30 Years of South African Film to be Celebrated at the 2024 African Diaspora Film Festival in New York
“30 Years of the New South Africa” is part of the packed ADIFF 2024 schedule, with over 80 films from more than 20 countries.
In line with South Africa’s three-decade-long democracy, the 32nd edition of the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) has slated one of its special events to spotlight films from South Africa, especially those related to the country’s history and politics.
The opening night of ADIFF, set to be held in New York between November 29 and December 15, is dedicated to the New York debut of Ian Gabriel’sDeath of a Whistleblower. The 2023 film stars Noxolo Dlamini in the lead role as investigative journalist Luyanda Masinda, who digs into the circumstances of her colleague’s murder in broad daylight, finding high levels of state corruption and unearthing a vile conspiracy in the process.The“30 Years of the New South Africa” programming notably includesLegacy: The De-Colonized History of South Africa, which is currently on the longlist forBest Documentary Feature consideration for next year’s Oscars.
The South Africa-focused festival features a diverse selection, including historically significant films like the Miriam Makeba-focused documentary Mama Africa, the restored version of the apartheid-era classic Joe Bullet, the first South African film with an all-Black cast, and Banned, a documentary about the immediate censorship of Joe Bullet.
Ernest Cole: Lost & Found, a documentary narrated by Lakeith Stanfield about the titular photographer and anti-apartheid activist, will be screening. John Kani’sNothing But the Truth, an investigation into the complex dynamic between those activists who remained in South Africa to lead the struggle against apartheid and those who returned victoriously after living in exile, will also be shown.
The emotionally charged Good Mourning, Adze Ugah’s mystical drama Sierra’s Gold, and the hyperlink drama Quantum complete the line-up of South African films at ADIFF 2024.
Over 80 films from more than 20 countries will be screened over the festival’s two-week span, ranging from festival darlings and restored classics to short films and historical documentaries about Caribbean leaders and literary icons.
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos, a Nigerian film centered on the true story of a young woman’s fight against injustice after the government forcibly evicts her community from their homes, is making its U.S. premiere in the Gala Screening section.
In addition to films from across the Black diaspora, films from Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar and Kenya contribute to theexpansive line-up of films to be screened at ADIFF, making for an authentic Pan-African experience.- The Top 10 Films You Should Watch at This Year's New York African Film Festival ›
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