By Special to the Daily World
The seventh annual Women of Color Arts and Film (WOCAF) Festival announces its opening night feature film, “The Education of Auma Obama” by Branwen Okpako, taking place at Walter C. Hill Auditorium, High Museum of Arts, 1280 Peachtree St. on Friday, March 16, at 7 p.m. The film, which made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, is an intriguing look into the life of President Barack Obama’s Kenyan half-sister Auma Obama, filmed in her homestead in Kenya during the run up until the 2008 U.S. presidential elections that brought her brother, Barack Obama, to power. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the High Museum of Art’s box office.
The centerpiece film “MA’AMI” by acclaimed Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani is scheduled to be screened on Saturday, March 17, at the Auburn Avenue Research Library (AARL), 101 Auburn Ave., and is free and open to the public. Set over a two-day period, leading to the 2010 World cup, “MA’MI” is an inspiring story of a poor conscientious single parent’s struggle to raise her only child, Kashimawo, who eventually rises to international stardom in an English football club, Arsenal and becomes a national hero.
The closing night film “Ties That Bind” by multiple award-winning director Leila Djansi, described as one of the hottest new wave directors out of Africa, is the story of three women from different backgrounds bound together by a common tragedy: the loss of a child.
The film features Hollywood actress Kimberly Elise, Ghanaian stars, Ama K Abebrese, John Dumelo, David Dontoh and one of the Nollywood’s most notable actresses, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. The screening will take place at Walter C. Hill Auditorium, High Museum of Arts, 1280 Peachtree St. on Sunday, March 18, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the High Museum of Art’s box office.
For a detailed festival itinerary visit the website www.wocaf.org.
The 2012 festival sponsors/partners include: Creative Loafing, Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History, Women Make Movies, Goethe Institute NY, Storm Web Enterprises and Africanreel.tv. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.
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