AfriDocs - Sub-Saharan Africa Broadcast Presents: #RealStories – From The Headlines To Your Screen

AfriDocs delivers yet another powerful month of #REALSTORIES pulled straight from the headlines. With films that uncover the human reality behind many of the news events that we take at face value, AfriDocs in November honors a diversity of activists and their stories of bravery and the on-going struggle for justice and human rights.

Films include the Academy Award winning CITIZENFOUR, the real life thriller about the infamous Edward Snowden, In the Shadow of the Sun that follows Josephat, a courageous activist in Tanzania as he campaigns against anti-albino discrimination and attacks, and two new short films from Lesotho, The Man in Me and Sketchaz and Her Friends, that showcase young people as they bravely expose issues of sexuality and transgender to their communities.

AfriDocs weekly documentary strand flights on [ED] DStv Channel 190 and GOtv Channel 65 on Thursdays starting at 19:55pm Central African Time and repeats on Sundays, for full schedules and details visit www.afridocs.net .

5 November
Mama Africa | Mika Kaurismäki | South Africa, Germany, Finland | 2011 | 90 min

An unforgettable portrait of Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), the world-famous South African artist and civil rights activist, who devoted her life to promoting peace and justice and fighting racism around the planet. Her music and daily practice incarnated the hopes and fears of Africa through the convulsive 20th century.

* Audience Award - Berlin International Film Festival 2011

AfriPedia: South Africa | Teddy Goitom, Benjamin Taft & Senay Berhe | South Africa | 2014 | 28 min

Twenty years after liberation, Afripedia: South Africa portrays a diverse new generation that is helping redefine the legacy of the post-apartheid Rainbow Nation

12 November
The Land Between | David Fedele | Moroco | 2014 | 59 min

The Land Between offers an intimate insight into the hidden and desperate lives of Sub-Saharan African migrants living in the mountains of northern Morocco. For most, their dream is to enter Europe by jumping a highly-militarized barrier into Melilla, a Spanish enclave on the African continent.

* Best Film - Naples Human Rights Film Festival 2014

Barcelona or Die | Idrissa Guiro | Senegal | 2008 | 52 min

Thiaroye isn’t a peaceful fisherman’s village anymore. It’s from here that people first organized illegal boat departures from Senegal. Most fishermen want to leave. It seems there isn’t enough fish left to feed the families.

* Prix Louis Marcorelles - Cinéma du Réel 2008

19 November
CITIZENFOUR | Laura Poitras | USA | 2014 | 114 min

CITIZENFOUR is a real life thriller, unfolding by the minute, giving audiences unprecedented access to filmmaker Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald’s encounters with Edward Snowden in Hong Kong, as he hands over classified documents providing evidence of mass indiscriminate and illegal invasions of privacy by the National Security Agency (NSA).

* Best Documentary Feature - Academy Awards 2015
26 November
In the Shadow of the Sun | Harry Freeland | 2012 | 84 min

In Tanzania, witch doctors still propagate the belief that the body parts of albino people will bring wealth and good fortune. Against the background of a series of brutal murders of albinos, two albino men fight for their rights: Josephat has spent most of his life campaigning against anti-albino discrimination and confronting communities with their murderous deeds, and fifteen-year-old Vedastus is smart and creative, but his poor eyesight is an obstacle to academic progress. Now he is desperately hoping for a new chance at a special school. Harry Freeland’s film reveals a story of deep-rooted superstition, suffering and incredible strength.

* Media Award Best Documentary - One World 2013
The Man in Me | Steps | Lesotho | 2015 | 15 min

Sheriff, a transgender person, discloses to the grandmother and a local pastor. Sheriff is asking questions while challenging traditional and religious norms.

Sketchaz and Her Friends | Steps | Lesotho | 2015 | 12 min

Rethabile/”Sketchaz”, whom everyone thinks is lesbian, is a confident young woman. She shows her vulnerability when she takes the decision to disclose her bisexuality to her friends.

AfriDocs screens every THURSDAY at 19:55 Central African time (GMT + 2) on [ED] DStv Channel 190 & GOtv Channel 65 across sub-Saharan Africa. Repeats on Sundays – www.afridocs.net or www.facebook.com/AfriDocs

You can also follow AfriDocs on twitter: @Afri_Docs