31-03-2010
Anywhere Cinema: Shoot Me goes Africa
Starting this year, Shoot Me Film Festival is supporting its first local cinema in Gambia, Africa: Hamzaah Cinema.
Hamzaah Cinema
In addition to Hamzaah being a mythical figure from the Koran, Hamzaah is also the name of a small boy, the son of Abdul, the owner of Hamzaah cinema. Through a little shop and their small cinema, they are able to support themselves. The primary goal of Abdul is to become a farmer, and through this project he tries to raise finances for setting up his own farm.
Around twenty people from the neighborhood attended the official opening of the cinema. Two films were shown:
“Kunta Kinte”, set during the era of slavery, which tells the story of Kunta Kinte, a slave from Gambia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roots_(TV_miniseries)
“Roots Time”, a road movie made by two rastafaris in Jamaica.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHU_4KtrRNg
State of Mic
Hamzaah Cinema is a collaboration between State of Mic and the Shoot Me Film Festival. The State of Mic project is an international exchange project that focuses on the exchange of music, video and new media. By building and supporting a cultural bridge between youngsters from The Netherlands and Gambia, they are brought into contact with each other through a medium they feel comfortable with: their artistic passion. The project offers them an impression of each other’s lives, a glimpse of another country and another culture, which facilitates introspection and provides a new perspective on themselves, and the world in general.
Currently, a documentary and a television series are in production, which give an impression of the life of young Gambians. The material addresses an important question: what is wealth in a world without boundaries? It tells the story of a group of young Gambians who have a dream. In the documentary we find out whether their dreams can become a reality in their harsh and poor environment, a place with many temptations. Will they set out in new directions? Will they be able to overcome their challenging circumstances?
Anywhere Cinema
One of the long term goals of the Shoot Me Film Festival is to bring film, with all its potential positive and constructive qualities, to the less fortunate areas of the world. Activities can range from showing current affairs, teaching history, or simply to organize an entertaining movie night. Hamzaah Cinema is the official first step of this project. For more information on State of Mic, surf to www.stateofmic.nl