REVIEW OF THE ECRAN NOIRS FILM FESTIVAL

The Ecran Noir Film Festival 2010 took place in Yaoundé from May 29th to June 5th. Attended by a diverse crowd, the culture and arts connoisseur himself Mr Tito Valery brought DC his review.

Happy Reading!

The theme capping this 14th edition was “Cinema and literature”, capital points and an indispensable role that serves as compasses to a good movie. This is interesting, especially if you recall the scriptwriter’s strike in Hollywood and its impact on the whole soap and Sci-fi cuts-rail. A good scenario would most probably make a great flick but you don’t want to have pale actors. Bassek himself directing “le silence de la forest” in the late nineties had a good cast but a sure better scenario. If you can, check out the film as I won’t be revealing any details. BBK as he is normally called by his close cast members is a man of literature.

Calyxthe Beyala’s document on the Cameroonian Afro-Parisian jazz artist, Manu Dibango was the movie screening on the opening ceremony on the 29th of May at the Ongola Congress hall. The tradition of “l’amour and le chic” met once again as the red carpet walk saw some of Cameroon’s finest under one roof. Soccer stars such as Pagal, Makanaki and Djemba Djemba stopped for a pose. Representing on the Hip hop and soul front were stars such as the very stormy Valsero and the gracious Corry Deguemo, the female singer of the urban-afro-funk band Macase. Professors, actors, doctors, directors and young dynamic and urban-chic entrepreneurs also represented. Basically, everybody who was somebody was there!

The photographers’ Association handled the paparazzi effect with their black suits and bow-ties which I particularly liked. As if these weren’t enough to change even the shiest ones into Marylyn Monroes and James Deans, the show’s red carpet event aired live on three local television stations.

During the festival, the stage glowed “au village”. The Assiko dance, the traditional initiative dance from the coastal Bassa area, a trippy rhythm built by metal collisions on empty glass bottle xylophones was executed by the artist called “danger-solo”. Avaghys also took over the stage in reggae style with his Afro-reggae Bantu root concept. There was also spoken word by the artist “stone” who dropped a slam to shut the stage down.

After one week of education and entertainment, it is clear that Africa still has not forgotten how to tell its stories. Some more to go! Cut! Now that’s when you say "it’s a wrap!”


Jean Piere Bekolo Obama & Bassek Ba Khobio

Tito & a participant

Let's move from one way of expression to another and just say Go Ghana Go this evening!!

Stay sweet

Dulce

xxx