"France Noire/Black France" Film Festival
La Présence Noire en France/The Black Presence in France

May 21- 23, 2010

Location: Forum des Images (www.forumdesimages.fr)
Forum des Halles - 2, rue du Cinéma - 75001 Paris, France

Pre-screening Film Projection Event
May 20, 2010
United States Embassy

The *France Noire/Black France* Film Festival-an extension of the *France Noire - Black France* conference held in June 2008 at Columbia University's Institute for Scholars at Reid Hall in Paris-is a showcase for films that focus on the theme: "The Black Presence in France," that is, the historical and contemporary experiences of people of African descent in French society. Indeed, in recent years, France has seen exciting developments and inspiring activity in the artistic, cultural, intellectual, political, religious, and social lives of those who identify themselves and are identified as "les Noirs de et en France." This includes the impact of the Black/African American experience in Paris and in France, which remains a topic of intense debate. The myriad manifestations of their socio-political engagement and cultural expression of "Blacks" in France have been richly documented in film. We seek, then, to promote and draw necessary light to a hugely important, though largely under-exposed, cinematic genre that focuses broadly on "Blacks" in France. The *France Noire/Black France* Film Festival is designed to attract a diverse audience in order to contribute to the strengthening of international, cross-cultural, and cross-generational understanding of the themes and issues examined in these films.

FESTIVAL DIRECTORS
Arlette Frund
Trica Danielle Keaton
Tracy Sharpley-Whiting
Maboula Soumahoro

Festival website:
http://sitemason.vanderbilt.edu/aframst/bffnff