Kampala Opening, National Theatre, 2nd September; Jinja, 14th – 17th, September; Masaka, 26th – 30th,  October; Lira, 9th – 13th,  November; Kampala, National theatre, 14th - 17th December

After 7 editions of the Amakula Kampala International Film Festival we have transformed the festival into the Amakula Cinema Caravan Festival which will bring our usual festival programs including film screenings, workshops, discussion forums, films with live music and storytelling performances to people all over Uganda. In 4 different towns the festival will last for four days while afterwards the mobile cinema will travel to surrounding villages for screenings of a selection of Ugandan and regional films.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

As suggested by its name, the festival aims to bring the gift of inspiration and hopes to play a part in developing a thriving cinema culture in Uganda. Since 2004 the Amakula Kampala Cultural Foundation has organized a 10 day international film festival in Kampala with over 300 local, regional and international screenings, workshops and seminars by international filmmakers and the Congress on East African Cinema. Furthermore it instigated each year unique projects in which musicians, dancers, storytellers and artists engaged with the art of film. Over the last seven years the foundation increasingly has shifted from one large annual festival to smaller events organized throughout the year: at our headquarters with the Amakula Culture Club which organizes weekly screenings and filmmakers presentations, discussions and workshops and throughout the country with the Amakula Mobile Cinema. With the Amakula Kampala Cinema Caravan Festival we continue in this direction to transform Amakula into a flexible platform through which it can more easily address local needs and contexts and partner with other organizations in creating film events throughout the country. The Amakula Cinema Caravan festival will bring our usual festival programs including film screenings, workshops, discussion forums, films with live music and storytelling performances to people all over Uganda. In each town the festival will last for four days while afterwards the mobile cinema will travel to surrounding villages for screenings of a selection of Ugandan and regional films.

ABOUT THE THEME

Every year the festival has been focused around a particular theme. This year’s wandering adventure is emphasized by the theme of Translating Experiences. All films are an attempt, through the use of sound and image, to translate a unique experience from one place and communicate this to audiences everywhere transporting the viewer to a foreign place. African cinema, which came into being in the independence years of the 1960’s has since confronted the challenge to render the unique experiences of Africa and tell its own stories in its own way to the outside world. In Uganda, the concept of Translating Experiences is always suggestive of the work of the video hall VJs who give spoken word translations of international films and interpret them into a local context. This provides us with a distinctly local vantage point on a theme which touches on the unique role of the spectator in the cinema. In fact every filmmaker is a spectator trying to pass on a unique experience through the best means possible: film.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The festival has been put together to offer you films that we have drawn from the five traditional sections of the festival: African Panorama, Regional Views, Highlights and Tributes, Contemporary World Cinema and landmarks, including films new and old; traditional and cutting edge. We are also excited to present many performers who will participate in the festival as well as our long term collaborators Percussion Discussion Afrika who will demonstrate their remarkable skill in translating classic silent films through music.

REGIONAL CINEMA CARAVAN FESTIVAL

In each town a 4 day festival will be held with films, workshops, discussions with filmmakers, youth programs and performances. All nominees for the Golden Impala will be screened in each venue. Program, venues and times to be announced in forthcoming seperate festival program.

OPENING NIGHT KAMPALA 2nd, September National Theatre;

JINJA 14th – 17th, September St. Jude Training Centre,

18th - 20th Village Tour: outdoor screenings in surrounding villages

MASAKA REGION October 26th – 30th, Opening Night – 26th, 6pm – midnight, Masaka Park Yard,

Day Screenings – 27th to 30th, 11am – midnight,

Masaka Town Hall, Evening Screenings – 27th to 30th, 7pm to midnight, Masaka Park Yard,

Musicians Workshop – 29th, 10am – 4pm, Vienna Guest House,

Film Makers Workshop – 27th to 28th, 10am -4pm, Vienna Guest House,

Children and Youth Workshop – 30th, 10am to 4pmVienna Guest House

LIRA REGION November 9th – 13th, Opening Nite – 9th, 6pm – midnight Akii Bua Stadium,

Day Screenings – 10th to 13th, 11am – midnight, Grand Pacifc Hotel,

Evening Screenings – 10th to 13th, 7pm to midnight Mayor’s Gardens,

Musicians Workshop – 12th, 10am – 4pm Grand Pacific Hotel, Film Makers Workshop – 10th to 11th, 10am -4pm Grand Pacific Hotel,

Children and Youth Workshop – 13th, 10am to 4pm Grand Pacific Hotel

4TH LEG KAMPALA

NATIONAL THEATRE December 14th – 17th CINEMA CARAVAN FESTIVAL CLIMAX: LAST DAYS

 The
last act of the festival will result in this final selection of films
and activities for Translating Experiences. The four days will include
film screenings, the congress on East African film and the Golden Impala
Awards for the best short film in the Eastern Africa region which will
be presented in a grand finale on the final evening. A seperate detailed
program booklet will be available which will describe all of the
programs and schedule in detail.

Click here for details of Amakula Activities Program 2011