The names of successful applicants were made available to the international media in Zanzibar, Tanzania, during the 12th Zanzibar International Film Festival on 2009 July 1.

The Nairobi-based Lola Kenya Screen has — since its inception in October 2005 — been exploring, identifying and nurturing talent among children and youth in areas such as screen-writing, cinematography, production, marketing, distribution, creative journalism, event planning and presentation, and critical appreciation of creativity.

Lola Kenya Screen was established as a movement that uses appropriate and available technologies to deliver audiovisual media content that complements, enhances, entertains and promotes learning among children and youth in the promotion of literacy, gender equity, independent thought, human rights, environmental responsibility and global health.

Apart from the Television Drama workshop that is aimed at adults (above 18 years) interested in creating audiovisual media works for children and youth, the rest of the programmes target people defined by the laws of Kenya as children, i.e. children and youth (under 18 years).

Film Production

1. Njeri Waithera Nesbith, 13, Braeside School
2. Alex Ndegua, 16,Ruiru Boys secondary
3. Brian Saruni, 14, Highway Secondary School
4. Charlene Ndolo, 14, German School
5. Charmaine Ndolo, 14, German School
6. Crystal Ndolo, 7, Riara Road Primary School
7. Daniella Kinyanjui, 11, Mount Kenya Academy
8. Flora Wanjiru, 16, Githurai Mixed Secondary School
9. Fredrick Ochieng, 16, Bridgeway School
10. Irene Esonga, 16, Kahawa Garrisson Secondary School
11. Michael Mwangi, 15, Moi ForcesAcademy

Event Organisation and Presentation/MC

1. Tracy Muringa, 14, State House Girls High School
2. Bernard Otieno, 15, Moi Forces Academy
3. Nicholas Ngugi Ngobe, 10, Almond Land School
4. Rushel Rang’ala, 17, Cardinal Otunga High School Mosocho

Film Jury

1. Samantha Wangui, 8, Riara Road Primary School
2. Sauda Hamisi, 12, St Arnold Jansen School
3. Vanessa Wanjiku, 8, BuruBuru I Primary School
4. Wangari Mumbi Kiarie, 15, Kianda School
5. Vivian Atieno, 16, Annointed High School
6. Creative Journalism/Festival Press
7. Whitney Kerubo Otenyo, 13, Excel Academy
8. Antony Mukiri Chege, 12, Uthiru Primary School
9. Harun Muange, 15, Moi Forces Academy
10. Kathleen Siminyu, 15, Kianda School
11. Polet Njeri, 15, Alliance Girls High School
12. Mina Ogova, 11, Greenyard Junior School

Television Drama

1. Moses Siku, 22, Multi-Media University
2. Mitchelle Janga’ra, 18, Limuru Girls’ School
3. Ken Mbugua, 26
4. Charles Thuku , 18
5. Catherine Kiambati
6. Anthony Micheni Metha
7. Janet Mose, 18

315 films in 33 languages from 50 nations were received.

To give better visibility to the films which have been selected, screenings have been organized into nine categories. For competition categories, Lola Kenya Screen showcases the best recent — up to 32 months — international films for children and youth.

For 2009, a new category — 14 Plus — has been introduced into competition. Previously, only films for 6–13-year-olds had competed for the Lola Kenya Screen Golden Mboni Award for the best children’s film.

4th Golden Mboni Award Competition

• IO PARLO|I’LL TELL ON YOU!, Marco Gianfreda, Italy, 2009
• THE MAGIC STAMP, Tomoko Oguchi, USA, 2009
• FOR A FISTFUL OF SNOW, Julien Ezri,Switzerland, 2009
• POLO, Claver Yameogo, Burkina Faso, 2009
• AAN MARD|THAT MAN, Behrooz Ghobadi, Iran, 2008
• DELROY KINCAID, Powys Dewhurst, Canada, 2008
• FREDERIKKE, Heidi Maria Faisst, Denmark, 2008
• HAMMERHEAD, Sam Donovan, UK, 2008
• IZULU LAMI|MY SECRET SKY, Madoda Ncayiyana, South Africa, 2008
• KUR PALUDIS ELVIS|FINDING ELVIS, Una Celma, Latvia, 2008
• MAN HAM HASTAM|I EXIST, Afshin Khaledi, Iran, 2008
• MUSEN|THE MOUSE, Pil Maria Gunnarsson, Denmark, 2008
• EL REGALA DE LA PACHAMAMA|PACHAMAMA, Toshifumi Matsushita, USA, 2008
• PAMELA, James Kanja, Kenya, 2008
• SMALL BOY, Michelle Bello, Nigeria, 2008
• THE HAPPY DUCKLING, Gili Dolev, Israel|Scotland, 2008
• UNA VIDA MEJOR|A BETTER LIFE, Luis Fernandez Reneo, Spain, 2008
• CUENTO DE LA C|THE C STORY, Carlos Navarro, Spain, 2008
• BESTIARIO, Sergio Vega Borrego, Spain, 2008
• GHOLAKI KE PEIDA KARDAM|THE PIGGY BANK THAT I FOUND, Arsham Naghshbandi, Iran, 2008
• SOTTO IL MIO GIARDINO|UNDER MY GARDEN, Andrea Lodovichetti, Italy, 2007

14 Plus Competition

• HOUNA & MANNY, Jared Katsiane, USA, 2009
• A BEAUTIFUL TRAGEDY|BALLERINA: A BEAUTIFUL TRAGEDY, David Kinsella, Norway, 2008
• UGUGU NO ANDILE|GUGU AND ANDILE, Minky Schlesinger, South Africa, 2008
• FROM A WHISPER, Wanuri Kahiu, Kenya, 2008
• ZIMBABWE, Darrell James Roodt, South Africa|Zimbabwe, 2008
• A CRACK IN THE WALL, Philippe Talavera, Namibia, 2008
• DEAR MOM, Hsiao Yang-Lun, Taiwan, 2008
• BABALWA’S STORY, Charlene Houston, South Africa, 2008
• CUANDOS CAEN LOS IDOLOS| WHEN THE IDOLS FALL, Tomas Silberman, Spain, 2008
• LA TUERCA|THE NUT, Azul Melissa Martinez, Spain, 2008
• I HEARD YOU LOOKING, Hsiao Yang-Lun, Taiwan, 2007

Films by Students

• PUMS, Federico Martin, Germany, 2009
• THE POTTERY’S TALE, Maryam Bayani, Iran, 2008
• ELEPHANTS, Sally Pearce, UK, 2008
• 4 KILOMETRES, Miri Shapiro, Israel, 2008
• PER SECOND KILLER, Ejim Fortune Kezi, Nigeria, 2008
• EYES ON THE PRIZE, Omar Robert Hamilton, UK, 2008
• ZA HORYZONT|BEYOND THE HORIZON, Kuba Czekaj, Poland, 2007

Films by Youth

• TALISMAN, Runcie Chidebe, Nigeria, 2009
• THE AMERICAN DREAM, Yonnie Andal, Kenya, 2009
• KHOKO’S STORY, Akhona Mangwane, Sibabalwe Nxadi & Khuthala Xhaka, South Africa, 2008
• THOUGHTS IN A HIJAB, Clione Byrne, Eimanne El Zein & Sahar Shakeri, USA, 2008
• YOUNG LOVE?, Azariah Simon,Indigo Sanders, Austin Harris, April Monetbon, Douglas Moffat Jr and Everett Anderson, USA, 2008
• DEFINITION, Cole Dillingham, Mauricette Lekea and Kennedy Zuniga, USA, 2008

Eastern Africa Prism

• THE DANCE FOR WIVES, Paul Ekuru, Kenya, 2008
• UNSEEN, Unsung: Unforgotten, Mona Ombogo-Scott and Risper Njoki, Kenya, 2008
• SAVE A CHILD, Gilbert Lukalia, Kenya, 2008
• TRANSFORMING TOMORROW: GENDER FILM, Daniel Prior, Kenya|Rwanda
• TRANSFORMING TOMORROW: MAIN FILM, Daniel Prior, Kenya|Rwanda, 2008
• TRANSFORMING TOMORROW: SPORTS FILM, Daniel Prior, Kenya|Rwanda, 2008
• BATTLE OF THE SOULS, Matt Bish, Uganda, 2007

World Panorama

• MARAFIKI, Carrie Matiku and Laurence Dworkin, South Africa, 2008
• THE J.H. GUNN PROJECT, Shequeta Smith, USA, 2008
• WHO ARE YOU WEARIN’?, Powys Dewhurst, Canada, 2008
• MANUAL PRACTICO DEL AMIGO IMAGINARIO (ABREVIADO)|IMAGINARY FRIEND PRACTICAL MANUAL(ABREVIATED), Ciro Altabas, Spain, 2008
• IN OUR SHOES, Human Rights Media Centre Collective, South Africa, 2008
• PET SHOP, Michael Gabriel Zenelis, Greece, 2008
• DASTI MOTEVALED MISHAVAD|A HAND HAS BEEN BORN, Bijan Zaman Pira, Iran, 2008
• KHANEYE RO’YAEIE|DREAM HOUSE, Ahoora Zaman Pira, Iran, 2008
• LILLI, Filippo Ticozzi, Italy, 2008
• SARBAZ O JADDEH|THE SOLDIER AND THE ROAD, Nahid Ghobadi, Iran, 2008
• SARBAZI KE SHEKAST|BROKEN SOLDIER, Batin Ghobadi, Iran, 2008
• PUERTAS|DOORS, Roberto Goni, Spain, 2008
• A FRIEND, Brittanie Marques, USA, 2008
• AAB O AAYENEH|WATER & MIRROR, Bijan Zaman Pira, Iran, 2008
• GIRLHOOD, Miki Redelinghuys, South Africa, 2008
• 68 DEGREES & CLEAR, Dawn Westlake, USA, 2007
• RELEVE, Sebastain Natto, Basfrom Caspar & Denis Truembach, Germany, 2007

Special Focus

• First Light Movies, UK, English
• The Best of Kids For Kids Festival 2008, Canada (48 films)
• UNICEF-Fundacion Kine, Argentina (48 films)
• THE DAY AFTER PEACE, Jeremy Gilley, UK, 2008

Television Series

• MELODY MAKERS (EPISODE 4), F Simiyu Barasa, Kenya, 2009
• KNOW ZONE, Victor Gatonye, Kenya, 2008
• Fantasy, THE BEAR: THE BROKEN SEAL, Panea Czarsry & Robert Turlo, Poland, 2006
• Fantasy, THE BEAR: THE LUNARLAND, Andrzej Kukula & Robert Turlo, Poland, 2006

3rd Kids For Kids Africa

• The Kids For Kids Africa line up will be announced 2009 June 30.

[Source: Lola Kenya Screen] [Source: ArtMatters]

Technorati Tags: Africa, Lola Kenya Screen, Film Festival, Kids 4 Kids, Kenya, Nairobi, East Africa, Children, YouthTechnorati/indiefilmcafe

Lola Kenya Screen, the annual international audiovisual media platform for children and youth in eastern Africa, is looking for 10 practising Kenyan filmmakers interested in making television drama films for children and youth during its 4th Lola Kenya Screen festival in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2009. A five-day practical workshop on making television drama films for children and youth will be held with a leading international trainer with experience in both coaching professionals as well as working with children and youth. To participate, each local filmmaker is expected to: • apply, providing letter of motivation and expectations • provide a detailed CV or filmography • commit oneself to attend all the training sessions without exception • be ready to make a short film (3-5 minutes) from the training The development of the story, its structure and the production of the film, will take place during the festival week. All the films made will be screened during the closing ceremony of the 4th Lola Kenya Screen in August 2009 and will then be showcased around the world, alongside those made by the children and youth in their respective hands-on workshops. The objective of the Lola Kenya Screen film production workshops is to develop and build a network of professional filmmakers and trainers interested in the production, exhibition and promotion of high quality films for children and youth. Such professionals will also be expected to pass on their knowledge and skills to others in the broader Kenyan and eastern African region. Interested filmmakers are advised to apply to the undersigned not later than April 15, 2009: The Director Lola Kenya Screen C/o ComMattersKenya Philadelphia House, 4th Floor Tom Mboya Street/Hakati Road Tel: 254 20 315258, 254 20 2213318 Cell 254 733 703374, 254 722 486531 P O Box 20775-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya Email: director@lolakenyascreen.org

Lola Kenya Screen, the annual audio-visual media platform for children and youth in eastern Africa, is calling upon children and youth who are knowledgeable, opinionated and interested in film, journalism, creativity and cultural events to apply for participation in its four skill-development programmes during the 4th Lola Kenya Screen to be held in Nairobi between 2009 August 10 and 2009 aUGUST 15.

Selected candidates will serve as members of the Film Selection Committee, Film Jury,Film Press, Programme Planning and Presentation (MCs) team, and Production Workshop.

Ideal applicants must be aged between 6 and 16 years old (9-18 years for production workshop), both knowledgeable and interested in audio-visual media works and possess the ability to understand, speak and write in English besides thinking, typing and submitting between 500 and 1200-word articles on the activities at the festival daily (for film press). Additionally, candidates must be ready to work under strict deadlines and should be supported by their parents/guardians.

Interested children and youth must write an application letter including the following: • Intention • Expectations • School • Age • Email address • Telephone, preferably cell/mobile, contact • Physical address • Letter of permission from parent/guardian

Successful applicants will be guided through the skills of appreciating and judging films, reporting on events, and planning and presenting of creative and cultural events, and in the making of film before and during the festival.

Stories filed by members of the festival Press will be published daily during the six days of festivities on the lolakenyascreen.org and lolakenyascreen.or.ke websites and on the internationally-acclaimed pan-African creative and cultural portal, ArtMatters.Info.

Applications are sent to: The Director, Lola Kenya Screen, Philadelphia House, 4th Floor, Tom Mboya Street/Hakati Road junction, P O Box 20775-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya (EA). Tel 254 20 315258/ 2213318 (o); 254 733 703374 and 254 722 486531 (cell). Email: director@lolakenyascreen.org.

Parents and guardians are requested to assist their children in applying for this opportunity that seeks to nurture their creative talent and potential and gives them international exposure. As in the previous three editions, offers are on ‘fist-come-first-served’ basis. However, preference is given to previous participants in Lola Kenya Screen programmes.

The deadline for application is April 15, 2009 at 5.00 PM EAT (14.00 hours GMT/UTC).

More about Lola Kenya Screen Lola Kenya Screen, a movement established in October 2005 to explore,identify and nurture creative talent among children and youth in areas such as journalism, filmmaking, arts appraisal and appreciation, andorganisation and presentation of cultural and creative events, has since 2006 helped add 31 child filmmakers, 14 journalists, 13 film judges, 7MCs, 15 producers of television drama for children and youth and 6 producers of documentary films for children and youth to eastern Africa’s creative and cultural spectrum. It has also enabled children and youth to create 20 short animation films and six short documentaries that are being showcased around the world and collecting awards and accolades along the way.

Lola Kenya Screen has showed more than 1200 best possible international films for children, youth and family from 71 nations representing all the continents in various genres, formats and lengths between 2006 August and 2008 August.

A recognised and respected international brand on issues related to children, youth, media and culture, the Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media initiative has been presented in several African and European countries over the past three years.

In 2008 Lola Kenya Screen attracted participation from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Rwanda and Zimbabwe, with all participants coming in to watch the wide variety of films from 56 nations and to be equipped with skills for making films, appreciating and judging audiovisual media production, presenting programmes and filing daily reports on the festival.

Presented by ComMattersKenya in conjunction with Goethe-Institut in Kenya, the partners of Lola Kenya Screen in 2008 included Africalia of Belgium, the Jan Vrijman/IDFA of Holland and Kenya-based ArtMatters.Info.

Organisers of the Nigeria-based African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) have released guidelines for the 2009 edition of the awards billed to hold in Yenagoa, the capital of the oil-rich but politically volatile Niger Delta state of Bayelsa, on 2009 April 4.

Entries can be done online and submitted with the entry(ies) at the secretariat or at designated points in Lagos, (Nigeria) for West Africa, Nairobi (Kenya) for eastern Africa and Johannesburg (South Africa) for southern Africa.

All submissions must be in triplicate entries and should be submitted before the set deadline on 2008 December 30 and certainly not later than the late entry deadline on 2009 January 9.

All films not produced in English must be sub-titled in English; the sub-titled also applies to pidgin, songs, proverbs, chants and other non-English expressions. Only films produced between 2007 December and 2008 December can be entered for the 2009 awards.

Short, feature and documentary films are accepted for the AMAA as are productions by Africans in Africa or the Diaspora, with a particular focus on Africa. Films must indicate the year of copyright and the Academy would only accept director’s cut of not more than 120 minutes for entries.

Address for Submission:

Nigeria/West Africa Att: Tony Anih AMAA Secretariat, 10a Obaladejobi St, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

South Africa: Att: Nerissa Solomon 3 Ferry Street – Unigray – South Hills – Johannesburg – South Africa – 7405

Eastern Africa Attn: Ogova Ondego ComMattersKenya, Philadelphia Hse, 4th Fl, Tom Mboya St, P O Box 20775-00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya. director@lolakenyascreen.org

The Lola Kenya screen audiovisual media initiative for children and youth in eastern Africa was presented at the 1st Broadcast & Film Africa Conference & Exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, on September 24, 2008.

Lola Kenya Screen, that has in 2008 been presented in Belgium, Germany and Tanzania, among other nations, was delivered in a session that looked at case studies from Kenya, Morocco, South Africa and the United Kingdom to see what could be achieved with the right strategy. Through the case studies, the session teased out what the role of Government funding can be and how limited resources might best be spent.

Lola Kenya Screen founder and director Ogova Ondego made the presentation on this audiovisual media initiative for children and youth in eastern Africa.

The 3rd Lola Kenya Screen, that ran August 11-16, 2008, equipped 10 children with filmmaking skills, three with programme presentation skills, seven with cultural journalism skills, and six with analytical skills with which to critically appreciate creativity.

While five short animations were made by the children, six child-friendly documentaries were made by practising filmmakers during Lola Kenya Screen 2008.

More than 300 films from 56 nations were screened at the Kenya National Theatre, Alliance Francaise and in select video halls in the Kibera informal residential neighbourhood in Nairobi. Presented by ComMattersKenya in conjunction with Goethe-Institut, Lola Kenya Screen 2008 was supported by Africalia of Belgium and the Jan Vrijman Fund/IDFA of Holland.

But perhaps the greatest honour to Lola Kenya Screen was in Little Knowledge is Dangerous, a production made by children in 2007 winning the grand prize at the Kids For Kids competition in Nairobi in August after winning a special jury prize at Jugend Medien Festival Berlin in Germany three months earlier. The films continue on the festival circuit around the world.

The 1st Broadcast & Film Africa Conference, on the theme ‘Broadcast & Film Convergence in the Digital Age’, ran at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi CBD September 23-25, 2008.

Among the organisations that Lola Kenya Screen participated alongside included African Broadcast Network, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya Film Commission, Nation TV, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, GTV, Ghana Telecom (IP-TV), Wide Net, African Telecoms, Media and Technology Fund, Hi-TV, Trend TV, Sonatel Multimedia (VoD TV), Big Ideas Entertainment, Mediae, Discop, Multichoice, Setanta Africa, MTV Networks Africa, Al Jazeera Network, Voice of America, A24 Media, Scopus Video Networks, MediaMerx, BT Media and Broadcast, Globecast, Kenya Data Networks, Broadcast Solutions Inernational, Adobe, Saracen Media, Steadman Group, Southern Africa Direct, Zanzibar International Film Festival, Africalia, UK Film Council, Altech UEC, Canis Media, Southern African Media Development Fund, Standard Group, Skyfire Group, Google, Rwanda TV, Broadcast TV and Film Training Centre, Nigeria Radio, Rancard Solutions, Mobile Planet, Television for the Environment, SuperSport Africa, Digital Development Communications, Earthly Creations, AdGroup, Kass FM, Film Corporation of Kenya, Metro TV, TV3, Joy FM, GT-One Touch, SABC, CTV Tanzania, African Films and Music, Gambia Radio and Television Services, and Multimedia Broadcasting.

The next edition of the annual Lola Kenya Screen is scheduled for August 10-15, 2009.More information on the initiative is available on lolakenyascreen.org, lolakenyascreen.or.ke and artmatters.info websites.

Lola Kenya Screen has added to eastern Africa’s creative and cultural spectrum — 31 child filmmakers, 14 journalists, 13 film judges, 7 MCs, 15 producers of television drama for children and youth, and 6 producers of documentary films for children and youth.

The Third Lola Kenya Screen (August 11-16, 2008), attracted participation from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Germany, Belgium and Holland. All participants came in to watch the wide variety of films from 56 nations and to be equipped with skills for making films, appreciating and judging audiovisual media production, presenting programmes and filing daily reports on the festival.

Established in October 2005 as a movement that uses appropriate and available technologies to deliver audiovisual media content that complements, enhances, entertains and promotes learning among the generation of today and tomorrow — children and youth — in the promotion of literacy, gender equity, independent thought, human rights, environmental responsibility and global health.

Through her programmes, Lola Kenya Screen explores, identifies and nurtures creative talent among children and youth in areas such as journalism, filmmaking, arts appraisal and appreciation, and organisation and presentation of cultural and creative events. This is aimed at equipping children and youth with the skills to understand, appreciate, and create quality audiovisual productions in particular and arts in general.

Lola Kenya Screen places production tools in the hands of children and youth for the advancement of literacy, gender equity, self expression, and democracy in their world through her production workshop, film exhibition, and audiovisual media platform for marketing, promoting and distributing films.

While the Festival Press is aimed at uplifting the standards of creative and cultural journalism in eastern Africa, the Production Workshop empowers children and youth to make at least five quality, low-budget, moving images per year. In 2008, this programme was made possible with the support of Africalia of Belgium.

Out of the recognition that unless adults are sensitised into creating for and with children, the aim of putting children and youth on the public agenda could become a cropper, Lola Kenya Screen 2008 also worked with practising filmmakers in the production of documentaries for children and youth. This was made possible with the support of the Jan Vrijman Fund/IDFA of The Netherlands.

Programme Presentation, as the title suggest, empowers children and youth to organise and present events and programmes. Such children are usually in charge of the programme during the six days of the festival.

The Film Jury, on the other hand, seeks to inculcate in participants skills with which to critically appreciate and appraise creativity in general and film in particular. The jury members watch and award films in competition. The official Lola Kenya Screen Jury consists only of children and youth.

At the end of the six-day festival, HOPPET | LEAPS AND BOUNDS by Peter Naess — an 86-minute feature about two brothers who flee US-occupied Iraq of Sweden — beat a strong field of 24 well crafted, award-winning international films that competed in seven categories, to the coveted Lola Kenya Screen Golden Mboni Award.

Saying that HOPPET had spoken to their heart, the official jury, comprising four children from Kenya and Zimbabwe, described HOPPET as “hopeful. Despite their many struggles, the two boys finally achieve their goals and get to their final destination where they are re-united with their parents.”

SIRI RAJA SIRI | KING SIRI by Somaratne Dissanayake of Sri Lanka took the Silver Mboni.

RAJA SIRI RAJA, the jury noted, “is a funny, uncomplicated film about a village boy who overcomes the discouragement of poverty.” The star of the 88-minute film, 11-year-old Sirimal excels in his national examinations to join a star college in he city that other materially well off children can only dream about. Despite encountering lots of social and economic challenges, he succeeds.

SUBIRA by Kenya-based Ravneet Sippy Chadha stars a strong-willed 11-year-old girl who rebels against tradition to be as free as her brother who plays freely. It made away with the Bronze Mboni. The jury was impressed by the 12-minute film “about a Muslim girl fighting for her rights despite the tyranny of the conservative community she lives in.”

Giving the Best Documentary Award to JOURNEY OF A RED FRIDGE by Lucian Muntean and Natasa Stankovic of Serbia, the jury noted that it “shows us the life of many children in Nepal. It is about a 17-year-old boy who earns a living as a porter.”

MAX’S WORDS, a film by Galen Fott and Jerry Hunt got the Best Animation Film Award for what the jury described as “an inspirational and original film, with beautiful images. It is a truly surprising film!”

For “a film we found well-made in every aspect — story, sound and image,” the jury gave the Best Short Film Award to PORQUE HAY CASA QUE NUNCA SE OLVIDIAN | THERE ARE THINGS YOU NEVER FORGET by Lucas Figueroa. “The plot was humouristic and the end had a surprising twist that made us laugh.” This 13-minute film is set in Naples, Italy, in 1950. It shows boys exacting their revenge on for an unforgivable crime: The destruction of their football by a vengeful old woman.

HELLO SPRING, a lyrical and philosophical 7-minute film directed by Masoone Jafari of Iran grabbed the Most Experimental Film Award at a two-hour ceremony held at the Kenya National Theatre in the Nairobi central business district. “This film is a musical adventure with the message that we should not be obsessed with the way we look. We are perfect!”, the jury intoned.

The Child Rights Award went to QUAMAR | WORKING TO LIVE, a 24-minute film by Preeya Nair of India.

The jury said the film “shows the struggles of a girl being exploited by a shopkeeper where she works because she can’t count. She would like to go to school but her mother doesn’t think this is necessary for girls.”

For the second time since 2007 — when Films by Children for Children won the Grand Prize at the 5th World Summit on Media and Children/Kids for Kids Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa — a Lola Kenya Screen production took the Kids for Kids Africa prize at the 2nd Kids for Kids Africa held in the framework of the 3rd Lola Kenya Screen. The jury called it “a funny and educational film with a clear message that makes you just want to learn. It is a film for and by children.”

The film, LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS, was written, animated, shot, and directed by Samora Michelle, Adede Hawi NyOdero and Karama K Ogova during the 2nd Lola Kenya Screen film production workshop conducted by Maikki Kantola of Finland for Project Anima of Denmark in 2007.

Some eight films from Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe were in the 2nd Kids for Kids Africa Competition. They were UNCOVERING SECRETS OF THE WORLD by Mia Dupper of South Africa (2008); INGWAZI JIVE by Abigal Mlotshwa; FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY by Tinashe Maravanyika; NDAIFARA by Mercy Mafudze and Craig Kimu; OH MAMA by Thelma Maduma of Zimbabwe (made under the Postcards from Zimbabwe compilation [2006]); LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS DANGEROUS by Adede NyOdero, Samora Michelle, and Karama Ogova; MANANI OGRES by Joseph Hongo, Marcus Joseph, Norrick Joseph, and Samuel Musembi; and THE WISE BRIDE by Alexandria Ngini, Aysha Satchu and Layla Satchu (2007).

Some of the resource people at Lola Kenya Screen 2008 were Signe Zeilich-Jensen, Duco Tellegen, and Meike Statema (Holland), Eid Abdel Latif (Egypt), and Florence Sipalla (Kenya).

Lola Kenya Screen 2008, held on the theme of “Peace-Building for a Sustainable Future”, attracted some of the best possible films for children and youth in the world from 56 nations.

Lola Kenya Screen accepts and showcases a film only if its content is creative and demonstrates artistic and technical mastery, speaks positively to children of diverse backgrounds and cultures and provides strong role models for both boys and girls.

Additionally, such a film is expected to be child-driven and the stories culturally authentic, timely, and of universal appeal.

Films and videos submitted to Lola Kenya Screen are made by, with and for children and youth rather than about children and youth.

The theme of Lola Kenya Screen 2008 was Peace-Building for a Just and Sustainable Future out of the realisation that tension and conflict are inevitable in healthy human relationships but that they need not result in the wanton destruction of life, property and livelihood.

Presented by ComMattersKenya in collaboration with Goethe-Institut in Kenya, Lola Kenya Screen 2008 was supported by Africalia of Belgium, and the Jan Vrijman Fund/IDFA of The Netherlands.

The next edition of Lola Kenya Screen, the fourth one, will run in Nairobi, Kenya, 2009 August 10-15. [ArtMatters.info]