The two-day event, starting on April 2, 2021, will showcase a variety of talented animation filmmakers from around the globe.
The Kwetu International Animation Film Festival (KIAFF) is a new arrival on the African festival landscape. The first edition of this East African based festival is scheduled to take place from April 2-3 with 50 animation works from around the world.
KIAFF will showcase animation films, including features (longer than 45 minutes), shorts, TV commercials and films made by African animators. The awards will be presented by the jury that includes Professor Martin Mhando (Tanzania), Fred Lyons (Australia) and Fibby Kioria (Kenya) on Monday, April 5 on Zoom.
The festival also includes a workshop from April 1-3, Writing for Animation taught by Anaeli Kihunrwa from MediaOne. In future editions, KIAFF will organise forums as well as an exhibition and conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The theme for the inaugural edition of KIAFF is Between Art and Reality. The festival will run online via KIAFF partner, NuellaTV and films will be free to watch for those in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan).
Speaking about the film festival, Daniel Nyalusi, Festival Founder and Director, said: “Technology has changed and now it allows for animation filmmakers to make more films also there is a need for more initiatives in East Africa that helps/pushes animators to produce more films. Animation films have been loved and still loved by children and family hence its audience is permanent so filmmakers must be more creative and feed the market. Kwetu International Animation Film Festival (KIAFF) will be the platform and the only place that will bring together animation filmmakers and stakeholders including the corporate companies that use animation for advertisement. KIAFF will be organised every year in April and along with training workshops throughout the year. KIAFF aims to become the centre and the hub of the animation film industry in East Africa.”
This festival is created for the public to socialize and also developed into a place of intercultural exchange and a platform for the critical animated cinematic exploration of social and development issues. KIAFF will accompany animation filmmakers on their path into the spotlight and support their careers, visions, projects, dreams and works.
