmaker, Kwaw Ansah has remained for decades, the face of Ghanaian cinema. His debut film, Love Brewed in Africa Pot (1980) captured the imagination of a young nation with its cynical and often melodramatic take on love and classism.
His second film, Heritage Africa (1989) was even more audacious. Heritage Africa won the grand prize at the 11th Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 1989.
Classics In The Park is honored to screen Heritage Africa, followed by an in-depth conversation with Kwaw Ansah about his film journey.
Date: March 25th
Venue: Akola Boni Park
Time: 6pm
FREE
6th CLASSICS IN THE PARK - Ousmane Sembene
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6th Classics in the Park Pays Tribute to Filmmaker Ousmane Sembène
Africa Film Societyâs free outdoor film showcase âClassics in the Parkâ will pay tribute to legendary Senegalese filmmaker, Ousmane Sembène for its 6th Edition.
Slated for February 25th, 6pm at Akola Boni Park in Osu, Nyaniba Estate, this edition aimsto familiarize Ghanaian film audience with the works of the man considered to befather of African cinema through his 1975 film Xala and 2015 biographical documentary film Sembène!.
Largely self-taught, Sembène was a prolific writer and director. His films and literature provide candid portrayal of Colonialism and the fallings of religion and the new African bourgeoisie.
His first feature film, Black Girl (1966) is a critical account of the isolation of a young Senegalese domestic servant working with an affluent French family in Antibes.
In Xala (1975), Semebène takes on the new African bourgeoisie in a biting satire about a westernized black bourgeoisie rendered impotent on the day of his wedding to his third wife. It was screened at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1975 and was ranked among âThe 100 Best Films of World Cinema in 2010 by the Empire Magazine.
Sembene was a member and co-founder of the Senegalese Association of filmmakers and the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI). He was a jury member at Cannes in 1967, Berlin (1977) and Venice (1983).His film, Moolaade (2002) won the Certain Regard prize in Cannes in 2004, subsequently becoming the first African director to hold a leçon de cinèma there.
He died in June, 2007 at the age of 84.
CLASSICS IN THE PARK / FEB 25 / 6pm / AKOLA BONI PARK, OSU ACCRA
5th Classics in The Park (Special Edition)
In 1970 a Ghanaian filmmaker, Nii Kwate Owoo (pictured below holding African doll -You Hide Me), went to the British Museum and managed to get access to the basement where he discovered boxes and plastic bags containing stolen African cultural treasures for which he produced the documentary YOU HIDE ME, to expose the stolen pieces. He brought the film home to Ghana in 1971 and the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation refused to air and banned the film with the fear of embarrassing the British. It became a major controversy internationally, after an article was published in the famous WEST AFRICA weekly news mag. Only a few people have seen this film in private screenings. Africa Film Society is therefore privileged to publicly screen this film at the monthly #ClassicsInThePark on Saturday Jan 28, at Akolaboni Park [Osu Ako Adjei]. The legend Nii Kwate Owoo will be at the screening to share his experience and answer questions, he is also the co-Director of the classic AMA movie. This is your invitation to see these films. It's a must.
Boost Post
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4th Classics In The Park (HOLIDAY PARTY)z
Classics In The Park - 3rd Edition
We return to Akola Boni Park, Nov 26th for the 3rd edition of Classics In the Park. We will screen Progress In Kojokrom (1954), The Encounter (2015) and The Boy Kumasenu (1952)
Akola Boni Park 6pm. Osu, Accra. TELL DE STORY OH!
