Teza: The best film

The Ethiopian film "Teza" won three special prizes during the 21st pan-African Cinema and Television Festival (FESPACO), the brightest of African scenarios, according to information monitored here.

The Ethiopian film "Teza" by director Haile Gerima took the Golden Stallion of Yennenga on Saturday for best film at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival.
It deals with big themes -- emigration, return, dictatorship, racism, war and the position of women -- without getting preachy.

Gerima was not present in Ouagadougou to collect the award, so his sister Selome Gerima, who co-produced the film, accepted it on his behalf.

Speaking to AFP on Friday, she said she and her brother had worked 14 years to bring the epic story to the screen.

"When Haile does a film he is very serious. He does very broad research. Then, after the shoot, he edits himself and creates his own soundtrack," she explained.

The film premiered in Ethiopia on January 3 to sold-out audiences and is still drawing in the crowds. There has been an emotional response to the story, she explained.

"It is a very sensitive film and it makes you remember what it was like (under Megistu). Many people have forgotten but when they see the film they remember. When we show the film people come up to us afterwards to tell us, 'I've lost my brother' and so on," Gerima said.

The awards ceremony marked the official closing of the 21st edition of Africa's biggest film festival also known as FESPACO.

The second-place Silver Stallion went to South-Africa's John Kani for "Nothing but the Truth". Adapted from a play, it explores a librarian's experiences with racism in South Africa during and after the apartheid era.

The Bronze Stallion went to audience favourite "Mascarades" (Masquerades), an Algerian comedy about a boy who invents an imaginary rich suitor for his narcoleptic sister.

Source: unknown

Teza in Ouagadougou

Ouagadougou prepares for Africa's Oscars

The jury of the bi-annual Pan-African Film and Television Festival in Ouagadougou, will announce on Saturday which film gets the coveted African Oscar, The Golden Stallion of Yennenga.

In all there are 19 films from Africa vying for FESPACO's top honour. Here is an overview of some of the movies tipped to win.

"Teza," Ethiopia 2008, directed by Haile Gerima - A frontrunner according to many, having already won a jury prize and a prize for best screenplay at the 2008 Venice Film Festival, Teza revolves around an idealistic scientist who returns to Ethiopia during the brutal 1970s-1980s regime of Haile Mariam Mengistu.

Beautifully filmed, "Teza" switches between present and past in a series of flashbacks between protagonists time studying in Germany in the 1970s, Ethiopia in the 1980s, and the present.

It deals with big themes: emigration, return, dictatorship, racism, war and the position of women without getting preachy.

Source: Ouagadougou

International Film Festival Rotterdam

The 39th International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) took place on early 2009. On 31 January, the audience awards at the International Film Festival Rotterdam were announced in the Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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“The Dioraphte Award for Hubert Bals Fund film held in highest regard went to the film Teza by the Ethiopian film maker Haile Gerima.

The KPN Audience Award went to Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle and co-director Loveleen Tandan.

The IFFR counted 341,000 visitors to the films, exhibitions, live shows and events, including the 8,000 film lovers who attend the fully booked Volkskrant day on Sunday 1 February 2009.

Teza by Haile Gerima was given the Dioraphte Award (€10,000) by the festival audience for the most highly regarded film made with a contribution from the Hubert Bals Fund.

Teza is an epic about the turbulent recent history of Ethiopia, seen from the perspective of a politically moderate intellectual who tries to maintain his integrity in barbaric conditions,” DearCinema Desk reported.


For the resent interview with Professor Gerima copy and past the following link:

http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/oneonone/2009/02/20092595828659594.html

Teza in Addis

A Negod-gwad and Pandora Film production, Teza, was premiered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on January 3rd, 2008.

Approximately, 1,260 people came to the opening day, which is full capacity at the National Theater. Among the attendee were many African Union dignitaries and other diplomats.

The movie will be showing at the National Theater for a month.

The movie so far has won more than ten awards in different international film festivals. Some of the awards include:

Venice Film Festival:
- Special Jury Prize
- Osella - Best Screenplay
- SIGNIS Award - Special Mention
- For Peace and the Richness of Diversity Award
- Leoncino d'oro Award 2008 (Agiscuola)
- Cinema for UNICEF commendation


Carthage/Tunisia Film Festival: (African Carthage Film Festival):
- Golden Tanit – Best Film Award for its "modesty and genius."
- Best Music
- Best Cinematography
- Best Scenario
- Best Image
- Best Editing
- Best Supporting Actor (Abeye Tedla).

Amiens/France International Film Festival France:
- Golden Unicorn
- Best Feature Film

Venezuela:
- Amazonia Award Films

Thessaloniki Film Festival in Greece:
- The Human Value’s Award

Dubai International Film Festival:
- Best Composer


The stars of the movie include Aaron Arefe, Abeye Tedla, Takelech Beyene, Teje Tesfahun, Nebiyu Baye, Mengistu Zelalem, Wuhib Bayu, Zenahbezu, Asrate Abrha, Araba Evelyn Johnston-Arthur, and Veronika Avraham.

According to Alissa Simon, the movie is set during the repressive regime of Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam. "Teza unfolds through the eyes of a German-educated intellectual who returns to his homeland full of idealism after the deposition of King Haile Selassie. Haile Gerima rewards the viewer's with a potent sense of Ethiopian history and culture.

Picture: (L-R) Guest, Author Yasmina Khadra, co-director of the Toronto Film Festival Cameron Bailey, musician Harry Belafonte, director Deepa Mehta and director Haile Gerima onstage during the Cultural Bridge Panel discussion on day three of The 5th Annual Dubai International Film Festival held at the Madinat Jumeriah Complex on December 13, 2008 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images.)

Haile Gerima's film "TeZa" wins yet another award!!!

Ethiopian film "Teza" scooped four main awards at Africa's Carthage Film Festival Saturday, including the coveted Golden Tanit for its "modesty and genius."

The film by Haile Gerima bagged the top prize on the last day of the festival in Tunisia, beating the Palestinian film "Leila's Birthday" and Tunisia's entry "Khamsa" to second and third place respectively.

"Teza" tells the story of an Ethiopian doctor at the height of the Cold War who comes back to his country from the West under the Marxist regime of Mengistu Haile Mariam in the 1970s.

The film also picked up awards for best scenario, best music and best supporting actor.

Other festival winners included "Yellow House" by Algerian director Amor Hakkar, while the Tanit of Honour went to Burkina Faso actor Sotigui Kouyate.

However, controversy struck the 22nd festival when the Syrian government intervened to ban the entry of a short film, "Zabad", by director Reem Ali about two of the country's former political prisoners.

The Carthage Film Festival, which showcases Arab and African films, is held every two years in the Tunisian capital. Tanit is a Phoenician lunar goddess, worshipped as the patron goddess at Carthage.

Source: www.france24.com

Teza

Ethiopian film explores nation's recent violent past

Tue 2 Sep 2008
Mike Collett-White

VENICE (Reuters) - A powerful new film chronicles the life of an Ethiopian intellectual who flees his country during the Marxist "red terror" in the 1980s, only to be viciously attacked in Germany by racist youths.

Anberber, the central character, returns to his homeland longing for peace, but life with his mother in a small village is disrupted by armed factions dragging boys away to fight and by prying locals wary of a man they consider to be an outsider.

"Teza", by Ethiopian director Haile Gerima, is one of 21 movies in competition at the Venice film festival, and warm applause after a press screening suggested it would be a contender for prizes at the closing ceremony on Saturday.

The story jumps between multiple timelines, but in each Anberber struggles to fit in, be it in his native Ethiopia or in exile in Germany.

Gerima said "Teza" reflected his own experiences, and was based on a recurring dream.
"The dream is basically about intellectual displacement," he told reporters in Venice on Tuesday.

"When I translated my dream it was about being displaced, unable to live up to your peasant life, your peasant family and at the same time reconcile (that) with your modern world."

Anberber seeks refuge in memories of his happy childhood, something U.S.-based Gerima said he also did whenever he returned to Ethiopia which he described as "a nightmare for me."

"Like Anberber in the film I like to drown (in) the past."
"I go to Ethiopia and I dream my past but the present is so powerful it continues to hijack my sentimental journey to my childhood. I think it's the idea that you want your childhood world to come back, I think that is universal."

"In Africa the luxury to remember memory is hijacked by daily violence, either silent violence or obvious violence."

DEATH AND DANGER

Some of the most striking scenes are set in the 1980s, with Ethiopia in the grip of purges, show trials, executions and mob lynchings under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam, who seized power in 1974 after Emperor Haile Selassie's overthrow.

Giant portraits of Marx, Engels and Lenin form the backdrop to the violence and fear, and Anberber's revolutionary fervour quickly turns to disillusionment as he realises what the regime means for himself and his country.

Actor Abeye Tedla, who plays Anberber's best friend and fellow idealist, recalled some of the horrors of that time which he lived through as a child.

"I've seen a few bodies when I was going to school and coming back. It wasn't uncommon."

"As you were walking by there would be a guard standing there so nobody removes the body. And if you look too closely ... the person would say 'Do you know this person?' And I mean literally you could get shot if the person suspected you."

He praised Gerima for what he said was a balanced portrayal of those times in Ethiopia.

"It (the story) just looks at what happens when people stop thinking constructively and start thinking destructively."

Source: http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL234537.html

Mrs. Shirikiana

"The co-producer of the highly acclaimed film Sankofa, Mrs. Shirikiana Aina has been dedicated to independent cinema for over fifteen years. She received a Masters Degree in African Film Studies from UCLA in 1982, and a B.A. in Film in 1980 from Howard University. After starting a family she returned to her alma mater to teach scriptwriting.

Aina is one of the founders of Positive Productions, Inc., a non-profit film company for independent filmmakers of color, and Mypheduh Films, Inc., a distribution company for African and African American films.

Aina also worked as a cinematographer on independent documentaries such as: Politics of African Cinema, On Becoming A Woman and Lois Mailu Jones: 50 Years of Painting. Her film directorial credits include, Brick by Brick, a documentary on urban displacement. Her latest work, Through The Door of No Return, is a documentary feature on the involvement of African Americans in Ghana from the time of Kwama Nkrumah to the present. independent films, by, for, and about people of African descent.

Filmography:
Through The Door of No Return (16mm/Docu./Color/1997)
Sankofa (35mm/Color/125 min./NR/1993)
*Brick by Brick (16mm/Color/Documentary/30 min./1982)

Lecture Topics:
Scriptwriting; Film Production; Directing; Distribution"

Source: www.blackfilmmakers.net

Haile Gerima

Professor Haile Gerima just completed his tenth move, Teza.¹

“The movie is produced as an ancient riddle,” Professor Gerima explained. Professor Haile extracted the name of the movie also from an ancient African riddle: “Seehade Agegnehuwat - Semeles AtaHuwat,” which means I found it when I was leaving - I lost it when I was returning.” The movie is a truly touching story told in artistically powerful way.

Teza is mainly produced by Negod Gwad² Production and is distributed by Mypheduh³ Films, Inc. Professor Haile Gerima has produced many more powerful movies: some of them include:

 Hour Glass in 1972,
 Child of Resistance in 1972,
 Mirt Sost Shi Amit (also known as Harvest: 3,000 Years) in 1975,
 Wilmington 10 -- U.S.A. 10,000 in 1979,
 Bush Mama in 1975,
 Ashes and Embers in 1982,
 After Winter: Sterling Brown in 1985,
 Sankofa, in 1993 and
 Adwa in in 1999.

The award winning movie producer, Haile Gerima, was born in Gondar, Ethiopia, on March 4th, 1946. He is the first and the best Ethiopian filmmaker. Professor Gerima’s father was a very successful warrior and Play writer and producer. Professor Haile came to the United States in 1968 and studied film production. At UCLA, he was an important member of the Los Angeles School of Black Film Makers.

He has been a professor of film at Howard University, since 1975. Professor Haile Gerima is married to an African American movie producer, Professor Shirikiana Aina Girima. They have five kids.

Professor Haile Gerima is a hardworking pan-African philosopher, activist, and movie producers. His cinematography is powerfully memorable.

Just as his personality, his works are very generous and truthful. All of Haile movies are well researched and well produced. His productions are historical and satisfying for the mind and soul.

Professor Haile has thought many people from the Washington, D.C. area as well as around the world. He gives lectures that help many film makers, actors/actresses, and musicians. Professor Gerima has received many awards and honors for his dedication to the truthful and zestful depiction of life.

His students attest to his positive influence in their work and life. For example, Nato, Haile’s student from Kenya said “Professor Haile thought me to tell my own history, which led me to a successful and fulfilling path.”

Professor Gerima and his wife own a movie and book store as well as a movie studio called Sankofa, which is a place where many conscious people come together. Sankofa carries books and videos by and for African descendents, which are products that can not be found elsewhere easily.

The place is located at:

2714 Georgia Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20001
PH: 202-234-4755
1-800-524-3895

http://sankofastore.com/catalog/homepage.php


Be on the look out for Teza at a theater near you.
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¹ The word Teza means - dew.
² The word Negod Gwad means - thunder.
³ The world Mypheduh is a Geez word, which means - archive.