2011 Films

Forgotten Gold tells the story of one of Africa's legendary footballers, Ndaye Mulamba, who secured his fame by scoring 9 goals during the 1974 African Cup of Nations tournament, for the Leopards team from the country then known as Zaire.

Ndaye was forced to flee Zaire (DRC today) in 1996, leaving family, friends and all he owned, and seek refuge in South Africa, where he has painfully made a life for himself. 

A man who, at the time was working as a car guard in Cape Town, put Africa on the map with his unbroken record of 9 goals in Egypt.

WHITE AND BLACK: CRIMES OF COLOR is a 58-minute documentary about albinism, an age-old African taboo.

Albinism is a genetically inherited condition that occurs in both genders in all countries of the world. But in the East African region ten times more people have albinism than in North American and Europe. One person in 2000 has albinism.

The film follows a small group of Tanzanian women who leave their remote villages to road trip together on safari. These women have never been further than a few miles from their homes, let alone seen an elephant or a giraffe... but now things are different. Their lives have been forever changed from a simple micro loan. All the song and spirit on the bus prove that this is more than a much needed (and unheard of) girls day out, it's also a triumph of the spirit.

In what seems to be a hard and unwinnable battle against sexual violence in South Africa a few victories offer hope. Human rights activist and mother, Nonkosi Khumalo, revisits the stories, places, and where possible, the women to discover how personal experiences of horrific trauma have transformed how the law against rape is prosecuted. She finds that only public outrage and organised protest have forced the authorities to provide women the protection and justice to which they are entitled.

AMINA is attracted to a Catholic young man and this doesn't go down well with her father, HADJI MUSTAFA. With mixed emotions, Amina goes out of her way to find her only true love despite her father's pre-arranged marriage with another man with deadly consequences.

Archie Redman is a middle-aged man chasing a fading dream. In his obsession to hold on to his failing business—a small hotel—he has sacrificed everything. His marriage is broken, his debts have risen beyond his reach and he has a severely damaged relationship with his father.

The Arapha -White-Eyed Woman is an intimate and searing account of the conditions faced by albino people in Tanzania today told through the story of a young albino girl, Arapha, who was mortally threatened by her own people.

Besieged by a stormy rainy night, Beth and her husband wake up to the strange noises of an invader inside their house. Desire. Revenge. Redemption. A bloody threesome love story.

In the Summer of 1969 a young man is filled with the life of the idyllic old pearling port Broome - fishing, hanging out with his mates and his girl. However his mother returns him to the religious mission for further schooling. After being punished for an act of youthful rebellion, he runs away from the mission on a journey that ultimately leads him back home.

With Academy award winner Geoffrey Rush.

A personal exploration of African identity in Trinidad & Tobago, using the Emancipation Day parade and its rituals as a starting point.

African premiere. Jonny is a young man guilt-stricken over his sexuality. Lena, a pastor’s wife, is on an anti-gay rights campaign. When their paths cross, their lives will change forever.

Mzee Saidi has been unable to find peace in his dotage.  The irresolvable pain he has felt since leaving his village has grown stronger recently with the sudden visit of his grandson. Sada has always been reluctant to become involved with me, a closely guarded secret has kept her from trusting them. 

 There are two sides to every story but in this case there are ten when a diverse group of Australians sit down to decide the fate of a violent young man.  As the story unfolds, each of the players is brought face to face with the complexity of determining ultimate guilt and responsibility. Face to Face, is adapted from a play by Australian playwright, David Williamson, which is in turn based on the transcripts from actual conflict resolution sessions.

Victims and perpetrators of Sierra Leone's brutal civil war come together for the first time in an unprecedented program of tradition-based truth-telling and forgiveness ceremonies. As they revive their ancient practice of fambul tok (family talk), Sierra Leoneans are building sustainable peace at the grass-roots level -- succeeding where the international community's post-conflict efforts failed.

A lyrical description of the "flights of fancy" over the ages.

Grade: 7-9, School: Hurumunzi

A boy who was born with strong arms, well, they have to become strong if you are born with lame legs, without bones.

Grade: 7 - 9, School: Vikokotoni 

The film shows the life of a Muslim Zanzibari girl, who from childhood dreams of becoming a model.

“History of a missed hatred” is the documentary film title the 26 minute film which tells the history of its author, director and producer Eddy Munyaneza, of Menya-Media the seedbed of the future of the Burundian Cinema. The camera of Eddy always told stories of men and women through fictions, documentaries, clips, adverts. But one day in an about turn, when seeking images to tell, the camera was turned over towards him and its family. Thus was born the “history from a missed hatred”, the film.

 Mama Beatrice is a so called mama ntilie: a 'hotel less' women who sells her food at the market in Arusha, Tanzania. Her work isn't regarded as a respectful job but she keeps her head up and earns enough money to look after her family.

The documentary follows the political journey of Maalim Seif Sheriff, vice president of Zanzibar.

She has changed her mind about her relationship, just an hour ago.

Lauge lives with his parents in the countryside, and dreams of having a kitten. One day the family cat gives birth to a litter of kittens. Lauge's parents don't want to keep them. When Lauge's dad is about to do away with the kittens, one of them escapes, and is found by Lauge. He hides the kitten in his room. But the neighbour's son interferes.

Grade: 6-9, School: Haile Salasie

Lezare is a revealing and touching story about a homeless boy in a small village in southern Ethiopia. A powerful message, and beautifully shot film, about global warming, shortsightedness and the dangers posed for future generations when we think only for today.

Josphat Miringi, grew up in a time when the world was ignorant of the impending Global Pandemic. 


His first Wife died from an HIV related illness in 1990, giving birth to their son. Josphat abandoned his child and sank into an oblivion of denial with alcohol and drugs. He married his second Wife and they too had a child.

When talented singer-songwriter and single mother Shabella Makosi and 2 other girls (Christy & Annitah) are rejected in a talent search contest, and decide to team up with and a guy (Deano) to form a band. SHabella has just one goal in mind: fulfilling her childhood singing ambition to be able to give her daughter a better life. Aided by Lillian’s (Christy’s friend) belief, management prowess and financial backing, the band develops with a real shot at success.

A cinema-verité documentary about two young Cape Coloureds‚ struggling to make sense in the ruins of a post-apartheid South African township. Manenberg is a suburb outside Cape Town, which was constructed during the apartheid-regime to house coloured families with low incomes.

Today it is a worn-down and overpopulated ghetto-area with enormous social problems, where the chances of becoming a gangster are greater than the chances of creating something new in the ruins of the past - but it is also an area with strong ties between the inhabitants in the claustrophobic houses.

MANENBERG is an cinema-verit documentary about two young "Cape Coloureds" struggling to make sense in the ruins of a post-apartheid South African township. Manenberg is a suburb outside Cape Town, which was constructed during the apartheid-regime to house coloured families with low incomes.

The film is suggestive of a troubled inner journey while at the same time portraying a willful departure from the mortal world, a farewell to past miseries and suffering.

Is it a final journey or a lingering fantasy of such a thought? In any case, an unmistakable metamorphosis does take place.

What does a girl have to do to get a boy's attention? Minnie lives in a seaside fishing village. Junior lives there too. Little does he realise Minnie's unrequited love will soon save his life. Minnie Loves Junior is a heart-warming story of a little boy who loves the ocean, and a little girl who loves the boy.

Nazaeli is a deaf and mute young girl living in Tanzania. She shows that, thanks to education and the support of her mother, she is capable of being a full member of society instead of being hidden and ashamed of. 

Ni Wakati shines a light on Africa's history of resilience and its rich diversity through a journey with M1 of the prolific rap group Dead Prez and Umi of P.O.W.  as they travel to East Africa and connect with the revolutionary youth movement Ukoo Flani Mau-Mau and the exiled former Black Panther leader Pete O'Neal.  We witness the passing of the revolutionary torch and bridge the gap between the young and the old as they collectively confront the challenges from the radical past of the panthers to the present youth, using their avenues responsibly for this generation. 

On a fine day they met over a glass of orange juice. Destiny overwhelmed, they fell completely in love. However they each held a secret not to be revealed. A secret so threatening it would destroy their chance at true love. Years later, still inseparable as on that one fine day and very much still in love, fate would intervene and both their secrets are revealed. Only the truth will tell the outcome.

Things were looking up for Juma (Mohamed Ayub) an out of work accountant with his upcoming job interview, but he gets abducted by the Kidnap ring trio of Nimo (Lorraine Mburu), Moshi (Nick Ndeda) and Cage (Allan Adika) who plan to harvest his organs for sale. However, Juma has a medical condition that makes him useless to them and his financial situation means that he cannot be held for ransom. There is only one option left, getting rid of him.

When a pregnant young woman discovers she is HIV positive, her world comes crashing down. As she exhausts her possible options, the damage caused by her own errors overshadows whatever hopes she foresees for her child.

Annette is an accomplished young business executive. She works in an ADVERTISING AGENCY and her fresh, innovative ideas have made the Agency successful and have bagged many Awards. In time she discovers that she is carrying the AIDS virus. Her life is turned upside down, when her employees learn of her condition. She is fired despite her sterling work record. With ISSA representatives, in court Annette fights for her right to work. Will she get her Rights? 

Sadomasochism, the specter of a dead mother and an elaborate and grotesque fantasy all play a part as a young Chinese girl draws her father into a sexual relationship.

Shot in New York, Cape Town, St Helena and the Atlantic Ocean, Sathima's Windsong, is a lyrical portrait of South African jazz singer, Sathima Bea Benjamin. In her Chelsea Hotel apartment, home for over thirty years, she patches together her journeys, from apartheid's 'pattern of brokenness', to a chance meeting and recording with Duke Ellington in Paris, to making a life in New York. The narrative of her journeys are inter-woven with her music and the musings of folks who know her work.

Set against the backdrop of the start of the devastating post-election violence that took place in Kenya in 2007/2008 and has left tens of thousands of Kenyans homeless, traumatized or dead, Taharuki (Suspense) is the fictional account of a man and woman from opposing ethnic tribes who are working for an underground liberation movement to expose a child-trafficking cartel when something goes wrong, and they are forced to make tough choices in order to stay alive and complete their mission. Time is running out, lives are at stake, and every second counts.

Taka Takata is a soccer social comedy about a small community’s success to achieve the unthinkable. Starring some of South Africa’s biggest celebrities, Trevor Noah, Kagiso Lediga, Anele Ndoda and Samkelo Ndlovu, it tells the tale of the Flamingoes FC, a local Jo’burg soccer team at the bottom of the soccer league. We go on their timely journey from identity, skill, and relationship crises to self respect, soccer, and romantic victories.

Ten-year-old Hannes (NICK ROMEO REIMANN) lives with his single-parent Mom (NORA TSCHIRNER). His greatest dream is to become a member of the "The Crocodiles" ‚the coolest gang in the world. He has to accept a dare to become a Crocodile. The dare goes wrong, putting Hannes in serious danger. He's saved at the last minute thanks to Kai (FABIAN HALBIG), who's in a wheelchair. Kai desperately wants to be a Crocodile, too, but the other kids just make fun of him. For them Kai is a cripple who's no good in a pinch. He can't even run away. One night, however, Kai witnesses a burglary.

Grade: 7-9, School: Hurumunzi

Jonathan, 11, usually spends his vacations alone with his grandfather who lives on the edge of a vast forest populated by mythical animals. This year his kid sister Sophie joins him. But it's not cool to be stuck with a little sister, so he does what he can to avoid her. He succeeds entirely too well: Sophie is kidnapped by a giant, 1000-year-old bear. Now, Jonathan has to venture into the heart of the forest to confront the strange beings that dwell there and rescue his sister.

»The Great Bear« is Esben Toft Jacobsen's feature film debut.

The ocean took away the opportunity from the young man to know his dad. Now death is knocking on the door, asking for his dad's life. "Will you take your last voyage with me dad?" Not wanting to disappoint his son, he promised he would. What unfolds in a story of love during a time of death - not just for his dad, but also for his mother who will be left alone after his dad's gone.

An international documentary film that exposes the human dramas that take place in locker rooms during soccer matches around the world, while focusing on social, cultural and religious themes. Each story/location presents soccer as a way to realize a dream and escape local realities. The Oriental stories will be joined by personal stories as recounted by the world’s greatest players and coaches.

Josphat Miringi, grew up in a time when the world was ignorant of the impending Global Pandemic. His first Wife died from an HIV related illness in 1990, giving birth to their son. Josphat abandoned his child and sank into an oblivion of denial with alcohol and drugs. He married his second Wife and they too had a child. Eventually his health deteriorated and had to face his truth. The family found strength, becoming closer they decided to fight the virus, the stigmatism and the shear lack of understanding of the HIV and Aids, becoming key figures in their local community.

Top football referee Martin Hansson had a successful journey towards his vision in life, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Then one dark night in Paris on November 18th, 2009, all hell broke loose...

Set amidst stunning mountain scenery in Guangxi Province, southern China, this is the first film to be shot in the Dong language, follows the life of 12-year-old A Qiu. She aspires to be a writer and travel the world. Her parents are migrant workers in the city, but the death of her grandmother forces them to return to their home and the family rice paddy. The story evolves over the four seasons with sumptuous cinematography, punctuated by a beautiful score including traditional Dong music. Yet, it is equally a comment on contemporary youth in an increasingly modern and changing China.

Dagmar the dancing mosquito has the hots for Egon. But Egon, putting love on hold, is busy achieving the ultimate sprint on his bike and wants to see the world. When wicked red ant queen Dominella and her soldiers kill the black ant queen and take over her heap, our heroes are drawn into an exciting forest floor drama that puts their friendship to the test and forces them to use their talents to the utmost.

Based on true events and the ethnic conflict that tore apart a country. This is the story of Kamau, an artist, searching for change in the midst of ethnic tension in the slums. Kamau goes against his father and his tribe to join the other side with his friend Otieno. Kamau and Otieno fight for political change for those living in dire poverty. After a presidential contested election, the slums erupt in violence and Kamau's world is torn apart.

A disillusioned Johannesburg street thug rescues an orphaned child with uncontrollable supernatural powers. On the run, he must help the sickly boy master his gift before a superstitious family member finds them.

Unsung Heroines -African Female Leaders, is a pilot documentary series of 3 episodes, each with a length of 30 minutes presented by Angelique Kidjo "The Queen of African pop". Unsung Heroines celebrates African Female leaders beyond slavery, colonialism and indeed liberation across the continent.

This episode features Dr. Asha Rose Migiro the first female deputy Deputy Secretary of the United Nations

In the anonymous, empty corridors of the present, relationships are fleeting and tenuous. A man living on society’s margins desperately tries to hold onto the fragile bond with his son as their family mourns the death of a family member.

A sheriff crosses a desolate field on horseback and enters a village devastated by Native Americans. There are some eyes fixed on the sheriff in the town.