Accès Cinéma Africain - African Film Access

Montreal African Film Festivals 20th Anniversary a Great Place to See the Latest Films from Francophone Africa and the Caribbean and Meet the Directors

(PRWEB) February 15, 2004 --Accès Cinéma Africain - African Film Access
April 15-19, 2004.

Montreal African Film Festivals 20th Anniversary a Great Place to See the Latest Films from Francophone Africa and the Caribbean and Meet the Directors.

Whether you are interested in improving your French fluency or you want to deepen your knowledge of Francophone Africa and the Caribbean, Penobscot School's spring workshop in Montreal might be just right for you. You will see the latest documentary and fiction films produced in Africa and the Caribbean and meet people from here and around the Francophone world while you brush up your French language skills. The French language and cinema immersion is a collaboration between Penobscot School and Vues d'Afrique, North America's largest African film festival. In 2004, Vues d'Afrique celebrates its 20th anniversary with a special tribute to filmmakers of Burkina Faso and a nod to Haiti, now commemorating 200 years of independence.

From the opening ceremonies, workshop participants will be immersed in French language through film, French classes and discussions with the filmmakers. According to program co-director, Julia Schulz, "the festival is a fantastic learning environment--with French speakers from over 20 countries coming together to talk about traditional and contemporary society in Africa and the French Caribbean--all in multicultural Montreal."

Many of the directors will be present at the festival and will participate in the French-immersion workshop. Schulz describes the schedule: "We watch a film in the evening and get together the next morning for French language class followed by a discussion with the film's director. The festival atmosphere is informal and very conducive to practicing French conversation." Schulz notes that the films are either in French or in other languages with French sub-titles.

". . . .Strong views and deep emotions also surfaced during our discussions the next day. . . So much of what I felt I couldn't express in French. But that's why such immersion trips are good motivators, Schulz said. 'Trying to bring together your language and your emotions is the essence of it--it's why we do it.'" -Stacy Teicher, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor, in a May 28, 2003 article.

The workshop runs from April 15 to 19. It is open to adults with at least an intermediate level of French. The basic rate of $450 includes: orientation and inaugural reception; lodging for 4 nights; tickets to "Soirée d'Ouverture;" daily French classes; daily meetings and discussions with filmmakers; informal post-film discussions; and all French course, festival and city orientation materials

The registration deadline is March 26, 2004. Additional information and an application form are available on line at www.cinema-africain.org or by contacting Julia Schulz, Penobscot School, 28 Gay Street, Rockland, Maine 04841 USA; tel.: (207) 594-1084; fax: (207) 594-1067 or julia@cinema-africain.org

###

Photo Caption:
Senegalese-French actress Fatou N'Diaye, star of Africa's first
musical-comedy film "Nha Fala" (My Voice), was a featured speaker in
the 2003 edition of Penobscot School's African Film Access French
immersion in Montreal.