UNICEF-supported African directors’ films lend an artist’s view on child survival in Africa[Français]
Dakar, Senegal, 17 December 2008 – As part of the African continent-wide efforts to help countries accelerate progress on child survival in Africa, UNICEF has commissioned a series of seven signature films by African filmmakers. “The idea of using African ‘auteur’ filmmakers was to dramatize and popularize issues of child survival, engaging both political and social leadership and the public in countries around the issues and the need for progress”, says Martin Dawes, Head of Communication at UNICEF’s West and Central Africa Regional office. Produced by Television for the Environment (TVE), an independent non-profit organization, in collaboration with UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) and UNICEF East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), the films of the “UNICEF African Film Initiative” were filmed on location in Benin, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria and South Africa and are available in English and French and in local and national languages. The seven short features were conceived as artist views of issues and are the work of six renowned African film directors spread across the sub-Saharan region. “The idea behind the films was to illustrate the issues relevant to child survival in both documentary and dramatic fashion to reach the widest possible audience around the continent”, adds Martin Dawes. The films can be viewed, in English and French, at http://unicefafricafilms.blip.tv/ About UNICEF Africa Film Initiatives The finished documentary, as well as the six 15 minute films have been versioned into local and national languages by the 15 Partners in TVE’s Africa Partner Network (APN). APN Partners reach out to audiences within their own countries through their relationships with local and national broadcasters, educational institutions, NGOs and community groups. There are APN Partners in Angola, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The films can be viewed in French and English at http://unicefafricafilms.blip.tv/ About Television for the Environment – http://www.tve.org UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For further information, please contact: For more information on distribution, please contact:
African Films Initiative Conceived by renowned African filmmakers from across the continent, filmed on location in Benin, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria and South Africa, these dramas and documentaries lend an artist’s view to the work undertaken to help countries accelerate progress on child survival across Africa. Ca va aller (en français) La Journée du partage (en français) Survivre à tout prix (en français) Sans Abri (en français) La vie au ralenti (en français) "...et la lettre que les enfants ont envoyée Die..." (en français) |
