The theme of the fifth Africa in Motion (AiM) film festival is “Celebrations” and African filmmakers are invited to submit documentaries relating to this theme to be considered for inclusion in the October 2010 festival. This is an opportunity for African filmmakers to showcase their work at one of the most prestigious African film festivals worldwide and to gain exposure to a wide audience in the UK.

This year 17 African countries are celebrating 50 years of independence, and the documentaries should explore the legacy of colonisation, liberation struggles, independence and nationalism of any of these countries.

Submissions can also explore other themes of celebration from historical, traditional as well as contemporary perspectives – music and dance celebrating African creativity; documentaries dealing with African traditions, rituals, initiation and rites of passage ceremonies; mask making and wearing, clothes and costume designing and wearing, culinary traditions, tattooing, jewellery and decorations such as sculpture, wall painting and architecture.

The deadline for entries is 30 April 2010. African film specialists will select the films to be included and these will be announced by the end of August 2010. For full submission guidelines and to download the entry form visit www.africa-in-motion.org.uk/callfordocs/

African filmmakers are also invited to submit short films of up to 30 minutesfor Africa in Motion's third annual short film competition.

The competition specifically targets young and emerging African film talent; filmmakers who enter must not have completed a feature-length film previously.

A shortlist from all the entries will be announced by the end of August 2010. The competition winner will be chosen by a high profile jury of local and international film specialists and established African filmmakers.

All shortlisted films will be screened at the festival. In addition to the overall winner selected by the jury there will be an audience choice award announced at an awards ceremony at the end of the festival in October 2010.

The deadline for short film competition entries is 31 May 2010. For full submission guidelines and to download the entry form visit www.africa-in-motion.org.uk/shortfilmcomp/

Notes to Editors

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AiM is co-directed by Lizelle Bisschoff ([email protected]) and Stefanie Van de Peer ([email protected])

AiM is supported by a Board of Advisors including popular film critic Mark Cousins; Noe Mendelle, Head of Film and TV at the Edinburgh College of Art and Director of the Scottish Documentary Institute; David Murphy, Professor at the University of Stirling and a leading scholar on African film; Paul Nugent, Professor of Comparative African History and Director of the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh; and Andrew Lawrence, lecturer in African Politics at the Centre of African Studies at the University of Edinburgh.