Silicon Valley African Film Festival 2019 Souvenir Booklet

STATE CAPITOL Room 3086 Sacramento, CA 94249-0020 Phone: (916) 651-4010 Fax: (916) 651-4110 DISTRICT OFFICE 39510 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Suite 280 Fremont, CA 94538 Phone: (510) 794-3900

CALIFORNIA STATE SENATE

E-MAIL senator.wieckowski@ senate.ca.gov WEBSITE www.sd10.senate.ca.gov

BOB WIECKOWSKI SENATOR, TENTH DISTRICT

October 4th, 2019

To the honored guests of the 10th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival: On behalf of the 10th Senate District, I would like to welcome you to Silicon Valley.

The Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) promotes an understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images and, crucially, provides audiences with exquisite lenses to the real Africa.

The festival has built a substantial following and become an annual destination film event in Silicon Valley that draws an international following of distinguished transcontinental visitors, Silicon Valley high tech executives, cinema buffs, academics, civic officials and diverse community supporters.

I would like to congratulate SVAFF’s organizers for its 10 successful years.

I hope you enjoy your experience at the festival. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you in the Senate.

Sincerely,

Bob Wieckowski California State Senator, 10th District BW: awm

Office of Vice Mayor Charles “Chappie” Jones City of San Jose District 1

Dear Honored Guests: I would like to offer a warm and heartfelt welcome to the filmmakers, academics, government officials and other international guests who are in San Jose for the 10th Silicon Valley African Film Festival.

I would like to recognize all participants in this year’s Film Festival for filling the pivotal role in representing African film, history, and culture in not just our community, but the world. SVAFF continues to make an invaluable contribution in Silicon Valley by preserving and harboring the rich history and culture of Africa.

I hope your time here is filled with rich conversation, discovery, and appreciation for the incredibly diverse backgrounds represented in San Jose. We look forward to sharing this rare and exceptional view into the African continent with the rest of Silicon Valley.

Best Regards,

Charles “Chappie” Jones, Vice Mayor City of San Jose

200 East Santa Clara St. Fl. #, San José, CA 95112-4505 tel (408) 535-4901 www.sjdistrict1.com

CONTENTS FROM OUR FESTIVAL DIRECTOR............................................................................................................................................................... 9 OPENING NIGHT FILM................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 GLOBAL AFRICAN WOMEN IN FILM........................................................................................................................................................... 12 DOCUMENTARY SHORT............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE.......................................................................................................................................................................... 16 NARRATIVE SHORT.................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 NARRATIVE FEATURE................................................................................................................................................................................ 26 ANIMATION................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 SPONSORS................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30

SVAFF 2019 TEAM BOX OFFICE: Jessica Johnson

WOMEN IN FILM PANEL MODERATOR: Ghada Ali

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS: Leah Michelle Taylor

FILM PROJECTION: Noni Ifyefobi | Chinedu Nwoffiah

COMMUNITY LIAISON: Derek Bryant

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEV: Deffria Bass-Nwoffiah

VIDEOGRAPHY / PHOTOGRAPHY: Danny McLane, Jamii Technology

CULTURAL CORRESPONDENT: Danetha Doe

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS: Adolpha Cole

WELFARE: Jumoke Akinsola, Jum’s Kitchen

SOCIAL MEDIA: Makda Mehari

DIRECTOR OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS: Zaza Kabayadondo, PhD

TRANSPORTATION: Girmah Stifanos

MARKETING MANAGER: Ibrahim Baldé

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: O.A.B. Ozoekwe

HOST: Zaza Kabayadondo, PhD

PUBLIC RELATIONS: Toni Beckham PR, et cetera, Inc

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR: Chike C. Nwoffiah

PROTOCOL AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS: Deanna Tryon, Silicon Valley Office of Protocol PROGRAM BOOKLET DESIGN: Kendal Jones T-SHIRTS DESIGN & PRINT: T-Shirts for the Heart & Soul | tshirtsfortheheartandsoul.com ADVISORY BOARD: Ozoekwe A. O. Braddy (USA) | Stephen Ozigbo (USA) | Diem Jones (USA) | Deanna Tryon (USA) Dr. Esailama Artry-Diouf (USA) | Prof. Jude Akudinobi (USA) | Prof. David Anthony (USA) Diane Lima (Brazil) | Prof. Aboubakar Sanogo (Canada) | Prof. Chika Anyanwu (Australia) Dr. Mohamed Gazala (Egypt) | Dela Acolatse (Ghana) | Lucy Igbenabor (Nigeria) | Alvin Kasule (Uganda)

CONTACT INFORMATION: 25 North 14th Street, Suite 505, San Jose, CA 95112, USA Phone: +1 408-886-0049 | www.svaff.org

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF CONNECTING COMMUNITIES, CULTURES & CONTINENTS!

FROM OUR FESTIVAL DIRECTOR market, etc., the entire festival weekend has been designed to offer unique social and artistic visions from around the African continent – engaging audiences in thoughtprovoking dialogue, and offering film lovers and artists an opportunity to connect. It is an honor to offer our community an unfiltered access to the richness, diversity and vitality of Africa’s creative expressions and provide a forum for cultural exchange.

Our festival has become a destination event and draws an avid international following, of distinguished transcontinental visitors, entrepreneurs, tech executives, cinema buffs, academics, civic officials, celebrities and community supporters. I welcome our Guest of Honor and Cultural Icon Award recipient, The Honorable Rev. Dr. Cynthia Mother Pratt, former Deputy Prime Minister of The Bahamas.

Our journey from the first year to the tenth has been long but steady as the community rallied and became the wind beneath our wings. I will like to thank our sponsors, donors, staff, advisors, volunteers and festival attendees without whom this festival will not be possible. Special thanks to our filmmakers for sharing their talent and enriching us with their stories.

God bless!

I

welcome you to our 10th Annual Silicon Valley African Film Festival and invite you to this shared journey across the vast richness of the African Continent in a historic showcase of feature films, shorts and animations from Africa’s seasoned and emerging filmmakers.

Chike C. Nwoffiah Founding Director, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF)

This year, we celebrate 10 years of connecting Communities, Cultures and Continents with our finest and fullest event yet.

We present a brilliant line-up of 85 films from 35 countries, all sharing the true stories, hopes and dreams of Africa and its diaspora. Our Opening Night Feature Film and making its North America premiere is Veronica’s Wish, directed by 26 year-old Nisha Kalema, Uganda’s multiple awardwinning actress in a self-starring role. Over 50% of the films are World or North America premieres and 43 of the 85 films in competition by female directors.

I am excited about the quality, range of genres and diversity of voices represented in the films we have selected. From Algeria to Zimbabwe, Egypt to Ethiopia, Ghana to Uganda, Tunisia to Tanzania, Nigeria to Namibia, Senegal to South Africa, the diversity of voices represented in our 2019 program will engage, delight, inspire, provoke and challenge our audience.

From our red carpet reception to film screenings, panel discussions, live performances, African food, an African 2019 SVAFF | FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

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CULTURAL ICON AWARD The Honorable, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Mother Pratt Fmr. Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas

Entrepreneur | Philanthropist | Author

We honor Rev. Dr. Cynthia Mother Pratt with SVAFF 2019 CULTURAL ICON AWARD in recognition of her inspirational contributions to the world.

Mother Pratt’s inspirational story of overcoming a childhood of poverty and family dysfunction to becoming a member of parliament, the first female minister of national security, deputy prime minister and acting prime minister, is captured in her upcoming biography “From the Pits to the Palace”.

Winner of the 2019 Nelson Mandela Humanitarian award, Mother Pratt is a passionate Pan-Africanist, women’s rights and poverty eradication advocate.

Through her Cynthia Mother Pratt Foundation, she continues to provide healing and hope to hundreds of poor and vulnerable young women in The Bahamas.

OPENING NIGHT FILM | VERONICA’S WISH | UGANDA

VERONICA’S WISH 95 minutes | 2018 Director: Nisha Kalema | Country: Uganda After she is diagnosed with late stage cancer just days away from her dream wedding, Veronica’s wish changes from marrying her millionaire boyfriend to launching a campaign that could save lives.

Born in the Kampala suburb of Kawempe in 1993, Nisha Kalema was the only child of her mother and father.

In 2015 Nisha Kalema won the BEST ACTRESS award at the Uganda Film Festival for her role as Grace, in the film THE TAILOR. In 2016 Nisha Kalema won the BEST ACTRESS award at the Uganda Film Festival for her role as the orphan, Amelia, in the movie FREEDOM, for which she also wrote the screenplay.

Nisha Kalema’s latest movie VERONICA’S WISH (2018) has gained twelve (12) nominations at the 2018 Uganda Film Festival, including a third BEST ACTRESS nomination for Nisha Kalema for her role as Veronica.

Screening of Veronica’s Wish is sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women - Silicon Valley Chapter

Director: Nisha Kalema 2019 SVAFF | OPENING NIGHT FILM

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PANEL DISCUSSION

GLOBAL AFRICAN WOMEN IN FLIM GHADA ALI | EGYPT Ghada Ali is an Egyptian director & producer, Videographer and a backpack filmmaker. Beside her tasks in some international film festivals, she has been selected as a short film jury member to London Feminist Film Festival early 2016.

Currently, working on shooting some documentaries, shorts and artistic films around Morocco, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Spain, California and others, beside her newly Female Filmmakers Project in cooperation with 8 different nationalities in Cairo. In addition, she’s the founder of Nation Painters / ROSSAM WATAN and a global ambassador for art and peace to Egypt in WPMP. Ghada’s film “A Week in Lagos: From The Mainland” was an official selection of SVAFF 2018.

“I believe in people and in the simple aspects of human life, they are the main subject that I’m seeking to express through my films.” - Ghada Ali

SEWRA G KIDANE | USA Sewra G Kidane is a renowned Creative Commercial Film Editor, working with fashion and beauty brands such as Creme of Nature, Estée Lauder, Herring & Herring, and Ooshie. She has an innate ability with her editing style, elevating the quality of the footage, whether its high budget beauty rushes, gritty digital handheld material, or found media and transforming it from a raw concept into a stylized spot. A native New Yorker and a graduate of Emerson College, Boston, Ms. Kidane is currently based in New York City. Her film “Proclamation Punctuation” won SVAFF 2017 Best Short film award and her latest film “As Above” is an official selection of SVAFF 2019.

“Because I didn’t see fashion films that reflected and spoke to me as a Black woman and to my Black beauty... I created my own” - Sewra G. Kidane

SESONGA POUPOUNE | RWANDA Poupoune Sesonga is a writer, director and producer and grew up with a dream of making films. She is the director of Urusaro International Women Film Festival in Rwanda. In 2009, she was honored to be an Assistant Costume Designer in film “KINYARWANDA” by Alick Brown and has never looked back. Her filmmography includes Kivuto (director and producer) a short film that screened in festivals around the world; Kanyambo (Producer) screened at Durban international film festival. La Cle (director and producer), a short documentary film and winner of CANAL PLUS/ CFI GRANT. Her latest film Agapapuro is an official selection of SVAFF 2019.

NISHA KALEMA | UGANDA Born in the Kampala suburb of Kawempe in 1993, Nisha Kalema was the only child of her mother and father. In 2015 Nisha Kalema won the BEST ACTRESS award at the Uganda Film Festival for her role as Grace, in the film THE TAILOR. In 2016 Nisha Kalema won the BEST ACTRESS award at the Uganda Film Festival for her role as the orphan, Amelia, in the movie FREEDOM, for which she also wrote the screenplay. Nisha Kalema’s latest movie VERONICA’S WISH (2018) has gained twelve (12) nominations at the 2018 Uganda Film Festival, including a third BEST ACTRESS nomination for Nisha Kalema for her role as Veronica. Veronica’s Wish is the Opening Night film at SVAFF 2019.

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DOCUMENTARY SHORT OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

AFRICA GIVES BACK...

4 minutes / 2017 Directors: Linda Calhoun / Elaine Vue Country: USA

AYITI: THE AWAKENING

AZEVICHE POETRY

AFRICA GIVES BACK: THINGS EVERY GIRL SHOULD KNOW Fifteen African women in tech share one message to inspire, educate and empower the next generation.

A young man is driven to find his Ancestral roots and the trouble history of Ayiti after discovering no real relief efforts was made in the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake.

Poesia Azeviche, is a documentary that recounts the memoirs of the outstanding composers and lyricists who made up the Traditional Blocos Afros in Bahia from the 1970s to the 1990s. Through these memoirs, the documentary describes the historical importance of their songs for the valorization of black identity and the fight against Racism in Bahia and throughout Brazil.

BETWEEN GOD & I

THE BLACK MAMBAS

Known for its diversity, the Island of Mozambique is a historical multicultural Island with deeply rooted traditions, where a moderate Islam has so far harmoniously coexisted with other religions.

Through an intimate glimpse of Karen’s life, Between God and I, sheds light into the humanity of young women who are making radical religious choices and its implications in a broader context of religious conflicts.

Formed by a group of local, black women from communities surrounding the Kruger National Park, The Black Mambas is South Africa’s first and only all-female, anti-poaching unit, the first line of defense in an attempt to rescue their country’s threatened rhino population from the edge of extinction.

60 minutes / 2018 Director: Yara Cosat Country: Mozambique

26 minutes / 2019 Director: Sage Love Country: USA / Haiti

20 minutes / 2018 Director: Ailton Pinheiro Junior Country: Brazil

13 minutes / 2018 Director: Bruce Donnelly Country: South Africa

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HEAVY WAIT

19 minutes / 2019 Director: Omar Ghiyati Country: Morocco Growing up with controlling parents, Salima a young bodybuilder decides to challenge her parents and society’s expectation to live an independent life away from home.

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DOCUMENTARY SHORT

THE POETIC AND THE VISUAL 17 minutes / 2019 Director: Camille DeBose Country: USA

THE PUPPET MAKER COUPLE 27 minutes / 2018 Director: Omnya Abdelwahab Country: Egypt

THE LAST CASSETTE TAPE STUDIO 7 minutes / 2019 Director: Bentley Brown Country: Chad

This film is meant to be a true collaboration. Dual narratives presented simultaneously. The construction of the film: the edit, the pace, the tempo, the volume, the level of exposure, is meant to feel slightly heavy. A gentle but insistent pressure on your mind. The lack of pauses between thoughts and concepts is intentional. A redefining of the expectations of documentary.

This is not a new kind of film it is a film which imagines itself to be a conversation.

A special couple of puppet makers and a wife who is holding her husband in her heart and mind forever.

Annour runs the last cassette tape studio in a small town in Chad’s northern desert. It’s where he gets most of his sewing done.

NKENDA

STATELESS

Nkenda talks about the process of acceptance of the traditional religiosity of Mary, a Nigerian woman who was born in a Christian family, at the same time as the director went out in search of her own inner path.

The unexpected encounter, having as a link the waters and Yemojá, brings the affective and ancestral memories that pulsate in our bodies, in other spaces, in other skies.

Stateless is a story of a Rwandese woman whom her father sought aslum in Tongo many years back The woman was born and grew up in Togo as a refugee after voluntary repatriation she finds find out that she doesn’t belong anyway.

7 minutes / 2018 Director: Hortence Amina Rwimo Country: Kenya

25 minutes / 2019 Director: Sabrina Andrade Country: Brazil

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WAKARIRU

12 minutes / 2019 Director: Mark Ayabei Country: Kenya Wakariru is an Exhibition about the destruction of language for everyday things and accompanying loss of orally documented knowledge. It looks at memory and the forgotten history of the role of women in the Mau Mau war.

ALGERIA

KENYA

ANGOLA

MALAWI

BOTSWANA

ZIMBABWE

MOROCCO

CANADA

MOZAMBIQUE

CAPE VERDE

NORWAY

CONGO, DRC

RÉUNION

CUBA

RWANDA

EGYPT

SENEGAL

ETHIOPIA

SOUTH AFRICA

ALGERIA

GHANA

COUNTRIES

UK

MALAWI

GUADELOUPE

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USA

SOUTH SUDAN

ANGOLA

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TUNISIA

BOTSWANA

ZAMBIA

MALI

GUINEA-BISSAU

TOGO

WEEKEND

ZIMBABWE

BURKINA FASO

MAURITANIA

HAITI

UGANDA

CAMEROON

MOROCCO

CANADA

MOZAMBIQUE

NIGERIA

CHAD

NORWAY

CONGO, DRC

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FILMS

KENYA

CAPE VERDE

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NIGERIA

CHAD

Woman Beings, is a slice-of-life portrait of different African women trying to live fully amidst predefined ways of being. Directed by Nyembezi Phiri, the film features real women and voices that she encounters while traveling in three diverse African cities, (Accra, Johannesburg and Lilongwe).

ZAMBIA

MAURITANIA

CAMEROON

20 minutes / 2018 Director: Nyembezi Phiri Country: South Africa

UK

MALI

BURKINA FASO

WOMAN BEINGS

USA

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DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

A CITY AND THE LOST ART OF HAPPINESS 70 minutes / 2019 Director: Nada Ibrahim Country: Egypt

A moving lens in the streets and houses of Cairo, capturing personal stories and experiences of people living there with all their different religious, social and cultural backgrounds. Shedding light on the huge impact the city has left on them and how each of us perceive the meaning of happiness. It is a tour that captures the minds and souls of people struggling to pursue the lost art of happiness in Cairo.

CHILDREN OF CONGO LISTEN! 70 minutes / 2019 Director: Natacha Ikoli Country: Congo, DRC Children of Congo, listen!, delves into the everyday reality of a dysfunctional leadership, a glimpse into the relationship between voters and elected representatives.

In a state corroded by systemic corruption, do we expect democracy to work any other way?

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BAKOSÓ: AFROBEATS OF CUBA

BIRTH OF A NATION, CHILDREN OF AZANIA

Following DJ Jigüe to his hometown of Santiago de Cuba to find inspiration from the new sounds, he finds Afrobeats has helped create a new genre called Bakosó. Through stunning visuals and a score created by the founders of the genre, the film shows the technology, culture and landscape that shape this African-Caribbean fusion.

Birth of a Nation, Children of Azania is an hour and 15 minutes documentary about the born free generation of South Africa and their struggle with education in the developing country. Sparked by the uprising of the “fees must fall” protests, we witness how a generation responds to the difficulty brought by their circumstances through painful but ultimately positive discussions about the system in this country and how it is structured.

50 minutes / 2019 Director: Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi Country: USA / Cuba

74 minutes / 2017 Director: Madu Dube Country: South Africa

GALSEN - THE LANGUAGE OF SOULS 60 minutes / 2019 Director: Sergio Aparicio Olivas Country: Senegal

A journey in search of identity for someone Afro-descendant, through the universal union of music. It is the story that brings the director Afro-spanish, Sergio Aparicio which will be their “opera prima”.

A film recorded to bridge between Senegal, Gambia, Barcelona and New York.

FOOD DELIVERY DRIVER IN NEW YORK 63 minutes / 2019 Director: Roseline Gnapi Country: USA

The daily life of a New York food delivery driver.

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GHANA FOR YOU

80 minutes / 2018 Director: Adams Mensah Country: Ghana Filmmaker and actor Adams Mensah returns to Ghana, the country where he was born and where he spent half of his life.

Together with Belgian and Ghanaian friends, he travels through Ghana and tries to find out why Ghanaians want to leave their country. What do they miss in Ghana and are they aware of the personal and social consequences of migration?

GUEST ARTIST

THE GOD GIVEN TALENT: THE CREATIVE LIFE OF CHARLES CURTIS BLACKWELL

MOUTH CANNON

52 minutes / 2016 Director: Angelo Lopes Country: Cape Verde / Guinea-Bissau

70 minutes / 2018 Director: Jeff M. Giordano Country: USA

Charles Curtis Blackwell: the Oakland poet, painter, playwright and teacher -- takes us on an intimate journey into his past and present. From his challenging upbringing in both California and Mississippi, to his current creative life, we follow as he discusses loss, love, pain, and redemption -- all through the prism of his artistic endeavors.

During the fight for the liberation of Guiné-Bissau and Cape Verde, Amílcar Cabral used the expression Mouth Cannon to refer to “Liberation Radio” as a more powerful weapon than all the war arsenal they could possess.

OLU JAZZ

OLUJAZZ aka OLUWOLE ALABI is an international recording and performing smooth jazz artiste. He was born in NIGERIA where he trained and gained vast musical knowledge before moving to the United states. He’s well known with his smooth,soulful and powerful saxophone sound. Olujazz has shared stage with great legends such as Gerald Albright, Tiwa savage, D’banj, Hugh masekela, to mention few. OLUWOLE ALABI loves life,people and above all he loves God. olujazz.com

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NARRATIVE SHORT

A COBRA TÁ A FUMAR

ADAM

AS ABOVE

The Snake-Woman is an incomparable figure of the Angolan culture and mythology. Somebody talked about her showing up in Huambo, also that Lubango disappeared and came out of a hole. Some say she works at a store in the city center. Some say she doesn’t.

Good and evil have always competed to win humans hearts.

Adam, is a short film which tries to illustrate, from a rather subjective standpoint, a situation symbolic of this eternal battle between good and evil.

Loosely based on the 2nd Law of the Universe; The Principle of Correspondence, “As Above” tells the story of The Earth Plane returning home from a late night out, to find herself intuitively drawn to a presence she can’t ignore. Alone, The Earth Plane follows her instincts through a twisty windy hallway looking to connect an alluring call to her. Tapping in, she finds herself face to face with her Higher Self where she witnesses the birth of her Light Self.

AGAPAPURO (SMALL PAPER)

BABA SIFON

A story of a parent abandoned by his children who have changed their mentalities of culture, they do not care about the living conditions that their parent leads. He finds himself in perish.

Erick, a divorced father, realizes that his 6-year-old daughter, Elisa, has gone back to her mother’s house, forgetting her baby comforter, a baba sifon with whom she spends a lot of time with. He decides to cross the island, hitchhiking to bring the blanket to his baby and this before the night falls.

17 minutes / 2019 Director: Nuno Barreto Country: Angola

13 minutes / 2019 Director: Sesonga Poupoune Country: Rwanda

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14 minutes / 2019 Director: Faical Hlimi Country: Morocco

12 minutes / 2019 Director: Sewra G Kidane Country: USA

26 minutes / 2019 Director: Pantaléon Laurent Country: Réunion

AYA

24 minutes / 2017 Director: Moufida Fedhila Country: Tunisia In Tunis lives Aya, a smart little girl, with her Salafist parents. But one day a special event disrupts the life of this family.

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BRANCH

BABY SHOWER

BOXED

A pregnant lady who is always prejudice of her lovely husband, kills him on the day of her baby shower.

A fictionalized short film based on the true story of the terrifying daring escape of Henry “Box” Brown, who used creativity to escape from slavery in 1849, by mailing himself to freedom.

COFFIN DECOLLETÉ

THE CYCLE

DON’T PLAY

The film highlights the suffering of an impoverished middle-class Egyptian girl in one of the villages. She deprived her right to complete her education and innocent childhood. A victim of marriage is forced to marry before the legal age of marriage is complete. The film is expressive without dialogue, with the aim of focusing on the internal feelings of the heroine.

Cycle is a silent short film of a young 18 year old girl Lene, an introvert who isn’t able to connect with her family and people around her, only with her flowers and plants and other living things. She loves her friends (flowers) a lot but does not feel worthy of life.

A woman wakes up in bed gasping As she tries to regain her senses , she discovered her husband’s body lying lifeless at his side.

Gradually, she will understand why and how she has come to kill the man who shared his life.

15 minutes / 2018 Director: Wilson Misago Country: Rwanda

6 minutes / 2019 Director: Nancy Kamal Country: Egypt

8 minutes / 2019 Director: Kelly Gray Country: USA

6 minutes / 2018 Director: Wanjiru Njendu Country: USA

Aretha’s book store becomes a victim of a hate crime, but she finds a way through a secret coded slave language called tut to seek out revenge.

7 minutes / 2019 Director: Regina Udalor Country: Norway

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8 minutes / 2015 Director: Johann Nertomb Country: Guadeloupe

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NARRATIVE SHORT

EKHAYA

FRESH BODY

FABRIC(ATION)

Thami, a passionate actor, is plagued by the memory of paralyzing his childhood best friend Bishop, which is affecting his work on set. He is forced to face this memory that is crippling him when he must return home to look after his sick mother, or risk losing everything he strived to work for.

A film about a young girl who was subjected to child labor and sexual harassment.

Fabric(ation) is an experimental Afrofuturistic film about the intersections between fabrics, textures and vulnerability. The film is a visual and auditory experience rather than a clear cut narrative story. A manifestation of fears, frustrations, desires and ultimately, the connectivity between individuals and the lack thereof. ‘Fabric(ation)’ is in three separate parts with soundscapes created specifically for each respective part.

15 minutes / 2018 Director: Thabani Dhlomo Country: South Africa

THE END

6 minutes / 2019 Director: Rogers Ofime Country: Nigeria A young couple’s love is tested as their daughter goes through a medical crisis.

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6 minutes / 2019 Director: Emem Etti Country: Canada

15 minutes / 2019 Director: Sarra Samaali Country: Tunisia

GOBE THE GIFT

5 minutes / 2018 Directors: Gape Ndlovu, Masego Mohwasa, Kevin Sebolao Country: Botswana

HER STORY

An inheritance story about a young woman who grew up unaware of a supernatural power gifted by her father. She only learns about it during a confrontation by her uncle and further learns the importance of the gift. She is able to unlock the gift and use it against her uncle.

1 minute / 2019 Director: Henok Weldegebrial Country: Ethiopia Where and how you start determines where you end. A 60 second look at how men and women “start” life’s race differently.

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THE INTERVIEW

IT’S NOT OVER YET

LUNA

Cofie, a young black man is desperately trying to move forward in life. He, like many young people, wants to start establishing roots and build the foundation for his future.

These values land him an opportunity to be interviewed for a consulting job. Haunted by a traumatizing past, Cofie is confronted by the antics of his previous life and his bright future begins to slowly slip away during the wait.

“Hell is the others,” Sartre says.

In a mental hospital in a country, a doctor tests the relationship of two patients with the outside world and their mental health.

After killing her father, a runway teenage girl is looking for her estranged Mother.

Advisory: contains some violent scenes.

8 minutes / 2019 Director: Minas Adonai Country: Canada

20 minutes / 2018 Director: Shingiro Bora Country: Rwanda

7 minutes / 2019 Director: Mai Mustafa Ekhou Country: Mauritania

NOMVULA

15 minutes / 2019 Directors: Jason Maselle & Advik Beni Country: South Africa

MY PLAYLIST

NIKITA

An experimental film through which filmmaker Sam Lukudu artistically shares the type of ‘stuff’ that he listens to on a daily basis, to keep his fire burning and remain focused, in order to chase dreams and achieve goals.

Nikita is a coming of age, action movie about a blind fifteen year old girl who is unsure of her ability to fight crime and has to save her family from the criminal underworld.

15 minutes / 2019 Director: Sam Lukudu Country: South Sudan

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In this South Africa’s first ever creature film a young woman, Nomvula takes refuge in a friendship with a strange creature that has taken shelter in the industrial landscape of South Africa. She helps the creature as a means to cope with her own alienation, a decision that will change her life forever.

11 minutes / 2019 Director: Natural Langdon Country: USA

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NARRATIVE SHORT

OPUS

THE OTHER HALF

THE OTHER HERO

Set in the buzzing city of Johannesburg, ‘Opus’ follows a day in the life of Lebo, a young aspiring bassist living in the informal settlements. After losing his parents and inheriting the double bass instrument ‘Bontle’, Lebo has developed a symbiotic relationship with his ‘Bontle’ and his music, which have made him an outsider in the community.

A young filmmaker interviews four women for her film project and discovers how society’s expectations, preconceived notions and judgement stop people from compassion. But as the four women began to listen to each other, they slowly realize their shared humanity and their fears become their strength.

A brave journalist captures an atrocity with his camera, but will he live to tell his story?

18 minutes / 2019 Director: Kgosana Monchusi Country: South Africa

15 minutes / 2019 Director: Asmaa El Mouttaki Country: Morocco

8 minutes / 2019 Director: Yeabsira Docho Country: Ethiopia

PAINTING THE LILY

12 minutes / 2019 Director: May El Maraashly Country: Egypt

OVER THE PAIN

19 minutes / 2019 Director: Louiza Kadri Country: Algeria A young dumb and deaf woman with leukemia, has to not tell her family for fear of their reaction; Especially after her mother’s death in the same period. The girl even though she is dumb and deaf and sick, wants to realize her dream before she dies.

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PEAU DE CHAGRIN / BLEU DE NUIT 10 minutes / 2018 Director: Baloji Country: Congo, DRC

“My love, can we attach the futile to the pleasant before it is reduced to a skin of sorrows?”

Confronted with a sudden crisis that turns her life upside down, Roukaya makes up her mind to leave her hometown of Alexandria. Seeking an alternative life in Cairo, she comes across, Malak, the teenager absorbed in her own world. Together, both ladies set on a journey in search for self-reconciliation and letting go of the past.

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THE PICK UP

SEED

SELF-ASSESSMENT

A man on an unknown mission gets in trouble for picking up a girl on a lonely road.

Seed is an isiXhosa film about a woman named Buhle, who is uncertain about motherhood but has to conform to the expectations of everyone - her husband, church and overbearing traditionalist older sister.

A tragic event occurs after she gets pregnant that forces her to face her fears and voice her true feelings.

A middle-aged employee lives a miserable life and constantly monitors the harshness of his boss at work. He forges a plan for a payback, but will his life eventually come with something of value?

4 minutes / 2019 Director: Titi Alpha Country: Nigeria

12 minutes / 2018 Director: Jo Mbulawa Country: South Africa

10 minutes / 2018 Director: Sid Ali Zaafoune Country: Algeria

GUEST ARTIST

SHAKA’S MASK

27 minutes / 2019 Director: Maishe Mosala Country: South Africa In Johannesburg’s urban reality of seemingly instant success, obsession with status, a privileged Shaka, from an affluent family is forced to run his family’s business after his parents tragically passed away. The business is now facing bankruptcy under his management but Shaka is obsessed with pretending on social media that all is well.

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VICTORIA McDOWELL

Victoria Thuy Vi McDowell, 15 yrs old, honor roll student, sings in 5 Languages, plays the piano and violin and has a Black Belt in Tae-Kwon-Do. She’s known as the “Voice of San Jose, Jr.” for singing the US National Anthem at San Jose City Hall and many community events. In 2015 she won best Inspirational vocals on VSTAR Kids, in 2016 she traveled to Italy to perform for a PBS special. In 2017, 2018 and 2019 Victoria won the Gold Star for the Northern California NAACP ACT-SO competition for Contemporary and Classical Voice. In 2018 she won South Bay Teen Idols and was crowned Miss Teen Vietnam USA in 2019.

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NARRATIVE SHORT

SUICIDE CANDIDATES

SUNDAY

26 minutes / 2018 Director: Angella Emurwon Country: Uganda Anna and JJ have a forever love but a debilitating illness has chipped away at their life leaving nothing but flat routine. Nevertheless, Anna finds ways to cope. One night, after a cheerful dinner with family, Anna’s defenses are lowered and she accidentally changes the routine throwing their daily life off balance.

GUEST ARTISTS

As every year, the state offers the possibility to 5% of its population to sacrifice for the general interest.

Each city has a building named “The House of Sacrifice”. A man, Larbi Khouzouzou, marginalized and disgusted by life, presents himself he is received by AFAF.

8 minutes / 2018 Director: Antony Ndung’u Country: Kenya

In a world full of social media pressure, a lady tries hard to stay afloat, compete and impress the public.

TEZKATLIPOKA | SAN JOSE TAIKO

Calmecac Tezkatlipoka Aztec Dance and Drum (Tezkatlipoka) is a traditional school of learning of Aztec dancing, drumming and culture and is a traditional Aztec dance circle based in San Jose. Tezkatlipoka is also well-known in Silicon Valley as a community based performing arts dance group that promotes an appreciation and understanding of pre Colombian art forms through traditional Aztec dance and music. Tezkatlipoka works towards integrating all dimensions of Meso American dance, music, and performance art while honoring the cultural traditions left behind by our ancestors. tezkatlipoka.com

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WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

19 minutes / 2019 Director: Hamza Atifi Country: Morocco

San Jose Taiko is committed to advancing the taiko art form by creating innovative compositions and productions that are reflective of its membership, increasing the general public’s knowledge of taiko and its root culture, and developing the depth and breadth of skills within the ever-expanding taiko community. The San Jose Taiko Conservatory includes nationally recognized programs like the highly acclaimed tour residencies and the Junior Taiko program, as well as the Adult Recreational Class, Public and Corporate Workshops, School Outreach Program, Taiko Intensives, and Master Classes. taiko.org 2 0 1 9 S V A F F | N A R R AT I V E S H O R T

NARRATIVE FEATURE OFFICIAL SELECTIONS

DEAR PEN PAL

BIGMAN WAHALA

DUGA, THE SCAVENGERS

A corrupt government minister goes on the run in the aftermath of a coup d’etat, and he turns to a poor struggling taxi driver to help him escape. Does he make it? And how does this journey affect the taxi driver as well?

At the corner of an alley, this news that old Na-Sali gives him: “Pierre, your friend has just died! And: We must bury him in the city as soon as possible. His body can not be buried in the village, otherwise it would be misfortune.”

101 minutes / 2019 Director: Daniel Adjokatcher Country: Ghana

95 minutes / 2018 Director: Flora Suya Country: Malawi

92 minutes / 2019 Director: Abdoulaye DAO Country: Burkina Faso

Prisca and Steve are Pen Pals. They agree not to exchange pictures to make their first meeting exciting.

The long awaited meeting day finally comes. Ian, envious of Steven’s profound love in Prisca, decides to cheat Prisca into believing that he is Steve. The meeting ends in sex. The sexual encounter leads into pregnancy. Ian and Prisca get married. 10 years later, Prisca and Steve are both married but still in love, are reunited as neighbors.

JUDAS

106 minutes / 2018 Director: Chukwuma EmmaOgbangwo Country: Nigeria Charles and Victoria are veteran lobbyists who work for one of the biggest firms in the country, Gordon Inc., that is managed by the ruthless Gideon. They get wind that a multimillion-naira contract is up for grabs and decide to lobby for it. Things get complicated when Helen, a former employee of Gordon and close friend to Victoria, starts lobbying for the same contract. Now a race, fueled by betrayal and deceit, begins. Who will get awarded the contract?

INDIGO

91 minutes / 2018 Director: Selma BARGACH Country: Morocco

JOMAKO BLACK DEMOCRACY

Indigo is the colour blue of the aura given by a psychic to children endowed with clairvoyance or hypersensitivity (mediumnity). In the film, Nora, a 13-year-old girl, is confronted with violence and the world of the irrational. Her entourage is disturbed by her visions but seems indifferent to her suffering. Indigo tells the initiatory journey of this child in search of her own truth.

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80 minutes / 2018 Director: Abraham Kabwe Country: Zambia A local artist stands out to challenge politicians on the poverty levels and bad governance in the nation, but gets imprisoned for his act after mobilizing the local people to win support for his voice Campaign to restore true democracy in the country.

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KILIKIS.. THE TOWN OF OWLS 97 minutes / 2018 Director: Azlarabe Alaoui Country: Morocco

LIGHT IN THE DARK

MABATA BATA

The Town of Owls is an isolated residential community situated in the High Atlas Mountains. It is inhabited by families and guards of a secret political prison camp, which remained out of history for a long time until the early 1990s. Guards spend their long days back and forth between the secret prison and the village, through a suspension bridge that connects the village with the fortress prison.

Emeka and Jumoke have been married for 11 years and they have a 10-year-old daughter who they love dearly. Jumoke have been trying hard to have another child and hope it would be a boy to appease Emeka’s family that places emphasis on a male child. A gang attacks them one night and the gang leader makes Emeka decide who would get raped, his wife or daughter.

Azarias is a young orphan shepherd, keeper of a herd of oxen, where the ox Mabata Bata stands out. The oxen will be the basis of the “lobolo” payment, a traditional dowry that his uncle Raul must pay for his own marriage. Azarias’ dream is to be a normal child and to go to school, a goal that is supported by his grandmother.

NO SHADE

RUN

SALVATION

Told through the prism of love, relationships, dating and marriage, No Shade provides a raw perspective on the issue of colourism and what happens when looking for love in the right place, goes wrong.

An uptight young woman who lives a dull, routine life goes on a run one night and witnesses something that puts her in situations she has never been in and sends her life spiraling out of control.

A young man on the run from the law goes in search of his estranged sister, a hopeless stripper discovers the son she never knew, and a priest suffering a crisis of faith reconnects with his spirituality.

103 minutes / 2018 Director: Clare Anyiam-Osigwe Country: United Kingdom

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104 minutes / 2019 Director: Ekene Mekwunye Country: Nigeria

80 minutes / 2018 Director: Sol de Carvalho Country: Mozambique

94 minutes / 2018 Director: Carmen Sangion Country: South Africa

76 minutes / 2019 Director: Uche Chukwu Country: Nigeria

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The Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) “A distinctive and bustling forum for African cinema, arts and cultures. The festival’s rich roster showcases the inventive spirit and fascinating verve of African film-making” Life & Times Magazine, Los Angeles, California

The Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) was founded ten years ago, to confront the sad reality that after over 50 years of post colonial rule in Africa, most of Africa’s narrative is still presented to the world through a foreign lens with narratives that have created blurred interpretations and perceptions of Africa and Africans.

UNCOVERED

95 minutes / 2019 Director: Zuko Nodada Country: South Africa Aluta’s life is going well. She works for mining magnate Frank Drake, who became her surrogate father after her parents were killed. Her surrogate mother is running to be the first female president of the republic of South Africa. The only fly in her ointment is her sister Pumla – a tenacious journalist with a history of mental health problems.

“The filmmakers here at Silicon Valley African Film Festival represent a new vision and paradigm on the continent.”

Danny Glover, Hollywood Actor, Producer & Political Activist.

The Silicon Valley African Film Festival promotes an understanding and appreciation of Africa and Africans through moving images. Aptly themed “Africa through the African lens”, the film festival celebrates the vast richness of the African Continent through the lenses of Africa’s seasoned and emerging filmmakers and, crucially, provides audiences with exquisite lenses to the real Africa.

“I have just had one of the best days ever, just celebrating cinema, and meeting bold new filmmakers that I ordinarily may not have the chance to meet.”

Randy Spendllove, President, Motion Picture Music, Paramount Studios, Hollywood, California.

VERONICA’S WISH

95 minutes / 2018 Director: Nisha Kalema Country: Uganda Veronica’s wish changes from marrying her millionaire boyfriend to launching a campaign that could save lives, after she gets diagnosed by cancer at the late stage just days away from her wedding.

African cinema is a far cry from the quaint cultures, romantic settings, and formidable landscapes for danger, mystery, suspense, existential drama, and adventure prevalent in dominant media. For African filmmakers, substantive issues of the day are, through a wide range of narrative, aesthetic and thematic strands, more common concerns than escapist and sensationalist fares. In this, African cinema challenges not just the complex networks of ignorance, prejudices and stereotypes underpinning Africa’s pernicious misrepresentation as a place of turmoil, deprivation, wildlife, ethnography, the spectacular, bewildering, ambiguous and haunting.

Sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women - Silicon Valley Chapter 2 0 1 9 S V A F F | N A R R AT I V E F E AT U R E

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ANIMATION

APPEASED VILLAGE

“CHOICES”

DREAM BOYS DON’T EXIST

In an isolated village lived happy people. The routine pushes some to venture out but their destinations are not good, thus making their skins light. The hospitality of the inhabitants of the village of departure ends up being of great problems which will disturb their village.

Two girls, Becky and Fiona, must decide on the best means to achieve their desires.

Magical girl Lavender is being haunted in her dreams by a former love, but she doesn’t have time to be sad when she has to be strong and magical! Or does she? Will Lavender learn that it’s okay to not be okay?

6 minutes / 2019 Director: Issouf Bah Country: Mali

4 minutes / 2018 Director: Stephen Shima Iosun Country: Nigeria

4 minutes / 2019 Director: Breanna Watson Country: USA

ESCAPE FROM PLANET ZOID

I’M LIVING IN GHANA GET ME OUT OF HERE!

KITWANA’S JOURNEY

A selfish young girl gets sucked into a video game for her mischievous behaviour and through trials set up for her, must learn the value of empathy.

From being swindled by a immigration officer to fighting with a hairdresser, I’m Living in Ghana Get Me Out of Here!, are short stories about the filmmakers experience moving back to Ghana.

This is the story of a boy named Kitwana, a boy who laughed and played, and went to school, and did all the things that children do. One day Kitwana’s life would change and not for the better.

10 minutes / 2018 Directors: Bailey Spencer & Tanyaradzwa Musasiwa Country: South Africa

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6 minutes / 2019 Director: Comfort Arthur Country: Ghana

6 minutes / 2019 Director: Ng’endo Mukii Country: Kenya

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LOVE MAKER

MAROONED

NEW AFRCA - THE DEMO

A young playboy who lives off wealthy women meets his fate when his new “catch” offers him a deal he wishes he never accepted this deal. (Adult themes, not appropriate for children.)

Orange loses his job and goes on an epic journey to find himself and his home.

Kaeyta leaves her aunt’s house, after leaving her demo and several stimulus papers under the door of her neighboring music producer Jahed. The latter returning to his apartment after a week of absence, discovers the demo and will listen to it.

10 minutes / 2019 Director: Boris Kpadenou Country: Togo

4 minutes / 2019 Director: Dickson Soire Ombati Country: Kenya

14 minutes / 2019 Director: Yvan Dassie Country: Cameroon

RECOILED

ORANGE CITY

9 minutes / 2019 Director: Somto Ajuluchukwu Country: Nigeria Set in the city of Lagos, Nigeria, a talented Afro-beat musician learns that the road to stardom is littered with fake celebrity lifestyles, thirsty psychopathic groupies, crooked policemen, shady entertainment executives and causal hit men.

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8 minutes / 2019 Director: Claire Grim Country: USA Recoiled is a 3D animated short that tells the story of two young African American sisters. Kailli’s hair is so curly that it has a life of its own. With the help of her young sister, Kalli quickly discovers that being true to one another and to themselves is far more important that conforming to social norms of beauty and peer pressure to fit in.

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5 minutes / 2019 Director: Haagar Hassanin Country: Egypt In a narrow corridor, in the depth of the slums in Cairo, lives Salma; a young and energetic ten-year-old girl who loves to bother Ateya, her grumpy old next-door neighbor.

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ANIMATION

SURPRISE: A CHRISTMAS STORY 2 minutes / 2018 Director: Chimezie Nwagbo Country: Nigeria

A touching animated short that explores what Christmas represents for us African (Nigerians). It tells the story of a driver who, because of work, has to be away from his family on Christmas day. This poor driver has to endure watching his boss’ family be together and have a good time. His sadness and loneliness seeks to highlight what Christmas means to us.

WHEN

4 minutes / 2017 Director: Tafadzwa Tarumbwa Country: Zimbabwe During the oppressive 37 year rule of Robert Mugabe, a small production team secretly started working on this animated film; protesting the human rights abuse within Zimbabwe (and the world at large). A month after production ended, the seemingly impossible happened, tensions got extremely high in the country and Mugabe stepped down from power due to the overwhelming heat.

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS: African Diaspora Network Almaz & Regga Tekeste Bay 101 California Arts Council City of San Jose office of Cultural Affairs Costco El Dorado Hills Car Care Hotel De Anza Ivy & Pearls Foundation Kahawa 1893 KPFA 94.1 Links, Inc National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Silicon Valley Chapter Office of the Vice Mayor Chappie Jones Party Time Rhesus Media Group Sam Lukudu San Jose / Silicon Valley NAACP San Jose Taiko Silicon Valley Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet Silicon Valley Black Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley Office of Protocol SV Creates Target Tezkatlipoka T-Shirts for the Heart & Soul Visit San Jose Wachira Wines Wild Palms Hotel

THANKS TO: Office of Congresswoman Zoe Lufgren, 19th Disctrict Office of Congressman Ro Khanna, 17th District Office of State Senator Bob Wieckowski, 10th District Office of State Assemblymember Marc Berman, 24th District Office of Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman, District 1 Aileen Casanave | Aldo Billngslea | Alexis Miller | Alize Utteryn | Alyssa Erickson | Angela Nguyen | Ashley Cullen Brandon Baker | Brenda Smith-Ray | Clarissa Moore | Cristian Guevara | Rev. Dr. Cynthia Mother Pratt David Kuspa | David Vargas | Deborah Simon | Elena Isaykina | Emmanuel Nado | Idowu Akinleye | Isayas Suim Kristina Newton | Laura Chmielewski | Leslie Bulbuk | Louis Moorer III | Rev. Jethroe Moore | Jonathan Parra Kereli Sengstack | Manna Teclemariam | Margot Nack | Michael Sekoni | Octavia Lee | Olu Jazz | Paul Reddick Portia Neal | Rachel Davis | Ricardo Benavidez | Rich Alvari | Rufus White | Sheila Heacock | Soji Sajuyigbe Susan Rojas | Timothy Kinney | Dr. Tokie Laotan Brown | Vierra Whye | Walter Turner | Wilbur Jackson.

Your support is very much appreciated!

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THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF) a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit.

25 North 14th Street, Suite 505 San Jose, CA 95112 408-886-0049 | office@svaff.org | www.svaff.org