African Film Series showcases diversity

For many people, when they think about cinema, they tend to neglect films that are not multi-million-dollar Hollywood blockbusters. Included in this negligence are many films from outside the U.S., including the African film community.\nIn collaboration with the Summer Cooperative African Language Institute at IU, the Buskirk-Chumley is helping to shed some light on the thriving and vivacious but little-known African film community. \nThe ongoing African Film Series presented by the Buskirk-Chumley features contemporary films from Chad, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. The genres of the films include documentaries, dramas and fairy tales, and display the diversity of African film.\nThe idea for the film series was proposed to the Buskirk-Chumley by the associate director of the African Studies Program at IU, Maria Grosz-Ngate. \nGrosz-Ngate proposed the idea because of the ongoing Summer Cooperative African Language Institute she said. \n"One goal of the film series is to showcase the various African languages that are being taught in the language institute," Grosz-Ngate stated. \n"We also wanted to show the diversity of the African continent through the eyes of Africans focusing on the issues that they consider important," Grosz-Ngate continued. \nGrosz-Ngate said she believes that the film series is also important in that it highlights the lively African film community that perhaps isn't so well-known. \n"Some people aren't aware that Africans have been making fantastic films and different types of films with different perspectives that showcase the diversity of African film production," Grosz-Ngate said.\nGrosz-Ngate also said she is delighted that the Buskirk-Chumley was so enthusiastic about the idea, and agreed to show the film series, because it allows the community in general, not just the students, to see the films.\nIn the first year of the series, Suzanne Strick, marketing director at the Buskirk-Chumley, said she is very pleased with the turnout for the films.\n"We're consistently having over 100 people at each screening. It's been a very positive atmosphere," Strick said. \nThe African Film Series began on June 28, and continues until August 2, with showings every Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Tickets are $5 per showing or $20 for the entire series. \nThe series continues July 19 with "Fathers," a film featuring three short films from Tanzania, Nigeria and Ethiopia that examines the relationships between fathers and their children in contemporary Africa. The films of "Fathers" are directed by Celine Gilbert, Ermias Woldeamlak and Amaka Igwe.