The third Africa in Motion (AiM) Film Festival will be held on October
23 in Edinburgh, Film House to celebrate Africa's diverse cinematic
output with greater focus on classics, Nollywood, animation and horror.
A statement to the Ghana News Agency, signed by Lizelle Bisschoff,
Director and Founder of AiM, said the festival is a celebration and
exploration of the multiplicity of forms, themes, styles and approaches
of current African film industries.

AiM festival is organized by Stop and Stir Arts Limited, a non-profit company that aims to make available marginalised and underrepresented art to Scottish audiences. Ms Bisschoff said the festival forms part of AiM's commitment to supporting filmmaking activity on the continent, and that it would host a short film competition for young and emerging African Directors. She said short-listed films would be screened during the festival and the winner announced at a prize-giving ceremony, after selection by a high-profile jury consisting of African filmmakers and Edinburgh-based film practitioners.

Mr Jack McConnell MSP, First Minister of Scotland described the festival, as a brilliant addition to Edinburgh's annual programme of festivals.

"Too often the common perception of Africa is a continent plagued by poverty and disease. It does face many, many, challenges, but it also has wonderfully rich and diverse cultures, and I'm particularly pleased that Scotland provides this great showcase for African filmmakers," he said.

Ms Leonora Wood, AiM Press and Development Officer explained that two of Africa's celebrated and distinguished Film Directors would showcase their films. They are Malian Film Director Souleymane Ciss=E9 - whose extraordinary coming-of-age feature "Yeelen" was awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987 would present a retrospective of his work.

The other celebrity, Burkinabe Film Director Gaston Kabor=E9 would also present his feature film "Buud Yam," which won the grand prize at the FESPACO film festival in 1997. On Nollywood, the statement said the prolific Nigerian video industry that has taken the world by storm over the last few years, would receive a special focus with screenings of Nollywood films and follow-up discussions with directors.

Contemporary films would also feature prominently as highlight of the festival, which would, include a Nigerian Film Director Newton Audaka's "Ezra", a hard-hitting film that deals with the pressing issue of African child soldiers and won the grand prize at the FESPACO film festival in 2007.

Feature films from East Africa will also be screened as well as the UK premieres of exciting new work by young Film Directors from Eritrea and Tanzania. Nigerian-born broadcaster and filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa's documentary "This is My Africa," will have its festival premiered at the festival, accompanied by a discussion with Zina after the screening. 29 July 08