I AM AFRICA SHORT FILM COMPETITION Spotlights Filmmakers in Sub-Saharan Africa

*LOS ANGELES — YouTube, in partnership with The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) and The Africa Narrative at USC Norman Lear Center, announced the 48 semi-finalists for the I Am Africa Short Film Competition — a competition to find new storytelling talent based in Sub-Saharan Africa. PAFF jurors have narrowed down more than 160 submissions from around the continent.

A special jury comprised of Stephanie Linus, Themba Sibeko, Funa Maduka, and Stacy Osei-Kuffor will pick three top winners to be flown to Los Angeles to participate in a day of workshops, production training and networking with the entertainment industry at YouTube Space LA as well as a red-carpet screening at the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), which runs from February 13-23, 2020.

TO VIEW THE SHORT FILMS:
Through January 12, 2020, the entire global YouTube community will be able to view the selection of films at https://bit.ly/38AcCpW

YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
Community support in the form of votes at the official voting page at https://www.paff.org/forms/iamafrica will decide which filmmaker will win the Audience Award, and also attend the PAFF in Los Angeles. Voting for the Audience Award runs now through midnight on  January 12,  2020.

Without further ado, the 48 semi-finalists are listed below. Congratulations to each of the filmmakers on their accomplishments.

SEMI-FINALIST WINNERS AND FILMS 
2 Grams and A Sunrise
Country: South Africa
Director: Malusi Bengu
Genre: Drama

2064
Country: Botswana
Director: Joseph Adesunloye
Genre: Fantasy

A Cemetery Of Doves
Country: Nigeria
Director: Adetokunboh Sangodoyin
Genre: Drama

A Game For All
Country: Lagos, Nigeria
Director: Amarachi Nwosu
Genre: Coming-of-age 

Axis Mundi
Country: South Africa
Director: Matthew JenkAs & Sean Steinberg
Genre: Horror

Below The Legal Line
Country: Nigeria
Director: Ovinuchi Ejiohuo
Genre: Documentary

Breaking Forth
Country: Nigeria
Director: Peter Okojie
Genre: Documentary

Closed
Country: Nigeria
Director: Tolulope Ajayi
Genre: Drama

Closet Hookup
Country: South Africa
Director: Obvious Nomaele
Genre: Drama

Communion
Country: Uganda
Director: Patience Nitumwesiga
Genre: Documentary

Crack
Country: Nigeria
Director: Tunde Apalowo
Genre: Thriller

Daylight
Country: South Africa
Director: Liesl Ahlers
Genre: Drama

Defiant Bonga
Country: South Africa
Director: Twiggy
Genre: Coming-of-Age

Diphiri Le Makunutu
Country: South Africa
Director: Obett Motaung
Genre: Drama

Elewa – The Beans Hawker
Country: Nigeria
Director: Ashowo Gboyega
Genre: Drama

Equanimity
Country: Uganda
Director: Kizito Samuel Saviour
Genre: Drama

Esteem
Country: Uganda
Director: Kizito Samuel Saviour
Genre: Drama

Eyelash
Country: South Africa
Director: Mpendulo Troy Ngobese
Genre: Drama

Facebook Friend
Country: Nigeria
Director: Ann Sarafina
Genre: Horror

Fish
Country: Malawi
Director: Khama Mbaula
Genre: Drama

I Want To See For Myself
Country: South Africa
Director: Fanyana Hlabangane
Genre: Other

Inquest
Country:  Nigeria
Director: Kester Nsirim
Genre: Thriller

Karata
Country: Kenya
Director: Robert Munuku
Genre: Thriller

Kafuni (the Fan)
Country: Ghana
Director: Leonard Atawugeh Kubaloe
Genre: Spiritual/mystical

Mara
Country: Sudan
Director: Mohamed Khalil Hita
Genre: Drama

Miracle
Country: South Africa
Director: Bongi Ndaba
Genre: Drama

Mum, I Need Oil For My Car
Country: South Africa
Director: Naishe Nyamubaya
Genre: Fantasy

Naisula
Country: Kenya
Director: Karanja Ng’endo
Genre: Coming-of-age

Phoenix Girl
Country: Nigeria
Director: Anuoluwapo Adelakun
Genre: Documentary

Pieli (Pilot Episode- Rise of Montana)
Country: Ghana
Director: Leonard Atawugeh Kubaloe
Genre: Historic/Epic

Portrait Of My Father
Country: South Africa
Director: Tafadzwa Njovana
Genre: Drama

Sicela Amanzi (Water Please)
Country: South Africa
Director: Mlu Godola
Genre: Drama

Slumber Party
Country: South Africa
Director: Palesa Lebona
Genre: Drama

Son Of The Soil
Country: South Africa
Director: Siyabonga Mbele
Genre: Fantasy

Story Of A Baked Brownie
Country: South Africa
Director: Elelwani Netshifhire
Genre: Drama

Ten O’clock
Country: Kenya
Director: Samuel Tebandeke
Genre: Drama

The Enchantress
Country: Uganda
Director: Shams Bhanji
Genre: Fantasy

The Letter Reader
Country: South Africa
Director: Sibusiso Khuzwayo
Genre: Coming-of-age

The Pool
Country: South Africa
Director: Matome Senyolo
Genre: Drama

The Turning Son
Country: South Africa
Director: Thabiso Christopher
Genre: Drama

To Be A Child Again
Country: Nigeria
Director: Adediji Aderogba
Genre:Drama

Tokunbo
Country: Nigeria
Director: Aderogba Arimoro
Genre: Drama

Umsolwa (The Accused)
Country: South Africa
Director: Minenhle Luthuli

Genre: Drama

Unsaid
Country: Nigeria
Director: Zainab Ojoma Obaje
Genre: Drama 

Warona
Country: South Africa
Director: Koketso Motimele
Genre: Drama

Who Knows
Country: Kenya
Director: Nick Wambugu
Genre: Other

Z: The Beginning
Country: Nigeria
Director: Godwin Josiah
Genre: Sci-fi

ABOUT PAFF
The Pan African Film Festival, now in its 28th year, has cemented its role as a hub for breakthrough and award-winning films and filmmakers from around the world. PAFF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding among peoples of African descent. It is PAFF’s goal to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help destroy negative stereotypes. We believe film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time serve as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our times. www.paff.org

ABOUT THE AFRICA NARRATIVE
The Africa Narrative is a global initiative to engage the world in new stories of contemporary Africa. Based at the Norman Lear Center at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, the initiative seeks to broaden awareness and engagement with the continent through innovative research, outcomes driven forums, and media and entertainment centered collaborations with partners from around the world. www.theafricanarrative.org

ABOUT YOUTUBE
Launched in May 2005, YouTube is the world’s most popular online video community allowing billions of people to discover, watch and share video. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small. YouTube is a Google company. www.youtube.com

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For PAFF:
Wyllisa Bennett
wrb public relations
[email protected]

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