The Addis Ababa International Film Festival
The Addis International Film Festival is a documentary film festival held annually in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Organized by Initiative Africa, an education based non-governmental organization; it is the largest independent documentary cinema festival in Africa.
AIFF is a unique initiative seeking to use the power of documentaries and short films to support innovative ways of creating awareness of social issues (i.e. environment, discrimination, poverty, migration etc.) Each year the Festival highlights the industry’s emerging talent, paying homage to the year’s best documentary films, allowing the audience the opportunity to experience thought-provoking and insightful documentary cinema that offers unique or controversial perspectives in our world. All of the films included in the festival programs reflect IA’s commitment to contribute to the greatest development challenges of our day: preparing socially responsible citizenry.
The main objectives of AIFF are:
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To help more people and organizations discover opportunities for participation in activism.
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Preparing socially responsible citizenry through films.
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Provide opportunities for networking and collaboration among local and international film professionals.
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To make audacious documentary films more accessible to more people
Events:
Film Screening
Films presented in the festival are a powerful statement of social change. Over the past six years hundreds of award-winning documentary features from all over the globe have been screened in different venues across the country.
Panel discussions and Q&A sessions
Screenings are followed by lively Q&A sessions with directors and industry professionals. Guest speakers – including international media professionals, members from different advocacy organizations and experts – have taken part in lively audience discussions following the screenings. Directors/producers of some award winning documentaries were welcomed and engaged in lively discussion with a captivated audience as well.
Workshops
The Addis International Film Festival offers a series of free workshops on different and timely topics to raise and explore current challenges and showcase appealing works. Local artists, film professionals, producers, citizen journalists and film lovers are given the opportunity to acquire and improve their skills for a successful and powerful independent media-making.
Launched in 2006, the Addis International Film Festival (AIFF) started out of local activists' sincere devotion to the cause of promoting social responsibility in Ethiopia and the belief in the power of film to aid that cause. The response from the previous six editions was extremely encouraging.
The Festival is supported in parts through grants from international donors and private and community sponsors.
We would like to welcome everyone to participate in the AIFF by being a volunteer or a sponsor. Info can be obtained by contacting us at info@addisfilmfestival.org or visiting our website www.addisfilmfestival.org
The 7th edition of the Addis International Film Festival will be held from May 14-19,2013.
