Africa USA International Film Festival

This documentary addresses the relationship between tourism and culture in Senegal through a series of interviews. It offers different visions of tourism from the local perspective. It also makes direct references to language and tourism and their link to the consequences of colonialism.

“Looking Inward” is a film documenting the artist fellowship process through the Kent Cultural Alliance. 6 artists dug through thousands of historical documents and images from the Chesapeake Heartland Archive to find what spoke to them, and then created their own artwork from the inspirations they found. This Documentary is a journey through Black History and the Arts and how we all can benefit from 'Looking Inward.'

"I am Black, I am Beautiful" (2023) is a documentary movie written and directed by Sabrina Onana about Black French Women (both Caribbeans and daughters of African immigrants in France).

Kuva tells the story of Ekema, a “no good” fisherman, down on his luck. In a fishing society where a man’s worth is a derivative of his fishing prowess, Ekema finds himself the lowest rung in the society’s ladder. He finds himself, through no want of efforts, unable to measure or match up to his mates which leads to constant ridicule from the society in general, but a certain Njie, the “King Fisher” in particular. His only source of solace is from his two friends, Eposi and Lyonga. He hates his fate and wishes he had more financially which will translate to more respect.

In the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau, this thought-provoking film takes you on a journey that follows brave local women who challenge patriarchy by building institutions that promote self-sufficiency through agroecology. They also defy social norms by standing up against female genital mutilation and rejecting forced marriage. Carrying forward the legacy of Amílcar Cabral, the Bissau-Guinean independence leader who placed women's rights at the center of the struggle for liberation, the women of a rising generation are taking their power back.

A rural girl tells a story of her struggling with an unknown illness relaying the support of her mothers love which keeps her going in her toughest of times as the illness ZIPPS OFF her dreams. This is story of hope of how she braze through all and triumphant

HOME IS A PLACE INSIDE US

A young Nubian girl embarks on a journey back in time to reconnect with her drowned homeland. Guided by the Nile egret, she travels underwater within the lake created by Egypt's Aswan High Dam to visit Nubia's mountains and palm trees, water wheels and houses, men and women. She bids farewell to her people as they board the boats that will take them to their resettlement villages. Returning to her own time, she carries the strength of knowing that Nubia will always live on inside her.

First-Time Filmmaker Walton’s Debut Film: Homeless Not Hopeless in America is a multi-award winning progressive sociological documentary which provides an up-close and vivid expression of the unreal realities, and street trenches of the impoverished environments many disenfranchised homeless Americans attempt to survive daily. Additionally, the film strongly illuminates how drug abuse is truly a mental disease that should be treated holistically, with modern medical and social services. Therefore, this emotional educational film depicts alarming statistics and substantiative research which prove that individuals should not be criminalized or incarcerated for suffering from a mental disorder (drug abuse) in which they greatly need rehabilitative assistance to overcome. Innovatively, this unprecedented documentary intensely shows how both the use of both Methamphetamine and Fentanyl have utterly destroyed the homeless population in Los Angeles, CA. In addition, the film highlights how city officials choose to ignore the longstanding damages associated with homelessness, by allowing drug use and drug abuse to be perpetuated, thus marginalizing those struggling in the country’s largest homeless population. Unfortunately, many homeless individuals in Los Angeles are unjustly denied the due process of adequate medical and social services that could significantly assist their lives or cure their sicknesses.

It’s so important that we learn from the past to improve the future. In African tradition, it is expected that one not only speaks in their voice, but also in the voice of the ancestors. So much history, especially Black & Gullah history, has been hidden from textbooks. Because of that, Luana’s passion is telling untold stories that educate and inspire people to understand more about who they are.

A group of men in Senegal volunteer as human bait to catch flies carrying a parasite that once blinded hundreds of thousands of people throughout Africa. Following the lead of Africa's leading medical entomologist, Daniel Boakye, the group of men work towards freeing the Gambia River from the vicious disease.

Legendary Senegalese singer Baaba Maal provides the soundtrack for this lyrical celebration of the work that has brought his country within sight of a once unthinkable goal: eliminating river blindness.

2022 marked the 200th anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s birth, as well as the memory of one of America’s most profound figures. Tubman was one of the nation’s leading human rights activists who assumed many roles, including that of an Underground Railroad conductor, army scout, nurse, and women’s rights champion.

llusion of Distance delves into the enduring effects of the Apartheid. Boeta Allie, an 80-year-old man classified as coloured by the Apartheid government was separated from his childhood friend Isaac Mbenyane because of his race. The two were inseparable as children while living in District 6, before forced removals scattered communities and families across the Cape Flats. Boeta Allie and Isaac ended up in neighborhoods set aside for so-called coloureds and blacks by the ruling party of the day. Langa and Bonteheuwel are only divided by a highway but because of pass laws and the restriction of movement, the friends did not see each other for more than 70 years. The film follows Boeta Allie's journey as he is accompanied by 'born-free' filmmaker Sapho Wulana to try and find his long-lost friend Isaac.

A quick but in-depth look on South Africa's history, people and economy. By learning about its past, we can peek into the future of this Rainbow Nation.

When a 12-year-old boy visits his friend, the boys get into some expected mischief. But the boys soon find out, freedom can quickly get dangerous.

Born into a culture that values male leadership above all, Melikhaya finds it difficult to find her place as a strong African woman. When her brother makes choices that impact the entire community, she is forced to make a tough decision.https://editor.wix.com/data/AfricaUsaIntLFilmFestival/821267a4-437c-4181-b611-c6947076655e

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The documentary unfolds through the voices of El Hadj Djitteye, the visionary founder of the Timbuktu Center for Strategic Studies on the Sahel, and Djoken, president of the UNESCO Center for Peace. Djitteye shares the harrowing tale of Timbuktu's occupation by Islamist militants in 2012, where priceless manuscripts were burned, and the population fled. Djoken's narrative delves into his endeavors against female mutilation, emphasizing the significance of empowering women for societal progress and education for the youth.

We explore the world of books with Wendy Njoroge and how she has managed to curate a series of events that combine wine and books in a very unique way in Kenya. Wendy provides deep therapeutic explorations and adventures as she interacts with her growing community.

In the near future, time travel tourism allows vacationers to travel back in time to experience moments of historical significance. When mild-mannered Frank visits a time travel agency to inquire about a trip, he is offered the “ultimate” thrill - an opportunity to go back in time to participate in a murder. But what was supposed to be the adventure of a lifetime turns into an unimaginable nightmare, with only one way out…

It tells the true stories of 3 acts of racial terrorism that occurred in and out of South Florida's courts in the 1930's and draws parallels to the problems of law enforcement of today.