The African Video Film Art Festival took place between 28th and 31st of October, 2007 at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. It brought together African film practitioners, audiences, tourists and others from many countries in Africa, Britain and the United States of America. Selected African Video Films were screened, giving audiences the opportunity to have a glimpse of the cultures that informed the production of such films. The festival built bridges of understanding and cooperation between the different countries that were represented at the festival. It also created awareness about what Africans are doing to promote their art and culture and also how African video artists are reflecting and affecting their societies through their art.
AFRICAN VIDEO FILM ARTS FESTIVAL
October 28 - 31, 2007
Theme: Building Bridges: Africa Through the Eye of the Video Camera
Foluke Ogunleye
A very warm African Welcome to you. This is the Africanvideofest homepage. We have just concluded the first edition of the African Video Film Arts festival and I am very confident that it will not be the last. I eagerly look forward to welcoming you to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in October 2008, where the second edition of the festival will take place.
Oduduwa Hall
Film Shows and Plenary Sessions took place at the Oduduwa Hall, one of the most beautiful theatres in the world. Indeed, Obafemi Awolowo University has the most beautiful University campus in Africa. Participants gave themselves an aesthetic treat as they attended the African Video Film Arts Festival

AFRICAN VIDEO FILM ARTS FESTIVAL 2007
Programme Schedule

DAY 1: Sunday October 28, 2007
ARRIVAL
2.00-6.00 pm Registration - Pit Theatre
Meetings and Networking
6:00-9:00pm FILM SHOWS - Pit Theatre
DAY 2: October 29, 2007: Opening Ceremony
Venue: Oduduwa Hall
8:00 - 10:00: Arrival of Delegates and Registration

Chair:
10.00-10.15: Introduction of Guests:
10.15-10.20: National Anthem & Obafemi Awolowo University Anthem
10.20-10.30: Welcome Address: Dr. (Mrs.) Foluke Ogunleye, Convener
10.30-10.35: Chairperson's Opening Remarks
10.35-10.50: Goodwill Messages
The Honorable Commissioner for Arts and Culture, Osun State
Professor Y.K. Yusuf, Dean, Faculty of Arts, O.A.U., Ile-Ife

10.50: Introduction of Keynote Speaker 1:
10.50-11.50: Keynote Address: Professor Akinwumi Isola

11.50 - 12:10: Awovarsity Theatre Dancers

12:10 - 12:15: Introduction of Keynote Speaker 2:
12.15 - 1:15: Keynote Address: Professor Duro Oni

1:15 - 1:25: Chairperson's Closing Remarks/Announcements

1:25 - 2:30: LUNCH BREAK/REGISTRATION CONTINUES

2.30-4.00: FILM SHOW

4.00 - 6:00: FILM SHOW
A Report from the Kenyan & Ugandan Fronts:
Wanjiru Kinyanjui's film and paper presentation
Dominica Dipio's film and paper presentation

6:00 - 7: 00: Concurrent Sessions (A & B)

7: 00 - 8:00 PM Cocktail/Reception - Conference Centre (for invited guests)

8:00pm - 9:30pm: FILM SHOW - ODUDUWA HALL

DAY 3: TUESDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2007

8:00 - 9:00AM Concurrent Sessions (C & D)
9:00 - 10:45 FILM SHOW - ODUDUWA HALL
10:45 - 12:00: The Practitioners Speak:
The Actor: Kola Oyewo
The Director: Zeb Ejiro
The Director: Wanjiru Kinyanjui
The Marketer: Biodun Ibitola
Screenwriter: Dominica Dipio

12:00 noon - 2:45: ROUNDTABLE SESSION
Chair: Dr. Hyginus Ekwuazi

2:45 - 4:00 PM Lunch Break

4:00 - 4:45 FILM SHOW - ODUDUWA HALL
A Report from the Ghanaian and Senegalese Fronts:
Samuel Atsu Akpo's film and paper presentation
Mamadou Sellou Diallo's film and paper presentation
3.45 - 4:00 PM Coffee/Tea Break
4:00 - 5:45 Concurrent Sessions (E & F)
6:00 - 9:00PM: FILM SHOW - ODUDUWA HALL, Plenary Session

DAY 4: WEDNESDAY 31ST OCTOBER 2007
8:00 - 9:00 am: Meetings and Networking PIT THEATRE
9:00am - 12noon FILM SHOWS - Pit Theatre
12 noon Official Closing
DEPARTURE

Films
DOMINICA DIPIO - UGANDA
On Love Corridors: the film is set in a university campus. The protagonists gain understanding of what love is after painful experiences. It underscores the fact that love is not just physical. (Running Time, year and country: 2006, 34 mins, Uganda)

Uncompromised: The film dramatizes the idea that corruption and dishonesty are not absolutes even in a context where their appeals are difficult to resist (Running Time, year and country: 2007, 14 mins, Uganda)

River Mee: This is a reflective documentary in a personal style, based on the book, Landmarks, by Margaret Silf. It is a journey of self discovery leading to self actualization. (Running Time, year and country: 2006, 15 mins, Kenya)

WANJIRU KINYANJUI - KENYA
Bahati: Bahati, a graduate, despairs of ever getting a job. A stranger gives him advice on how to get one, but he pays for this advice. Is the stranger the usual con woman?
His troubles seem never ending, and he even tries to commit suicide. (Running Time, year and country: 2007, 60 mins, Kenya)

MAMADOU SELLOU DIALLO - SENEGAL
Amma The Blind People of Dakar.by Mamadou Sellou Diallo: Old Modou Mbaye talks about the live of the blind since the colonial period, about their struggles to find their real place in the Senegalese society. He rejects the term 'blind' and prefers the Wolof term 'silmakha'. Other characters in the film include Young Pape and Old Fatou Ndao. Each single character is an encounter around existential questions, about the place of beggars in the society, and about the relationships between the different components of the society. Each character helps us get in touch with other characters ranking among the most disadvantaged ones in Dakar, a town full of beggars. (Running Time, year and country: 2007, 52 Minutes, Documentary, Dakar)

ADAMS SIE - SENEGAL
Cutting the Rose : This film explores traditional laws and their conflict with proven scientific facts. The traumatic experiences of girls, some as young as five, that tradition forces to undergo this most painful act is given a fresh view.

Silent Voice is a documentary film about street boys in Senegal, (Running Time:18 Minutes, Year Completed: 2005 Country of Production: Senegal)

Sum Sum Saba : Sum Sum Saba is a documentary film about a localy produced alcoholic drink that destroyed the lives of potential citizens in Senegal. (2004, 30Minutes, Documentary Film)

AFRICAN VIDEO FILM ARTS FESTIVAL

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Professor Akinwunmi Isola earned his Bachelor of Arts with Honors in French from the University of Ibadan, Master of Arts in Yoruba Oral Literature from the University of Lagos and Doctor of Philosophy in Yoruba Written Literature from the University of Ibadan. He is an accomplished dramatist, Novelist, Poet, Essayist, Literary Critic, Actor, Screenwriter and Professor of Yoruba Literature of 17 years standing.

Professor Duro Oni is an academic of great repute. He has a number of books and publications to hiis credit in the areas oif cultural studies, dramatic literature and criticism, and production design and aesthetics. A man of many parts, Professor Oni holds BFA and MFA Degrees from the California Institute of the Arts and a Ph.D. from the University of Ibadan. He is currently Professor and Head of Department of Creative Arts, University of Lagos.