PANEL: PICKING A PROTAGONIST - THE PERSONAL, THE PECULIAR AND THE (UN)POPULAR
Aula der KHM Ticketshop
Documentaries have always carried a notion of ‘truth’ in their format. Films that show us the ‘real’ albeit manufactured through perspectives of the filmmakers and buoyed by an agenda however observational the film may be. These perspectives are told through the eyes and/or voice of a protagonist. Who are they? How are they involved in the film? Documentary filmmakers are tasked with finding the most compelling characters to tell their story, sometimes this may be the filmmaker themselves. Where do we draw the line in truth versus fiction when picking a protagonist? What are the boundaries of representation?
Language: English
Cooperation: Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln, Kiosk Arts Exchange e. V. & DW Akademie
Guests
Amil Shivji lives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he works as a filmmaker and producer. His production company, Kijiweni Productions, focuses on telling local stories. Neo-colonialism and cultural and political imperialism are at the heart of his work. This year he curated again for the AFFK.
Nada Riyadh is an Egyptian filmmaker. Her debut feature documentary film, HAPPILY EVER AFTER, which she directed with Ayman El Amir, premiered at IDFA 2016. Her short fiction film, THE TRAP, was selected for the official competition of La Semaine de la Critique, Cannes Film Festival 2019. She is an alumnus of various international film programs including Cannes’ La Fabrique, Next Step Program, La Semaine de la Critique, Berlinale talents, American Film Showcase and Film Independent.
Zippy Kimundu is an award-winning Kenyan Filmmaker who has been working in the industry for over a decade. She holds a Masters in Fine Arts from New York University and has worked globally in over 20 countries as a Producer, Director and Editor. Among other notable films, Zippy co-wrote and co-directed the Documentary, “A FORK, A SPOON & A KNIGHT” with renowned Director Mira Nair. She is also a film Educator at illtellyoumystory.com and the founder of afrofilmsinternational.com, a creative collective working to ignite political consciousness, and action, across continents. She co-directed and co-produced the documentary OUR LAND, OUR FREEDOM.
Hassan Zaroug is a producer, director, and co-founder of Compass Creative Productions, a Sudanese production house based in Rwanda. He has an International scriptwriting and production Master’s from the University of Cattolica. During his long career in film, Hassan produced and directed several documentaries for NGOs such as UNICEF, SAIHA (Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa), IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance), Al Jazeera Documentary. He also directed and produced Alduroob, a musical operetta and documentary film. At the AFFK he presents the mini-series CONFERENCE 27, which he shot and produced in Berlin.