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Northwest Festival of African Cinema Selects Dates and Venues for 2003 Event

Rakumi Arts has announced March 5th through the 14th as dates for this year's Northwest Festival of African Cinema, "Through An African Lens." Films will be screened at three locations in the Seattle area: the Seattle Art Museum, The Rainier Valley Cultural Center and 911 Media Arts Center. In its second official year, The Festival of African Cinema will present seventeen films from countries including Mauritania, Eritrea, Sudan, Gabon, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa and African immigrant communities in the US. The Festival will include features, documentaries and shorts, one U.S. premiere, three Seattle premieres, guest directors, a directors forum, a cultural presentation and special guests.

Produced by Rakumi Arts, the objective of "Through an African Lens: Northwest Festival of African Cinema" is to bring an awareness of contemporary Africa and its people through African cinema and it's own unique lens. Films were selected for the Festival that reveal the rich, multi-dimensional nature of the contemporary African experience, an experience that spans a staggering range of diversity in lifestyles and cultures.

Film Festival Chairman, Rakumi Arts board member and internationally known artist, Carl Smool says, "Building on the success and enthusiasm of our film festival of 2002, Rakumi continues to provide a remarkable opportunity to screen recent independent African films- films that are not easily accessed in the U.S., with an effort to reach new, more diverse audiences. This festival also provides exposure for African filmmakers. By offering a forum for discussion with invited directors we encourage dialogue in the community and hope to enrich the experience and understanding of our audience."

Rakumi Arts is a non-profit organization that presents African films, arts and music throughout the Northwest region. Sponsors for this year's Festival of African Cinema also include the Cultural Development Authority of King County, The Seattle Art Museum and its African Arts Council, The Rainier Valley Cultural Center, South East Effective Development (SEED), 911 Media Arts Center and The Eritrean Community of Seattle.

The Festival schedule is available on line at http://www.rakumi.org and in flyers at select local coffee shops and businesses. Ticket prices range from five dollars to nine dollars depending on the venue. Tickets can be purchased at the door one half hour before each event.

For more information about The Northwest Festival of African Cinema, to set up interviews, or arrange for screening tapes, please contact Publicity Director Marion Seymour mailto:marion@onadime.com or call 206. 725. 7545.

Facts

What:
Rakumi Arts presents The Northwest Festival of Afican Cinema

When:
March 5th through the 14th, 2003.

Where and How Much:
Seattle Art Museum (SAM)
100 University St., Seattle $6.00
SAM members
$7.00 non-members

Rainier Valley Cultural Center (RVCC)
3515 South Alaska St., Seattle (one block west of Rainier Avenue)
$6.00 each afternoon or evening
$9.00 all day Saturday

911 Media Arts Center
117 Yale Avenue North, Seattle
$5.00 911 members
$6.00 non-members

Where to Get Tickets:
At the door 1/2 hour before show time."

Schedules on line here, and in flyers at independent coffee houses around town..