Bringing African cinema to Wales

Founded 8 years ago in the south of Wales, Watch-Africa Cymru is Wales’ only African film festival. This year’s 9th edition is moving online and takes place from the 19th -28th of February 2021.

With thanks to support from Chapter Arts, Ffilm Cymru and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, an exciting program titled, ‘Bringing Africa to Wales’, has been curated. The festival will be screening a variety of 10 fantastic films, live Q&As with directors, cast, and experts. 

Paired with this cinema programme, the festival will also offer a series of engaging workshops, specially arranged to complement the cinema programme (including a workshop on African Folklore!).

This festival will celebrate authentic cultural exchanges through trans-national cinematic collaborations. Kicking off the festival, Watch-Cymru Africa is pleased to welcome acclaimed Welsh-African filmmaker Florence Ayisi. The festival will culminate with a regal grande finale screening and discussion with the makers of ‘Buganda Royal Music Revival’ and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Christine Patterson, Watch-Africa Cymru producer said:"I am very pleased to be involved in such great collaborations for this year's film festival. This program is sure to invoke a wide range of emotions, and spark some intriguing discussions.We, as well as our collaborators, look forward to enjoying the upcoming festival with you."

Claire Vaughan from Chapter Arts Centre said: "We have been working with Watch Africa for many years and I am very pleased that we have helped make this festival digital this year so audiences have a chance to see all these wonderful films.There are some real treats in store - documentaries from Wales-based filmmakers, social commentary, comedy, classics and some of the most beautiful photography you'll see this year. I am especially looking forward to the workshops, which include educators like Abu-Bakr Madden Al-Shabazz. Don't miss your chance to see these filmsand see a bit of the world that is unavailable to us at the moment."

Professor Florence Ayisi, an African filmmaker living in Wales and has two films that are going to be screened said that “Watch-Africa Cymru offers creative spaces for filmmakers and film lovers to connect and dialogue. It is a special space that is more energised around ideas, images and stories about African culture and experiences captured in film. More importantly, it is a place to see, hear and know a little bit more about perspectives and lived experiences that bridge gaps of misinformation and misrepresentations about life in Africa. Watch-Africa Cymru is more than a film festival; it has created a space for audiences to celebrate the cultures of African people who make up multi-cultural Wales; a fantastic vision!”