Written by By Ariadne Sawyer, MA
Last year’s inaugural VPAFF was a great success – and an historic event. It attracted international attention to Vancouver, and included government delegates from Africa and the U.S., as well as distinguished guests, Ambassador Andrew Young and friends, and renowned American filmmaker Charles Burnett.
This VPAFF event is part of the 2nd Annual Vancouver Pan-African Film & Arts Festival (VPAFF) and its in-augural launch of the Traveling Pan-African Film & Arts Festival (TPAFF) in South Africa from October 24-26th. 5 short music documentaries will be screened simultaneously in both Vancouver and Cape Town, featuring world-class singer/songwriters from 5 different African countries (Tanzania, Congo Republic, Angola, Zimbabwe and Mozambique) who have made Cape Town their home. The Reel Pan-AfriCAN SoundsCAPE is an experimental, Canada-South Africa co-production combining interactive film, music, dance and dialogue with participating audiences in both Canada and South Africa to explore issues of migration, multiculturalism and the role of the artist in promoting cross-cultural understanding.
Immediately following each film, Canadian and South African audiences will be engaged in dialogue on critical issues raised in the videos facilitated on either side by a lively MC.
As each invigorated dialogue sessions wraps up, Vancouver and Cape Town audiences will take part in creating African Unity and International Cooperation through song and dance lead by South Africa’s renowned dancer/choreographer, Bheki Ndlovu (movies include Sarafina!, Bafana, and The Lion King), facilitating the entire interaction from Vancouver. Audience members will experience first-hand the African proverb, “If you can talk, you can sing; if you can walk, you can dance,”
There is a possibility that Danny Glover will be one of the honoured attendees.
For more information: www.vpaff.org
Email: castyourself@vpaff.org
