1.

Message from the founding president (Juliet)

2. Message from the festival producer (Mariella)

3. Full festival schedule

4. Map of festival

5. Film Screenings

6. Opening + closing

7. Jamestown cafe program

8. Music concert Sandbox

9. Workshops

10. Panel session

11. C3 market

12. Gala awards

14. SOLLO 7

15. Advisory board members

16. Film screening schedule for Silverbird

17. Film screening

18. Films with Synopsis

19. Yaa Asantewa Awards + Award

20. Meet the team

21. Volunteers section

22. Whole page of picture of president

23. First Lady

24. Festival Patron

25. Partners and Sponsors

 Message from the Founding President
The Black Star International Film Festival is here again and we are
so excited to announce this year’s line up. Let me take the
opportunity to congratulate all the films that made it through into
the festival this year. The festival received submissions from over
50 countries this year with hundreds of films submitted.
Narrowing down to 32 films from 19 countries was no easy task
for the jury, but we are very excited about the diversity of the line-
up we have, and the general themes many independent films
seem to be focusing on.

As an African and as a Black person living in today’s world, I can

appreciate the importance of pushing through conversations,
but nonetheless, conversations that need to happen. We have
seen a lot happen around the globe in the last year. Many stories
that almost begged the telling and filmmakers all over the world
have risen to the challenge.

I can also appreciate the importance of telling stories that are

closer to home. The world is open to hearing fresh voices and
personal voices. This year was full of films that broke boundaries;
doing just that and proving to the world that, not only can we tell
these stories, but we can also make good money from telling
them.

I am pleased to announce the introduction of a new category

for the festival this year. Based on the theme ‘film as a tool for
national development’; this is a category that highlights
filmmakers that use the powerful tool of the camera to shine the
needed lights on social conversations and dynamics. We are
particularly intrigued with the profile of the films themselves and
the stories they focus on. We anticipate the conversations that
will arise from these socially conscious endeavors

In similar vain, the Yaa Asantewa Awards, looks to encourage

filmmakers to use their award money to start a project that has
social dimensions to it, with particular focus on the SDGs. We are
excited to see how this award money will help define this path for
not only the winning filmmakers, but also everyone that made it
into the festival. For, you are all winners.

To the African films, especially the Ghanaian films; for those that
got selected, you stood out, despite a very challenging year.
We believe that this is the time for African filmmakers to take a big
leap and you sure did! We are increasingly excited about the
potential growth of African Cinema and the unique voice this will
open up to the world. The world is ready and needs to hear the
African Voice in the cinema space in a big way. We are very
pleased to be helping to make that happen.
JULIET YAA ASANTEWA ASANTE There is also the special screening category introduced this
CEO/Founding President year, with two major films that highlight the year’s theme as well.
We hope you enjoy them.

Our advocacy work has also seen some good progress this year. We look forward to some big announcements around our major advocacy focus for the
year. In partnership with the BUSAC Fund, we work to facilitate stakeholder engagements and progress and advocate for policy interventions critical to the
local sector and that of the continent.

There are two quotes from the 2018 Sundance film festival that stuck with me:

Robert Redford, President and Founder of Sundance Institute, said, “The work of independent storytellers can challenge and possibly change culture,
illuminating our world’s imperfections and possibilities…’

Keri Putnam, Executive Director of Sundance Institute, said this about their selection for the year, “These stories might inspire or move us, even occasionally
make us uncomfortable – but they can shift our perspectives, spark conversation and create change.”

We believe that we can share those same sentiments!

Take time to enjoy the great new additions to the festival this year. Some great workshops to look out for, a film market, a music concert and many more fun
things to engage with.

We say thank you to all our sponsors and we look forward to meeting both new and old audiences from around the world.

The Black Star International Film Festival is the key event of the Black Star International Film Institute. We are focused on the business of film, industry advocacy
and facilitating global connections through film, as well as connecting the world to African Cinema.

Let’s have a great festival year!

Founding President
Black Star International Film Institute | Festival
Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante
 Message from the Festival Producer

a ri e ll a Mo styn W illiams
M ducer
Festival pro

Akwaba! It is with excitement that I welcome you to the third edition of Black Star International Film Festival.

Arriving in Accra in January, having never visited West Africa before, I made it my mission to learn why a film
festival existed in a country with only three cinemas. Through curiosity and sometimes prying, I began to view
the full picture. Ghana was not a country devoid of film culture, Ghana had simply been on pause and was
gathering the energy to press the play button once again.

The abandoned cinemas, now churches, were once buzzing social hubs. Cinema was not just for the urbanites
but film reached every corner of the country. Film vans would drive to rural communities as far as the Burkina
border screening films. Film has, and always been an integral part of Ghanaian culture, just as much as kenke
or fufu!

BSIFF plays a crucial role in reigniting the spark in the Ghanaian film industry. Film Festivals are key to
developing film industries. They provide access to international content which serves as inspiration, they
provide a platform for industry players to form local and international connections and, most importantly, they
plant film back into communities.

I encourage you to watch as many films as you can. We are lucky to have 6 diverse awards this year: Best
Documentary, Best Film, Best Feature, Best Animation, Africa Rising and Women in film. These categories have
welcomed submissions from 6/7 continents from Brazil to Kazakhstan. BSIFF is a unique opportunity for you to see
such a strong variety of world-class films here in Accra. We have events for all the family alongside our film
screenings, educative kids workshops, engaging panel discussions for professionals, an open air cinema,
music concert, creative content market... take a look at the schedule to make sure you can sample the wide
variety that BSIFF 2018 offers. We are incredibly thankful to our partners ArchiAfrika, Untamed Empire, VEXPO
and Jam Jar for facilitating such a wide variety of events.

I'd like to thank my events team: Nasiba, Joy and Desmond for all their endeavour and dedication to the
festival this year, BSIFF 2018 would not be here without them. I'd also like to thank my colleagues for all their hard
work and Juliet for her steadfast guidance, it's been a real pleasure to create this festival with them.

#Accrayouraugust with BSIFF!

Mariella
 MESSAGE FROM BUSAC
From the very beginning in 2015, BSIFF was meant to bridge the gap between Ghanaian and
International film producers to exchange experiences, and also bring Ghana not only to the
African film industry map but also to place Ghana film industry Globally.
The BUSAC Fund believed that BSIFF also had the potential to become an advocacy platform
to address policy issues for the film industry in Ghana.
Presently, Nigeria and South Africa are nations where the film industry is a strong source of
employment and revenue. Both countries have made significant strides by passing friendly
policies that attracted a lot of co-productions and investments to the film industry. In this
respect, Ghana has a lot to learn from these countries in improving on the existing policies to
make it attractive for the Ghanaian film industry to develop and be a source of National Pride
The success of the BSIFF Festival has led to the general acceptance of the Film festival to serve
the purpose of addressing advocacy issues crucial for the film industry in enhancing the
creative arts business environment. We have seen the ministries of Tourism and creative arts, the
Ministry for Trade and industry and the Ministry of Finance showing strong interest in engaging
with BSIFF.
With support from the BUSAC Fund, BSIFF is on its way to achieving its key goal of making Ghana
a film hub and also an attractive industry for both local and foreign investors.
The BUSAC Fund successfully supported BSIFF in its advocacy action to have Ghanaian
Embassies Worldwide showing Ghanaian movies. As a result of this advocacy action, a policy
NICOLAS GEBARA that will mandate all Ghanaian embassies to show Ghanaian films to audiences globally as a
FUND MANAGER way of connecting, engaging and opening up interests to the country is being developed.
Like BSIFF, the BUSAC fund is of the view this step being taken by the stakeholders will create an avenue for engagement and ensure an opportunity for global
communities to connect with Ghana culture and appreciate the Ghanaian art, music, and literature. This of course will create an opportunity for investment into
the Ghanaian film industry.
Presently, BSIFF has initiated dialogue sessions with key film industry players, on how best to develop policies to promote the Ghanaian film industry both in and
outside Ghana. The overall goal of the PPD initiative is to work with the relevant Stakeholders to identify and address the gaps within the film industry and then
come up with innovative and sustainable solutions to address the identified challenges.
As a Fund we have a number of expectations from the policy dialogue between BSIFF and private sector stakeholders:
BSIFF is to identify challenges in the Ghanaian film industry and work together with the stakeholders to address them;
BSIFF is to identify global best practices that can be applied in Ghana that create a conducive environment for the film industry.
Public and private stakeholders are to integrate those global practices in a number of policies by the Government of Ghana
To jointly have the private and Public sectors promoting the film industry not only in Ghana but also in Africa and Globally
Therefore we commend BSIFF to continue striving to use business advocacy as a medium for dialoguing with relevant public sector agencies to help address
the challenges adversely affecting the growth and development of the Ghanaian film industry; and we will continue to encourage the BSIFF organizers to use
this approach in the years ahead.
The BUSAC Fund congratulates H.E, the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his administration for the continuous support and eagerness to work with
BSIFF in promoting the Ghanaian film industry and creating a conducive business environment for investors to participate in the Ghanaian film sector.
It is a pleasure to see how responsive your administration is to the innovative ideas being brought forth by BSIFF. Your team's active participation in various policy
dialogues on how best to improve the film industry is commendable and we hope that the continuous dialogue platform being established will end up putting
the Ghana film industry on the international scene.
On behalf of our development partners - Danida, USAID and the EU, the BUSAC Fund wishes you all a successful evening.

EVERYTHING (+233) 0262989479

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movies, documentaries, adverts, shorts, events
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info@eagleproductionslimited.com
www.eagleproductionslimited.com
 OPENING | CLOSING
FILM CEREMONY
OPENING CEREMONY ClOSING CEREMONY
We look forward to kicking off BSIFF 2018 with our
opening ceremony at Silverbird Cinemas, Accra Mall
and with introductions from our festival Founder,
producer and attending dignitaries. We will show
our two opening film; YARDIE, a 2018 British crime
drama directed by Iddris Elba, and Spike Lee's
latest release, BlacKkKlansman, a 2018 American
biographical crime film.
After the screening we will have a Q&A session to
highlight key interests in both of the films

A man's quest for retribu on brings him into

conflict with a vicious London gangster.

KSM
CLOSING CEREMONY MC
We are happy to have Kwaku Sintim-Misa as
our host. Popularly known as KSM, is a
world class Ghanaian Actor, Director, Talk
Show Host and an Author. His popular show
“Thank God it's Friday' (TGIF); now the KSM
Show, was the first broadcast of its kind to
fuse serious talk, education and humour.
The show has featured a number of
celebrities, rising artists and entrepreneurs over the years. He is
also known as “the King of Primetime “and he is the one and only
“youngest old man on TV”
 Jamestown program
12-17:30 'Future of film production? How to shoot a film on your mobile phone workshop' Hands-on educational workshop for 12-20 year olds.

A practical workshop on how to shoot a film on your mobile phone.The morning will be spent learning the theory of film making and storytelling
and then planning your short film in groups. In the afternoon you will use Jamestown as your backdrop for filming and shooting your film in your
groups. Each group will be led and encouraged by a group leader.

Guud Kelly Kingsley Oboro Samuel Lamptey Atta Abdul Karim Najilau Dramundu Francis Y Brown

13:00-14:00 'Let's start with animation!'

Educational Workshop introducing animation basics for 8-12 year olds. New Jamestown Café

13:30-15:00 Panel Discussion: Music In Film. Building Plots, Characters And Ambience New Jamestown Café

Panel Session
Music and film are intricately connected on many levels.
Music can create the mood, emphasis characterization, and assist with narrative. When executed correctly, it serves as the lifeblood and transforms a good
film into a masterpiece. It can also drive the marketing of a film, helping to make a film a box office hit! In recent times, movie soundtracks have become huge
sources of revenue for filmmakers.

The disregard of Copyright Laws for Film music, have traditionally been one of the key limitations to Film Distribution in Africa. Filmmakers should begin to
invest as much time in deciding, finding and gaining rights to music used in films. We look forward to having Daniel Adjokatcher, Comfort Arthur, Ama Ablorde
and Solomon Kingsley Narh exploring the complementary and challenging relationship between music and film.

Is a British Born Ghanaian who gained a
Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design at
Central St Martins and a master's degree in
Animation at the Royal College of Arts.
In 2012 she moved to Ghana and now works
as a freelance editor, illustrator, Graphic
Designer and animator. She has worked on
several award winning films in Ghana such
as Sparrow production's Potomanto and
Rebecca among many others.
Comfort Arthur
has gained over 16 years of film, tv and multimedia
production under his belt in various countries like the
US and South Africa, spanning various
communication industries like tv broadcasting and
advertising production. Notable among his recent
career highlights are the various radio and tvc
commercials he has produced for blue chip clients
like Nestlé and Vodafone.
He previously also worked as an editor and as
producer of a weekly magazine program at TV3
Daniel Adjokatcher Network in Accra.

Currently, he is the Executive Producer at The Story

is a graduate of NAFTI (National Film and
Television Institute) where she majored in
Film Directing; a course choice that serves
her so well though she is currently on
screens more than behind the screens.
Besides her TV show, Ama has featured in a
few flicks.
She was nominated for Best Supporting
Actress in a comedy series at the 2016
Ghana Movie Awards for her role in the
Sitcom; Master and 3 Maids. She's featured
in veteran filmmaker Kwaw Ansah's
“Praising The Lord Plus One” starring
Ama Ablorde, alongside Adjetey Annan, Ama K
Abeberese and Ekow Smith Asante. The
FESPACO winning short film; The Traveler,
directed by Peter Sedufia director of
Keteke.
Solomon Kingsley Narh,
Well, a media production company that produces
various communications campaigns across varied
media platforms. He is also currently finishing post
production on his feature film, BIGMAN WHALA.
Is a singer, songwriter and live performer who wrote
his first song at the tender age of 8 and learned to play
the piano at 10. He shot into the limelight after his
soulful renditions of some Ghanaian classics such as
'Medofo Pa' by Kojo Antwi and 'Tena Menkyen' by the
late music legend, Paapa Yankson.
His latest single, 'Say I Do,' has been described as
Africa's Official Wedding Anthem and has already
become a classic among wedding lovers. Anyone
who has seen Sollo7 perform has concluded that he is
undoubtedly a captivating live performer whose voice
is a hybrid of the soulful wail of an old soul and the
exuberance of a modern gem.

12:00-18:00 'Pop up Cinema' BSIFF 2018 Submissions Screenings, Old Jamestown Cafe
Enjoy the following films: Feature films Tolet (India) and Life is Fare (USA), a Documentary called Rescue List (USA) and Breathless (USA), under the
category “Africa Rising”
 Come to the finest exhibition of emerging Ghanaian
musical talent at Sandbox beach club, opening our festival.

Mijay | Almighty Trei | Chief | Arabic man | Marince | Tulenkey | E.N.E | T $ D

Eddie khae | Herman $uede | Cina soul | Keyzuz | Ayat | B4bonah | La meme
 Acting for screen & Directing for screen
Leader: Kwaku Boateng Ankomah
Host: Veronica Quarshie,
Screenwriter, Film Director and Producer. Scripts
co-authored as feature film screenplays and
published into full-length feature films and mini
series for television.
The subjects of these stories are mainly social
commentaries touching on issues such as gender,
inheritance, relationships, corruption etc. Directed
fifteen (15) full-length features, a number of
documentaries, commercials and a 13 - episode
Television series of 30-minute duration.
Assist: Pascal Aka
He began the first 6 years of his career in
Canada directing independent action
films Souls of Strife (2007) and EVOL (2010)
that have won multiple awards at the AOF
Festival in California in 2009 and 2010. His
various music video and commercial
works have been showcased on Much
Music, CBC, Rogers TV, CNN, and many
major Canadian networks. He is a former
Director's General and Vice-President of
Independent Filmmaker's Cooperative of
Ottawa where he also served as a
directing and cinematography instructor.
In 2011 he relocated to Ghana where he
formed Breakthrough Studios, one of the
leading music video production
companies in Ghana. Awarded for Best
African Music Video at the 2016 AFRIMAA
Awards in Lagos, Nigeria.
Throughout his African film career, he has
entertained the audience by challenging
the African norm of filmmaking through
short films “Mr.Q”, “Redemption”, “Ghana
Police” "Black Rose" and “Her First Time”
which have recently won the award for
“Best African Short Film” at the Real Time
Film Festival in Lagos, Nigeria.
In 2015, he directed the blockbuster
action thriller Interception to rave reviews.
After a good run in North America and
West Africa, Aka remains dedicated to
break creative boundaries and take
African Cinema to a global audience.
Host: Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey
Is an award-winning Ghanaian-American
Poet, Writer, Literary Critic and Versatile
Creative.
Her work is noted for its rare narrative, prosaic
nature, which is uncommon, in poetry. She has
also been commended for the sharp, vivid
imagery of her pieces.
Living in Ghana, where oral literary traditions are
intricately intertwined with deep culture and
history, she performs within West Africa's most
sophisticated spaces and has been featured on
two Tedx platforms. Her performances are varied,
animated; you can expect to see Apiorkor inject
life into her poems, with classical and afro-pop
music forms, contemporary dance and alternative
Art.
Apiorkor causes quite a stir, because the poetess
chooses to read/recite her pieces on stage, rather
than delivering them off memory.
She also has a West African Baobab Award, under
her belt, having been awarded the "Literary and
Community Building Award", which was presented
to her in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2016 and which
acknowledges the achievements of Africans and
non-Africans in building literate communities in
today's world.
When she's not creating literary orgasms, Apiorkor is
most likely producing (or hosting) award-winning
shows on Accra-based Citi 97.3 FM and Citi TV.
Additionally, her work at Citi FM and Citi TV, as an
activist for Literacy & Numeracy has been well
received. She might also be mentoring and
teaching or lecturing young Ghanaians, focusing
on anything from Literature, to love and
relationships, to career guidance. Editing and
crafting pyramids of meaningful words tend to
keep her occupied, as well. Or she might be
whipping up hors d'œrves for Ghanaian socialites,
tasty meals for her adorable son, or romantic
dinners for her husband, Frederick.
 Screenwriting
Host: Awo Ahiable
I wear many hats, screen writing
which is my passion will first be
stated here, I am also a fashion
designer which is my day job, a
stylist and costume designer. I am
also into acting and producing as
I have done on Haunted (yet to be
released) and a few other
entrepreneurial ventures not for
public consumption yet. I am a
product of the university of
Ghana. And have been writing
since 2001. Some of my work are
'Pieces of me' directed by Fiifi
Coleman. 'Haunted' directed by
Dickson Dzakpasu and Maxwell
Manu and most recently ' 40 and
Single' by Leila Djansi.
Prince Von Xola-Bismarck Stephen Ofosu
I'm Prince Von Xola-Bismarck, Stephen Ofosu is a teacher by
32 years of age from Keta in the profession and a screenwriter
Volta Region and living in by passion and holds an MA
Amasaman in the Greater in Communication Studies
Accra Region. I read
Communication Studies at the from University of Ghana. He is
Ghana Institute of Journalism. an editor at Gird Center and
Currently the Artistic Director of writes for Kofas Media.
Fine Films Factory and the
producer of Form 3D tv series.
Very passionate about writing
professionally. I watch movies
and read their screenplays if I'm
not working.
 “C3 - INTRODUCING AN INDUSTRY BUILDING INITIATIVE”
- The Guardian

C3 AFRICA is a content focused event platform which cuts across entertainment technology, creative
content and media culture. The vision is to birth initiatives which improve the industries and drive
sustainable growth and development.

C3 is an initiative focused on the TV, VOD and Cinema market as it thrives to connect producers, studios
and content producers to distributors, TV networks and exhibitors from across Africa.
C3 was founded by the Event Executive Director. Somto Ajuluchukwu in 2017 in Lagos Nigeria and
recorded over 2000 registered and 400 in attendance, hosting 45 TV networks / Distributors and 136
content producers. Projections estimate a growth of over 200% on the mentioned statistics in 2018 /
2019 markets.

INDUSTRY DEFINING
PANEL SESSIONS & KEY NOTES

C3 is focused on bringing opportunities to independent producers and production studios across West Africa.
cutting across multiple forms of production such Animation, Film, TV series, Shorts, Documentary, Game
shows, sport shows and a wide spectrum of productions across Genres.

C3 Lagos yielded a wide range of successful collaboration and content sale generating over 15,000,000 Naira
in commercial exchange between attending parties. Nollywood is valued over 50 Billion Dollars but
contributes less than 5% to the economy GDP. West Africa TV / Film industry is the new India, the new
Bollywood.
 Gala Awards Ceremony
Accra International Conference Center (AICC)
We thank our sponsors and friends of the festival at our Gala Awards ceremony, as well as gather national and
international industry stakeholders and corporate to congratulate our award winners in the following categories:

Best Feature Film

Best Documentary
Best Short Film
Best Animation
Women in Film
Africa Rising

We are pleased to receive His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana

H.E NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO

PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA
SOLLO7, A Ghanaian Modern Gem with an Old Soul
Sollo7 was privileged to have been born into a musical family. His father, now a clergyman, was once the lead vocalist for a gospel band during
the 80's. He spo ed a musical gi in his son and decided to nurture it by enrolling him for piano lessons at age 10. With this as a founda on, his
musical des ny was a foregone conclusion. Known in real life as Solomon Kingsley Narh, Sollo7 had already wri en and sung his first song in
church at the tender age of 8. He shot into the limelight a er he soulfully did rendi ons of some Ghanaian classics such as 'Medofo Pa' by Kojo
Antwi and 'Tena Menkyen' by the legendary Paapa Yankson of blessed memory. Known in real life as Solomon Kingsley Narh, the love song
crooner's major selling point is his cap va ng live singing abili es.
He started professionally as a wedding film
soundtrack composer; as of the year 2013 he had
recorded several wedding songs for notable African
wedding films trailers such as the wedding of Uche
Pedro, founder of Bella Naija, Crystal Berko, among
others.

Influenced by his background in Communica on

Design (Film and TV Produc on) from the Kwame
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Sollo7
was commissioned to record soundtracks for film.
Shirley Frimpong-Manso's Shampaign hit series of
2016 was one such project Sollo7 worked on as a
contribu ng soundtrack ar st.

His latest single, Say I Do,' has been hailed as Africa's

official wedding anthem and has already become a
classic among wedding lovers. He is also noted for his
party starter and catchy afrobeats street anthem,
'Jollof,' which has become an audience favorite.
Anyone who has seen Sollo7 perform live has
concluded that he is, undoubtedly, a cap va ng live
performer whose cra is a hybrid of the soulful
maturity of an old soul and the exuberance of a
modern gem. His refreshing musicality sets him apart
as it is reminiscent of sounds from Ghana's classy big
band highlife with a contemporary modern edginess.
In an era when there are so many studio musicians but
very few singers who can sing live on stage in Ghana,
Sollo7's voice, musicality and stage cra is considered
by many as a mely breath of fresh air. When asked
how he nurtured such a unique cra he cites
legendary Ghanaian musicians such as Amandzeba,
Rex Omar as having contributed.
He considers his 4 years of working directly with Kojo Antwi as backup singer as very instrumental in the founda on of his professional music
career. Before embarking on a solo career in 2013 he had also served as the front man for the Ohia Be Ye Ya band led by the mul -
instrumentalist Kwame Yeboah. This also helped in shaping him as a well-rounded and holis c musician. His musical influences include E.T
Mensah, King Bruce, The Ramblers, C.K Mann, Richard Bona, Youssou N'dor, Hugh Masakela, among many others.

His vision and desire is to serve Ghanaians home and abroad, and the world at large, with Ghanaian musicality in an authen c and powerful
way. He seeks to do this by bringing back the era of meaningful lyricism, tangible singing with real emo ons, and top skill musicianship. The
neo-highlife singer believes that the dominance of Ghanaian sounds on Ghana's airwaves is a good sign for the survival of the Ghanaian music
industry. He is excited to be a part of the genera on that gets to serve Ghanaians with great music, both recorded and live.
For more informa on on Sollo7, kindly visit www.sollo7.com or follow him on all social media pla orms @sollo7music.
 ADVISORY MEMBERS

Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie

Fmr. Deputy Minister/ Performing Artist /
Arts Administrator / Television Host / Poet / Producer
Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, is the recent past Deputy Minister for
Tourism, Culture and Crea ve Arts in Ghana (2013-2017), a
queen mother in charge of protocol in the Aflao Tradi onal area
of Ghana, a veteran Actress, Producer, Writer, Poet and
Entrepreneur. She holds a Master of Philosophy (2005–2008) in
African Studies, from the Ins tute of African Studies, University
of Ghana, a Bachelor of Fine Arts (2000-2003) with First Class
Honors from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana,
and a Diploma in Theatre Arts (1994-1998) from the same
University.
She has a passion for the Crea ve Arts and Culture in Ghana and
throughout Africa, and has dedicated nearly all her adult life to
projec ng and promo ng same. As Deputy Minister, She was
guided by Ghana's Cultural Policy Document, dedicated to the
realiza on of the Vision of the people of Ghana to respect
preserve, harness, and use their cultural heritage and resources
to develop a united, vibrant and prosperous na onal community
with dis nc ve African iden ty and personality and a collec ve
confidence and pride among the comity of Na ons. She brought
her wealth of experience in the Culture and Crea ve Arts to the
appointment both within Ghana and interna onally.
AKUNU DAKE
Akunu Dake is a Development Consultant with exper se in
Project & Events Management and Culture & Tourism
Development. He has immense experience in policy,
management, programme, dialogue, and business issues
in the domain.
He is the Chief Execu ve Officer of Heritage Development
– a Culture & Tourism Development and Events
Management Consult. He is also the Vice Chairman/Co-
convenor, Ghana Culture Forum – a na onal Civil Society
consulta ve forum on culture and development
He was the first Execu ve Director of the Pan-African
Historical Theatre Fes val [PANAFEST] and managed the
first three interna onal edi ons of the fes val in 1992,
1994 and 1997. He was also one me the Ag. Deputy
Secretary(Minister)/Special Assistant, Ministry of Culture
and Tourism, the Director of Programmes of the Na onal
Commission on Culture, Na onal Coordinator of the
Community Youth Cultural Programme and Director of
Educa on, Research, and Interna onal Rela ons of the
Na onal Youth Organizing Commission.
Audrey Gadzekpo
Audrey Gadzekpo, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the
Department of Communica on Studies and the Dean of
the School of Informa on and Communica on Studies,
University of Ghana.
She has more than 25 years of experience in teaching,
research and advocacy on media, gender and
governance, and more than 28 years prac cal
experience as a journalist, working variously as a
reporter, editor, contributor, columnist, talk show host,
s o c i o - p o l i c a l c o m m e n t a t o r, a n d m a g a z i n e
publisher/editor.
Audrey has conducted numerous training sessions on
media and communica ons for civil society, public
security sector and private sector organisa ons.
She is a member of the Na onal Media Commission
(NMC) and serves on a number of local and interna onal
boards, including CDD-Ghana, PANOS-West Africa and
West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR).

Prior to her appointment as the Deputy Minister for Tourism,
Culture and Crea ve Arts, Dzifa worked as the Chief Execu ve of
Values for Life (VFL-GHANA) , a non-governmental organiza on
that provides various social systems to help improve the lives of
Children, Youth and Women in Ghana through the Crea ve and
Performing Arts, Culture and Tradi onal Heritage, Tourism and
Digital Innova ons.
She has Produced, Directed and Narrated many Ghanaian
Television Produc ons including the popular storytelling
program, By The Fireside, where she focused on socio-cultural
issues for the benefit of children, reviving and preserving the art
of storytelling.
She was also the host of 'AGYA PA', a television show which
focused on the celebra on of Ghanaian male role models as
fathers and professionals.
She has worked in the Crea ve Arts industry for nearly three
decades and has received mul ple administra ve and ar s c
awards both na onally and interna onally, for her work. On
March 7, 2016, the City Council of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
honored and recognized the minister for her lifelong
commitment to the developmental growth of Ghana through her
interna onal promo on of Ghanaian Arts and Culture and the
Au sm Society of Ghana (ASOG), who made her their life patron,
for being a source of encouragement to parents of children living
with au sm.
She is the Country Representa ve of the Con nental African
Queens and Women Cultural Leaders Network (AQWCLN) a not
for profit organiza on of female cultural leaders who use their
peculiar posi on to advance the UN Development Goals and the
promo on of the work of UNAIDs and UN Women.
She is an extremely popular personality in Ghana, and is known
for her humble disposi on and unyielding promo on of anything
Ghanaian. Her passion is to work closely with relevant
stakeholders to promote the Crea ve Arts and increase its
contribu on to Ghana's GDP. Lastly, she is currently a Culture
and Crea ve Arts Consultant and back with Values For Life Ghana
(VFL-Ghana) as the Chief Execu ve Director.
Mr. Dake has tremendous experience in managing and
coordina ng na onal and interna onal projects and
events, project design, execu on and evalua on, fund
and resource mobiliza on and conference planning.
He is currently;
1. Member, Management Commi ee, Ins tute
of African Studies, University of Ghana Legon
2. Member, Board of Trustees, Ghana Heritage
Conserva on Trust
He has previously served as:
1. Chairman, Board of Directors, Ghana
Tourism Authority and the Tourism
Development Fund
2. Member, Ministerial Advisory Board,
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Crea ve Catherine Engmann
Arts
3. Consultant and Panellist. Bri sh Council's
Catherine's mission is inspire and equip growth
Tullow Group Scholarship scheme.
4. Na onal Consultant for UNESCO in the oriented individuals and organiza ons achieve their
implementa on of the na onal project on highest poten al, while leaving a significant life. She is
mainstreaming culture in na onal a most engaging leadership coach and transforma on
development in Ghana.
trainers. She delivers results with companies of all
He has a Master in Philosophy Degree in African Studies sizes. Many seek Catherine out as a source of
from the University of Ghana Legon. He is also a Fellow of inspira on, focus, energy and enthusiasm.
the Salzburg Seminar, Schloss Leopoldskron, Salzburg,
Austria.
Catherine is an experienced global execu ve with over
Akunu Dake, formerly named John Darkey, is married to 20 years experience in suppor ng Boards become
Afua Dake and they have three children. more effec ve in the implementa on of robust
corporate governance frameworks. She is also an
entrepreneur and is a thinking partner to senior
execu ves that want to break through their comfort
zone and a ain the next level of success.

ERNEST KOFI ABBEYQUAYE
FILM PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
Ernest Kofi Abbeyquaye began as a founding student of
the foremost Pioneer Ac ng school of the Arts Council of
Ghana in the year 1961. He also joined the Ghana Drama
Studio Players as a member of the Pioneer class.
Between 1963/65 Ernest a ended the School of
Performing Arts (Legon) then called the School of
Drama.
From 1966 to 1970, Abbeyquaye taught English
language, English literature and Drama at Aggrey
Memorial secondary school Cape Coast. In 1970, Ernest
joined the Ghana Film Industry Corpora on- GFIC, as
Assistant Film Director and Produc on Assistant.
With his Film Directorship training from the pres gous
Na onal Film & Television School in Beconsfield, United
Kingdom he returned to Ghana. In 1978, he was
appointed one of the founding Tutors of NAFTI (Na onal
Film and Television ins tute) and then he rose to the
posi on of Dean of Studies and Deputy Director and
con nues his rela onship with the Ins tute to this
present day.
From his early years into formal training and
professional work, the veteran film maker has made
immense contribu on to theatre, radio, television and
film. He has unearthed and nurtured a lot of talents,
some of whom become household names today
During the 1980's and 90s Ernest Abbeyquaye wrote and
directed some of the memorable films and videos in our
Na onal Archives. S ll remembered are “THE OTHER
SIDE” (“There is something in the soup) AND “ESCAPE
FROM LOVE”.
Throughout his professional work the indefa gueable
Ernest Abbeyquaye has travelled the varied world
landscapes for theatre and film produc ons. He has also
co-ordinated several of foreign feature film produc ons
that have come into Ghana.
At his age, the grey-haired octogenarian con nues to act
alongside local and interna onal actors/actresses. In
2011 the acted in a suppor ng role to Jackie Appiah in
“DEATH AFTER BIRTH”
He put in a cameo-appearance in the 2015 cri cally
acclaimed, award-winning feature film “Beast Of No
Na on”.
Mr Ernest Abbeyquaye con nues to support the film
industry and the arts passionately. He is also an ac ve
member of the GHANA ACADEMY OF FILM AND
TELEVISION ARTS (GAFTA)
ADVISORY MEMBERS
Dr. JIM FARA AWINDOR
Jim Fara Awindor is a Senior Lecturer and Interna onal
Rela ons Coordinator at the Na onal Film and
Television Ins tute (NAFTI) and holds a Master of Fine
Arts degree (MFA) in Film and Video and a PhD in
Endogenous Development. He is a recipient of the
pres gious Fulbright Award, a researcher and
filmmaker whose works have won him some
interna onal awards.
He is one of the pioneering film directors of the popular
detec ve television series Inspector Bediako and
Gree ngs from Abroad programme. He has also
directed and produced series of documentary films for
the Government of Ghana, NGO's and the United
Na ons Agencies. He is the President and founding
member of the Ghana Academy of Film and Television
Arts (GAFTA), an umbrella body for 10 notable film
guilds in Ghana.
Fara Awindor is also a prolific writer who has published
and wri en several papers on various film topics, which
includes, Ousman Sembene: The Auteur; African
Cinema, a Social and Poli cal Force; Transdisciplinary
Methods in Documentary Filmmaking; Audio-Visual
Archiving in Ghana; Stereotyping in Ghanaian Movies:
The Northern Character. Fara Awindor has contributed
immensely to curricular and to the learning
environment at NAFTI and currently, he is in
collabora on with a Fulbright Scholar from the United
States researching into indigenous knowledge on land
tenure systems in Ghana, a text and video project.
Mr. Frank B. Adu Jnr.
Mr. Frank Adu Jnr., Managing Director of CAL Bank Limited
is a Banker with 28 years' experience in the banking sector.
Frank is the Chairman of the Board of The Roman Ridge
School, a very successful interna onal school he co-
founded and serves on the Advisory Board of the College
of Humani es of the University of Ghana. He is a member
of the Boards of the Metropolitan Life Ghana Limited and
Quality Insurance Company Limited. He also serves on the
Board of Legacy Bond Limited, a special purpose vehicle
set up for the repayment of debt owed by Government to
the Bulk Distribu on Companies (BDCs). He co-founded
City Investments Company Limited which is now Premium
Bank.
He has also served on several other Boards including the
Na onal Health Insurance Council where he was its first
Chairman; he was Chairman of the Ghana Stock Exchange.
Frank holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Geography and an
MBA (Finance). In 2013, Frank was conferred with an
Honorary Doctorate Degree by the University of Ghana for
his contribu on to ter ary educa on. He is an Honorary
Fellow of the Chartered Ins tute of Bankers and also an
alumni of the Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme,
SAID Business School, University of Oxford.
He is an avid sportsman and has dis nguished himself in all
spor ng ac vity. Mr. Adu has captained the Achimota Golf
Club and the Accra Polo Club.
Frank was awarded a life me award at the 2016 Ghana
Banking Awards and has also been recognised by the
Legisla ve Black Caucus of the Georgia Assembly for his
contribu on to the macro-economic stability, growth and
prosperity of African countries. He was also a finalist of the
Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2012 and
has also received several awards including the Ghana Oil &
Gas Associa on award for a “Promising Leadership Role”
in the Industry.
 ADVISORY MEMBERS
Kwaku Boateng Ankomah
was accepted onto the Na onal Youth Theatre of Great
Britain (NYT) and performed in plays like 'They Shoot
Horses Don't They?' with the NYT in 2000 at the Apollo
Theatre in Sha sbury Avenue. He a ended Royal
Academy of Drama c Art (RADA) in London, UK. His
professional ac ng career has seen him in acclaimed and
award winning theatre produc ons taking him on world
tours, to West End produc ons. He has worked in TV,
Theatre, Radio and Film in the UK, Ghana and around the
globe, on films such as Warner Brothers' 'Batman Begins',
Beasts of No Na on, Ul mate Force, Cargo, The Cursed
Ones, and more.
Kwaku was an ac ng teacher at the Iden ty Drama
School in London, the first black drama school in London.
At Iden ty, he taught ac ng to Rising Hollywood stars
such as John Boyega (Lead Actor in Star Wars, A ack the
Block) and more. He also taught and has acted with
Malachai Kirby, (Lead Actor, who played Kunta Kinte in
the most recent adapta on of Roots)
Upon moving to Ghana, he set up K. Boateng Academy of
performing Arts, a voca onal training centre for students
18+ to learn the art of screen and theatre ac ng, using
method ac ng approaches and techniques. He went on
to establish the Aim Higher corporate training
programme, using developmental drama.
Kwaku also runs a handful of crea ve companies. A
drama academy for children Helen O'Grady Drama
Academy in Accra, Kasa Mfoni; a crea ve arts,
networking and showcasing organisa on for people who
work in film and theatre, Academy Talent Management &
Cas ng Agency, (the cas ng agency that discovered
Abraham A ah, and many more quality actors in Ghana.
Kwaku is a private ac ng coach for film and theatre.
Kwaku will appear in a 2 hander Stage Produc on of a
play called Safe Cargo, Wri en and Directed by Esther
Armah being performed at the Bri sh Council in Accra
towards the end of August, and in Kumasi.
Richard Prempeh
With his background in Art and Music, since 1995, he has
been a founda onal pillar to many producers, crew
members and performers of today's audio visual
industry through his studio The Village Communica ons
Ltd. He is currently the Chairman of the Audio Visual
Rights Society of Ghana
( ARSOG ).
Kunyalala Maphisa
Kunyalala Maphisa, an A orney by profession, is the
Founder and CEO of Sub-Saharan Concessions, a
South African based investment and project
development company with diversified interests on
the African con nent.
She is a Non-Execu ve Director of Novus3 (Pty) Ltd
and has served on the board, audit commi ee and
risk and compliance or Etana Insurance (now
Hollard Broker Markets). Kunyalala has also served
as President of the Businesswomen's Associa on of
South Africa and on the Council for Business Unity
South Africa (BUSA). She has worked with Ernst &
Young South Africa and the Amabubesi Group.
Kunyalala Maphisa is an alumni and Fellow of the
Desmond Tutu Fellowship through the African
Leadership Ins ture at Oxford University. She writes
and comments on transforma on issues and has
presented papers at a number of na onal and
interna onal conferences.
Steven Gray
Mr Steven Gray is Director of Wardour Africa and is
currently the representa ve for UK Export Finance in
West Africa based in Ghana. Mr Gray has worked in
Africa and Middle East for the past 29 years in a variety
of sectors including construc on, mining, logis cs and
infrastructure development.
He is Vice Chairman of UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce
and is a member of the Advisory Board of GUBA and
Black Star Interna onal Film Fes val. Mr Gray holds an
MBA from Heriot Wa University and, in his spare me,
is undertaking a doctorate to research the market
failures during the project prepara on phase of
infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Tarek Mougani
Dr Tarek Mouganie, Founder and Group CEO,
Affinity.
Tarek is the founder of Affinity, a pla orm that
supports entrepreneurs in Ghana through the
provision of loans and capacity building services.
Tarek is also a na onal age-group triathlete and the
co-founder and CEO of the Ghana Triathlon
Federa on as well as the creator of Front Back
Accra, a private members club centred around
music, food and art from Africa and its diaspora.
Before moving back home to Ghana, Tarek was a
Director at GLG Partners in London where he
managed an equi es por olio. Prior to GLG, Tarek
worked at Deloi e in their private equity advisory
team. He started his career as an academic, having
completed his PhD in Physics from the University of
Cambridge. Tarek is on the board of Greene Light
Stage (the produc on company spun out of the Old
Vic Theatre and responsible for Billy Elliot the
musical), an advisor to Chatham House and Dr Jane
Good all DBE and the Honorary Consul to Cabo
Verde in Ghana.
 ATUU FESTIVAL OF ARTS TO UNEARTH TALENTS
The Joint Commi ee of CMOs (JCCMO) which comprises the Collec ve Management Organiza ons (CMOs)
represen ng the three copyright owners' socie es in Ghana is organizing the Atuu Fes val of Arts – AFA on August 25 at
the Na onal Theatre in Accra. The fes val will be held biennially.
The vision of the JCCMOs is to create a fes val that will enrich the crea ve arts and cultural lives of the people of Ghana,
put the country on the global map as a major cultural and arts des na on and expose local ar stes or rights owners to
current interna onal trends.

AFA aims at showcasing the arts in Ghana and placing local crea ve arts prac oners and their works in the global
environment while enhancing their ability to access the full poten als and opportuni es of the global environment
through the exchange of ideas and crea on of a dynamic and vibrant pla orm and market place for the arts.

Ul mately, the fes val aims at crea ng opportuni es for the crea ve arts and culture industry in Ghana and becoming
a major arts and culture des na on by bringing home major industry players from around the world here to interact
with local ar stes.
The JCCMOs which was established in 2012 is made up of representa ves of the Ghana Music Rights Organiza on
(GHAMRO), Audio Visual Rights Society of Ghana (ARSOG) and Copy Ghana.

GHAMRO is represented on the JCCMOs by its Chairman Rex Omar, Chief Officer Abraham Adjatey and board member Ahmed Banda aka Bandex; ARSOG
is represented by its Chairman Richard Prempeh, Secretary Abeiku Sagoe, board member Augus ne Abbey and William Addo while Copy Ghana is
represented by its Chairman Dr. Kwesi Annor, Secretary Ben Nyadzi, Dr. Kwaku Ganyo and Asare Yamoah who is the JCCMO Chairman.

The Atuu Fes val of Arts was opened at Essikadu in the Western region by Nana Kwasi Agyeman IX, Omanhene of Lower Dixcove Tradi onal Area and
Nana Kobina Nke ah V, Omanhene of Essikadu Tradi onal Area was appointed Chief Patron of the Fes val.
According to the chairman of the Atuu Fes val Planning Commi ee Asare Konadu Yamoah, “the Atuu Fes val of Arts offers a window for the people of
Ghana and of course the world to understand Ghana as a country and the culture of the people. It is also an important pla orm for the exchange of
cultural ideas and coopera on between the various actors who are the rights holders.” He noted that, “the Fes val also would eventually bring talents to
the fore and help promote these talents and offer them the opportunity to showcase their crea on to the world.”
A series of ac vi es including film fes vals, music and drama shows and conferences have been lined up as part of the Atuu Fes val of Arts. The Atuu
Fes val of Arts climaxes with an awards night on August 25 in Accra. The theme for the fes val is “Our Culture! Our Development”!

As supporters of the Black Star Interna onal Film Fes val, the JCCMO wishes the Black Star Interna onal Film Fes val all the best this year and in
subsequent edi ons of the fes val.
2018 Jury Committee
2018 Jury Committee
 Films with synopsis
African Rising
IDI AMIN_S BOAT
BREATHLESS WATU WOTE
Watu Wote - Synopsis
Breathless' is the story of Larry, a middle (long) Seit Jahrzehnten
aged Black man, whose trip to the bodega wird die Grenzregion von
for coffee and cigare es leads to his Kenia zu Somalia von
Terroranschlägen der Al-
unwarranted death. Shabaab erschü ert.
A new tourist boat-rider a discovers a
Zwischen Christen und
terrifying secret when he learns of Idi
Muslimen wachsen Angst
Amin's sunken boat and the untold
und Misstrauen. Bis am

Animation
treasures it hides. But is he brave enough to
21. Dezember 2015 den
act on it when nothing is quite as it seems?
Passagieren eines
Reisebusses ein beispielloses Zeugnis der Menschlichkeit gelingt. Während
einer A acke der Islamisten schreiben sie eine Geschichte, die um die Welt
ging.
A KALABANDA ATE MY HOMEWORK Watu Wote - Synopsis (short) Seit Jahrzehnten wird Kenia von
A Kalabanda is a mythical creature that is said to haunt Terroranschlägen der islamischen Al-Shabaab erschü ert. Zwischen Christen
schools in Uganda. Tendo, a pupil shows up to class one und Muslimen wachsen Angst und Misstrauen. Bis im Dezember 2015 den
day without homework -claiming that a Kalabanda ate Passagieren eines Reisebusses ein beispielloses Zeugnis der Menschlichkeit
it. Who'd believe such a lame excuse? No-one! How will gelingt.
Watu Wote - Synopsis (engl. /long) vom 10.11.16 For almost a decade Kenya
Tendo prove his story and does this mythical creature has been targeted by terrorist a acks of the Al- Shabaab. Especially the border
really exist? JIMMY GOES TO NOLLYWOOD region between Kenya and Somalia is considered highly dangerous. An
atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Chris ans is
Placing it ahead of "Hollywood" and growing. Un l in December 2015, muslim bus passengers showed that
behind only India's "Bollywood," solidarity can prevail.

Documentary Nigeria's "Nollywood" is the second

largest film industry in the world in
Watu Wote - Synopsis (engl. / short) vom 10.11.16 For almost a decade Kenya
has been targeted by terrorist a acks of the Al- Shabaab. An atmosphere of
anxiety and mistrust between Muslims and Chris ans is growing. Un l in
number of annual film produc ons. December 2015, muslim bus passengers showed that solidarity can prevail.
DNA - USING GENEALOGY TO CHANGE MY Using the African Movie Academy
(SLAVE) LAST NAME Award as a through line, actor Jimmy
Jean-Louis (Heroes, Phat Girlz, Toussaint
Louverture) guides us through the
colorful panorama taking us into the
heart of a burgeoning cinema in an
Africa full of confidence.

In the spirit of self-empowerment, self-worth and affirma on I have

KABADIO - TIME GOES BY SLOWLY, BAREFOOT
created a documentary that tells the story of my struggle with passing down the slave A deep dive into a new world, filled with rituals, music, magic,
masters legacy through my last name or surname. Although this topic has been secrets, fascina ng images and stories of real people who struggle
discussed in the past by Black Iconic figures such as Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and to survive, keeping their tradi ons in the midst of a civil war and
others, through my film, I wish to share and push the narra ve to all genera ons of the smuggling of goods. In the heart of Casamance (southern
African descent young and old to think twice about their last name or surname. IF IT IS region of Senegal), a small Muslim village, which is a sort of
OF EUROPEAN ORIGIN. The idea is to start anew for a genera on who may not be clear
and aware of how this specific part of the legacy of Slavery, Imperialism and
mys cal island protected by religious leaders called Marabus, the
Colonialism, affects us directly when we write our very own name. sound of drums lights the fire, dicta ng the fate of an uncertain
-Nware Rahsaan future, where mys cism is the only protec ve shield.
Burge- BA/ MS.ed We are in front of a large mirror. The mirror of the soul. Where you
can touch the blowing wind; where you can feel the dried land
under your feet just a few kilometers from the sea. Where you hear
enlightened children's laughing, spreading hope for those able to
get close to them. Where me goes by slowly, barefoot.
Two friends embark on an epic mission to prove to the world what Nigerians
are made of, but the world isn't making it easy...
Fed up with their country's nega ve
image two Nigerian friends embark on an epic long-distance motorbike
adventure to dispel nega ve stereotypes and prove that white people don't
have a monopoly on adventure. But they had no idea how many problems
their Nigerian passports would cause.
Toyin & Fodeks are red of people thinking Nigerians are all terrorists or
swindlers/crooks and as avid motorcyclists they can't understand why only
white Westerners take on ambi ous overland rides. So, they decide to
OUT OF NIGERIA combat both of these misconcep ons with one ambi ous adventure. Along
with a Bri sh filmmaker, they set out to ride from their capital Lagos to
the Ice Hotel in the arc c circle.
But they soon find out that, terrorism and Ebola are the easiest hurdles to overcome, as they get further from THE LONG SHADOW
home the very prejudices they are figh ng threaten to overwhelm their en re mission. From New Orleans to Virginia, Mississippi and Canada, a Southern
They discover that no ma er how hard they ride, they can't outrun discrimina on. With the clock cking on filmmaker travels the roads of oppression, suppression, and even
their Europe visas, can they complete their mission by reaching the arc c circle or will it all end in disaster? hope to reveal the connections of slavery and strong-arm Southern
politics to the current racial strife in America. “The Long Shadow” is a
disturbing story about the lingering human cost of ignorance,
intolerance and inaction in the U.S., casting a long shadow over our
national identity and imperfect democracy.
 Films with synopsis
THE RESCUE LIST
In a Ghanaian safe house, a team works to rehabilitate
two boys who were trafficked into slavery to fishermen on
Lake Volta. As it moves from rescue operation to healing
process, this riveting film follows the boys through their
recovery and reveals the extraordinary dedication of
their rescuer.
Feature
ALASKA IS A DRAG
Tough, but diva fabulous, Leo, an aspiring drag superstar,
is stuck working in a fish cannery in Alaska. He and his twin
sister are trapped in the monotony of fist fights and fish
guts. Out of necessity, Leo learned to fight back, which
catches the a en on of the local boxing coach. When a
new boy moves to town and wants to be his sparring
partner, Leo has to face the real reason he's stuck in
Alaska.
LIFE IS FARE
Life is Fare is a Tigrinya/ English feature film exploring three wildly different
perspec ves on the East African na on of Eritrea. The film's premise follows
Sephora, an idealis c young Eritrean American pitching a well meaning but
ludicrous film idea to her tradi onal mother about a man (Haile) who fled
their home country and ended up in San Francisco. As a recently arrived
immigrant, Haile is terribly homesick for his na ve Eritrea, but will not admit
it due to unease towards speaking ill of the country; and more consciously in
hesitance of admi ng hard truths about his culture and himself. Life is Fare
is a cross cultural analogy to challenge how patrio sm and na onalism are
prac ced by people of a country, and is inspired by current Eritrean and
Ethiopian migra on journeys.
TIGERNUT
A worldwide trade war has broken out over the control
and distribu on of the new healthy Super Food, ger nuts.
An inves ga on uncovers a plot of interna onal
corrup on and abuses around the produc on of ger nuts
by European and American companies exploi ng African
resources. "Tigernut" shows the encouraging response of
thousands of families resis ng this a empt to control their
resources through ini a ves such as the Mousso Faso
coopera ve.
CLEFT LIP
What happens when fer lity becomes a commodity in a fractured
society? Oedipus reborn.
Sophocles' classic of classics adapted for the 21st Century by Erik
Knudsen into a contemporary tragedy about the unravelling of the
most fundamental of rela onships in society; that between a father, a
mother and a child.
Cle Lip is set in the context of a world where donor eggs and sperm
are freely traded as increasing numbers of people are having to resort
to fer lity treatment as a consequence of social changes, individual
decisions and biological impera ves.
TO LET
TO LET is the story of a couple with a child. It takes place in 2007 in the Indian
city of Chennai which is experiencing a real estate boom as a result of an
exponen al development of the IT sector.
The child likes to draw; the mother likes plants .Dad tries to break into the
world of cinema. The owner of their accommoda on a li le too greedy for a
higher rent, dishes out the door.
They have only thirty days to find new housing with their modest middle-class
income. On their mopeds they start a race against me and all kinds of
prejudice.
 Films with synopsis
Film as a tool for national development

BOTH SAVED CORRUPTION

There is a saying that when the last tree dies, the last man dies. Now
if the last man kills the last tree, would the last man die a erwards?
How about if the last tree could actually prevent oxygen from
reaching the last man, would the last man die? Or what if the last
man dies first, would the last tree s ll live?Both Saved is a three (3)
minutes short anima on that talks about the rela onship between
the last man and the last tree.
“Corrup on” has been rampant in West Africa. A group of
mercenaries were hired by a minister to steal a case containing the
list of all corrupt poli cians and police personnel in Ghana. An
undercover cop - ac ng as a dispatch rider- meets them to retrieve
the evidence.

GHANA FOR YOU

In 'Ghana For You' Adams Mensah travels through Ghana with a
group of friends which according to him will bring different
percep ons towards the mo va ons and the imaginary
construc on the Ghanaians have about Europe or the western
world.
VAGABONDS
Vagabonds is the story of two orphaned brothers (Owusu, 10 years
and Gyasi 5 years) who feel trapped in their orphanage, but find
comfort in their bond.
Their lives are turned upside down when Owusu finds out his
younger brother, Gyasi, has been selected for adop on by an
American family.
Owusu feels it his duty to protect his brother at all costs and must
find a way for them to always be together. Even if that means
escaping to a world they are not sure of...
SURVIVORS
Survivors chronicles the remarkable stories of three Sierra
Leoneans during what is now widely regarded as the most acute
public health crisis of the modern era. Our guide in the film is
Arthur Pra , a Sierra Leonean filmmaker and pastor. Drawing
from deeply personal stories at the epicenter of the epidemic, the
film boldly shares the individual bravery and humanity of the
people caught in an unfolding crisis. Director Arthur Pra 's
unique access, narra ve voice, and observa onal documentary
coverage of the outbreak becomes a prism for understanding
both the social and the poli cal significance of the health
catastrophe.

Other
LITTLE GIRL BLUE
Li le Girl Blue is a Concert Drama inspired by the life
of Nina Simone and her youthful self, Eunice
Waymon. Li le Girl Blue heralds 3 characters, Nina,
Eunice and the Piano, in tangled furious
interac ons; heartwarming, heart wrenching. A
LA SARGENTO MATACHO noble dialec c. A bravura piano, vocal and thespian
performance
In 1948, El Libano municipality, Tolima: as a retalia on for
the liberal guerrilla a ack, the “chulavita” police kills
Rosalba Velasquez' husband. She is a 24-year-old peasant
and mother of a female child. The young lady, known as “la
Mona”, with a desire for revenge, starts up a criminal life
which will leave a long succession of dead policemen. Her
heinous crimes are rejected by the army which is a er her
diligently.
 Films with synopsis
Opening Film - Yardie
A man's quest for retribu on
brings him into conflict with
a vicious London gangster.

Closing Film - BlacKkKlansman

From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero.
It's the early 1970s, a me of great social upheaval as the struggle for civil rights rages on. Ron
Stallworth (John David Washington) becomes the first African-American detec ve on the Colorado
Springs Police Department, but his arrival is greeted with skep cism and open hos lity by the
department's rank and file. Undaunted, Stallworth resolves to make a name for himself and a
difference in his community. He bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku
Klux Klan.

Posing as a racist extremist, Stallworth contacts the group and soon finds himself invited into its inner
circle. He even cul vates a rela onship with the Klan's Grand Wizard, David Duke (Topher Grace),
who praises Ron's commitment to the advancement of White America. With the undercover
inves ga on growing ever more complex, Stallworth's colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver),
poses as Ron in face-to-face mee ngs with members of hate group, gaining insider's knowledge of a
deadly plot. Together, Stallworth and Zimmerman team up to take down the organiza on whose real
aim is to sani ze its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream.

Produced by the team behind the Academy-Award® winning Get Out, BlacKkKlansman offers an unflinching, true-life examina on of race
rela ons in 1970s America that is just as bracingly relevant in today's tumultuous world.

Focus Features and Legendary Pictures in associa on with Perfect World Pictures present a QC Entertainment/ Blumhouse produc on, a
Monkeypaw/ 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks produc on, BlacKkKlansman. It will be distributed in the U.S. by Focus Features, and
interna onally by Universal Pictures. John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Corey Hawkins, Laura Harrier, Ryan Eggold,
Jaspar Pääkkönen, Ashlie Atkinson. Costume designer, Marci Rodgers. Execu ve producers, Edward H. Hamm Jr., Jeane e Volturno, Win
Rosenfeld, Ma hew A. Cherry. Produc on designer, Curt Beech. Music by Terence Blanchard. Editor, Barry Brown. Director of
photography, Chayse Irvin, CSC. Produced by Sean McKi rick, Jason Blum, Ray Mansfield, Jordan Peele, Spike Lee, Shaun Redick. Wri en
by Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmo , Spike Lee. A Spike Lee joint.

Short
FUGITIVE TASK FORCE
The year is 2020 and bounty hun ng has become a serious,
government backed profession in South Africa. We see its
origins and follow a day in the life of Thabo Matsoneng, a
local bounty hunter.
KNOCKOUT GAME
The Knockout Game: A disturbing and Brutal game amongst
teens, targe ng whites and immigrants in Inner city
communi es. Gregory wants to play. He wants to get in
good with G-Life's gang.
He wants to be accepted and prove that he has heart. But G-
Life demands he take the game to its sickest levels, a acking
the elderly. His ac ons opens up a Pandora's box of violence
that will touch every innocent in his life. Knockout Game is a
cau onary tale, that explores the cycles of
violence with an unflinching eye.
Films with synopsis

LITTLE FIEL ROOF KNOCKING

Li le Fiel, directed by Irina Patkanian, is a short documentary
with stop mo on anima on about unending wars and
ubiquitous guns. It is loosely based on the life story of
Mozambican ar st Fiel dos Santos. A man who is the only one
in his family to never have shot a gun and who makes art of
decommissioned guns donated by the public in exchange for
food and tools. Fiel dos Santos grew up during the 16 year old
civil war. Consequently, another proxy war equipped and
sustained by conflic ng foreign powers.
In war-stricken Gaza, a woman prepares a meal for her
family to break the fast in the month of Ramadan. A
phone call by an Israeli soldier alerts her of the bombing of
her building in 10 minutes. Coming to accept her
family's fate is the only way she has to make a stand for
her life, with grim consequences.

Special Screening

DETROIT SILVERAIN
From Academy Award®-winning director Kathryn Bigelow (The Ajoa, a street girl (Kayayo's as they are called in
Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), comes the drama c thriller, Ghana, are street girls who live and work primarily in
DETROIT, another vivid and all-too-relevant explora on of the market areas of Ghana), meets Bruce, the rich
America's recent past. The film focuses on the events that
heir of the Timothy fortunes. Their friendship sets
transpired one terrifying evening during the civil unrest that tore
apart the city of Detroit, and its trauma c a ermath. into mo on a class war; as Ajoa struggles to cross the
The summer of 1967 was a pivotal moment in modern American class divide and find love, Bruce struggles to find
history when the country was beset by growing poli cal and social himself. Together, they must brave the turbulent
unrest: the escala on of the country's military engagement in the poli cal mes, and the social barriers. They are both
Vietnam War and decades of racial injus ce and repression. The looking for love, but in the wrong places. Class war
epicenters of all this discontent and simmering rage proved to be can have only one winner.
the na on's major ci es with their systemic discrimina on, racial
dispari es in housing and educa on, and growing unemployment
in African-American communi es.
Two nights a er the Detroit rebellion began, a report of gunshots
in the vicinity of a Na onal Guard staging area prompted the
Detroit Police Department, the Michigan State Police, the
Michigan Army Na onal Guard and a local private security guard
to search and seize an annex of the nearby Algiers Motel. Flou ng
procedural rules, several policemen forcefully and viciously
interrogated motel guests, conduc ng a “death game” in an
a empt to in midate someone, anyone, into confessing. By the
end of the night, three unarmed young men had been gunned
down point blank, and several other men and women were
brutally beaten. No gun was ever found.
 Films with synopsis
Women In Film

KASLA!
Tunji's uncle loves his car. When Tunji and his friends take it for a
joyride and crash, they know they'd be er get it fixed before he
gets home. When they turn to famous Lagos street hustles and
BACK TO NATURAL_ A DOCUMENTARY FILM get-cash quick schemes, things start to get really crazy. Four
Friends and Five Hours in Lagos. Anything can happen. In a mad-
Back to Natural is a 69-minute documentary film that reveals the
capped and hilarious romp through the dangerous Lagos streets,
shocking truth about hair, poli cs, and racial iden ty in Black
the boys also find a hidden humanity.
communi es and beyond. Directed by Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Gillian
Sco -Ward, Back to Natural is a powerful call for healing that takes a
grassroots approach to exploring the globalized policing of natural
Black hair. Filmed in New York City, Philadelphia, Paris, And Cape Town,
this documentary explores universal aspects of the Black experience
and the "New" Natural Hair movement. Join us on this journey of
discovery and enlightenment while celebra ng our history and natural
styles that are taking the world by storm.

THE CHAPTER OF IONELA

Iana is wai ng in her red, old Audi in front of the agreed post office. Hours
passed by. She seems nervous. Suddenly a big black car parks in front of
hers. The door on the passenger's side opens, a young thiny girl slides out.
That has to be Ionela! Her driver won't desist from focussing her un l she's
gone into the ofice. Iana has been wai ng for this moment.
Iana runs a women's shelter and helps girls to escape from forced
pros tu on. It's her only chance to rescue Ionela. Will they manage to
escape?

RETRACING JENEBA_ THE STORY OF A WITNESS

At first glance, Joseph seems like any other U.S. college student. But very soon
he reveals that very few people know the full story of his life. Such begins
Joseph's journey back to West Africa to face the horrors of his past for the first
me. A survivor of the civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia and once a
refugee in Guinea, he retraces his experiences as a child prisoner and as
witness to child soldiers, all the while coping with the loss of his father and
grandmother. But ul mately, Joseph's story is one of immense resilience and
hope. Throughout, we learn how he healed through educa on and is
dedica ng his life to providing opportuni es for children and rebuilding the
country he once saw destroyed.

VERDE (TRANS, TRANQUILITY)

Vrede is the Afrikaans word for peace, and Vrededorp can be loosely translated to
place of peace – yet it is the setting for anything but peace. It is the late-sixties,
apartheid South Africa, and Ntombi, mother wife, activist is relegated to this small
remote town under a banishment order with her two SYNOPSIS

young children, under a banning order. It is here that Ntombi endures incessant
harassment, unending torture from the notorious security branch police, isolated
from any form of support or protection, .Winnie Mandela was also put under
house arrest, her banishment order lasted almost a decade. Vrede's narrative is
drawn from what is recorded, of her time spent there.
 Yaa Asantewa Awards
Socially conscious movies -
We congratulate all winners of the Yaa Asantewa Awards 2018

Every year, the Black Star International Film Festival awards filmmakers who have used their tool to either highlight the
SDGs or tackle relevant social issue, whiles still managing to maintain high entertainment values. Last year, this award
was sponsored by the UNDP and we say thank you.

We are calling on corporates and organizations to support this initiative. The price money goes directly to the
filmmaker with the goal of helping them to go into development for a next project with the same goal

This year, we are also very pleased to announce the Yaa Asantewa Award category for Yaa Asantewa – Film as a Tool for
National Development. This is a non-competitive category and we are please to announce that the President of Ghana
himself will be awarding films under this category to drive the importance of the theme

FILMS IN COMPETITION FOR THE YAA ASANTEWA AWARDS

BEST FEATURE FILM BEST ANIMATION FILM

TO LET - India A Kalaband ate my homework – Uganda - WINNER
Cleft Lip - United Kingdom - WINNER
Life is Fare - USA
Alaska is a Drag – USA
AFRICA RISING
Watu Wote - Germany - WINNER
Idi Amin's Boat – Uganda
BEST SHORTS Breathless - USA
Little Fiel – USA - WINNER
Roof Knocking - United Kingdom, Estonia, Portugal BEST WOMEN IN FILM
Fugitive Task Force - South Africa VERDE (trans. Tranquility) - South Africa
Knockout Game - USA KASALA – Nigeria
The Chapter of Ionela – Germany
Retracing Jeneba: The Story of a Witness – USA
Back to Natural: A Documentary Film - USA - WINNER

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM

TIGERNUT (Homeland of the Whole hearted Women) - Spain
Kabadio - Time goes slowly, barefoot - Brazil
Out of Nigeria - United Kingdom
The Rescue List - USA - WINNER
Jimmy Goes to Nollywood - France
The Long Shadow - Canada/USA
DNA - Using Genealogy to Change My (Slave) Last Name - USA - WINNER

NON-COMPETITIVE CATEGORY

This category was curated with the unique goal of selecting films that beautiful combine a social theme with great
entertainment value!
This award is only targeted at African Filmmakers with the goal of encouraging them to explore this important genre of
film

YAA ASANTEWA - Film as a Tool for National Development

Ghana for You - Ghana/Belgium

Vagabonds – Ghana
Survivors – Sierra Leone
Corruption – Ghana
Both Saved – Ghana

Under the Non-competitive category we have another sub-category, “other” with the two following films:

La Sargento Matacho - Colombia

Little Girl Blue - USA

YAA ASANTEWAA Lifetime Achievement Award Winner- Madam Grace Nortey

AWARDS NIGHT
ACTING FOR SCREEN, NAFTI

PANEL SESSION
C3 CONTENT MARKET

OPENING CEREMONY

CLOSING CEREMONY
 FILM SCREENINGS

MUSIC CONCERT, SANDBOX

JAMESTOWN WORKSHOP
Meet the team

JULIET YAA ASANTEWA ASANTE

CEO/Founding President

MARIELLA MOSTYN WILLIAMS FRANCIS AGYEI FUNKUIN SAM

Festival Producer Head of Finance Head of Creative

NADEGE LOMO DARKWA SYL STEPHENSON ABITTY REGINALD NII-APONSAH

Personal Assistant to CEO/Founding President Head of Marketing & Partnership Project Manager

TAMARA EMPTY TATIANA MARTINEZ

STELLA KELLY HOWARD Head of PR & Communications
Head of Production & Submissions Volunteers Coordinator
VERONICA N. O. JOSIAH-ARYEH MARTIN LINDSEY VELARIE ASMAH

ABDULLAHI AHMED CARLOS ALLSTON JOSEPH OKINE NICHOLAS BROWN

ALHASSAN ABUBAKARI SUALIHU COURAGE DODZI GALLEY

Velarie Asmah

MATANAWUI EDEM BRIDGET

NANA EDGAR

SAMIRATU JUMANI SAKIBU

 MESSAGE FROM NAFTI

Cinema is an important and unique means of communica on and its visual

bias gives it a universal appeal. It is also a powerful tool for educa on and
communica on, which are prerequisites for na onal development. The
theme of this year's Black Star Interna onal Film Fes val (BSIF), Film as a tool
for na onal development, is therefore apt. As one of the leading film schools
in Africa, the Na onal Film and Television Ins tute (NAFTI) associates itself
with the 2018 edi on of the Black Star Interna onal Film Fes val (BSIFF).

The Ins tute is dedicated to producing film and media professionals who are
relevant to the development of African society. We appreciate the
importance of the Black Star Interna onal Film Fes val which provides a
pla orm for trainers, students and professionals of film to interact and ideas
with film makers from around the globe. The BSIF forums help to enhance
and deepen our apprecia on of film as a means of crea ng and projec ng a
posi ve, vibrant and meless global image of our society. NAFTI s ll
reiterates the call on Ghanaian and African film producers to be mindful of
content and create posi ve images of the con nent.

We are very delighted to be a part of this and will work with the hardworking
DR. SAMUEL NAI and dedicated team at the BSIFF Secretariat for the success of this year's
RECTOR fes val.
 UNESCO STATEMENT
FOR THE BLACK STAR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (BSIFF) MAGAZINE
AUGUST 2018
UNESCO congratulates the Black Star Interna onal Film Fes val (BSIFF) for this year's
(2018) Film Fes val. This is the third year running that the BSIFF and UNESCO have been
collabora ng regarding the film fes vals. The BSIFF falls within the Crea ve and Cultural
Industries and their vision fits within the overall idea of integra ng culture into local and
global development policies that UNESCO has been advoca ng and promo ng at all
levels.

Culture has emerged as an important developmental policy and strategic issue at

interna onal and na onal levels (e.g. Resolu ons 65/166 and 66/208 on Culture and
Development adopted by the United Na ons General Assembly). For the first me at the
TIRSO DOS-SANTOS
HEAD OF OFFICE & UNESCO REPRESENTATIVE
UNESCO ACCRA
global level, the United Na ons Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030
acknowledges the key role of culture, crea vity and cultural diversity in solving sustainable development challenges and
recognizes it as one of the key condi ons to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 to 'Make ci es and human se lements
inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Ghana's own “The Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Policies 2017-
2024” underscores this new approach to development.

We therefore support the efforts that BSIFF is making to ensure that culture forms part of Ghana's development model and
agenda as it represents the interests of key stakeholders in the film industry and connects government, local and relevant global
stakeholders with a focus on the business of film and how to keep that agenda going.
Special friends to the festival

H.E MRS REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO

FIRST LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA

H.E MRS SAMIRA BAWUMIA

SECOND LADY OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA
 Festival Patron

FRANK BRAKO ADU JNR

 MESSAGE FROM AFRICAN REGENT HOTEL

It is our pleasure to co-host Ghana's premier film fes val, the Black Star
Interna onal Film Fes val at The African Regent. We take our affilia on with the
Black Star film fes val seriously because we believe ourselves to be a part of this
resurgent movement to create and promote African Excellence in the arts as well
as other spheres of life.

The Blackstar Interna onal Film fes val seeks to bridge the gap between the
African and global cinema. It is a noteworthy effort in the arts space to promote
exportable local content to the global consumers. The fes val in its efforts over the
years has promoted the film industry in Ghana and Africa as a whole, contribu ng
to the tourism industry. This aligns with our posi oning, and we encourage every
stakeholder to use their influence in their own way to support the cause to
promote all the good things Ghana and Africa has to boast of. It is the reason why
we have collaborated with them since the incep on of this visionary project.

The African Regent, a hotel full of the expression of the rich culture of Ghana, has
over the past decade commi ed itself to promo ng tourism in all aspects of its
service delivery.
Our property was designed with the beauty and culture of Ghana and indeed
Africa in mind; this renders it as a tourist des na on in itself. We have stayed true
to our African heritage and culture whiles adhering to the utmost interna onal
standards, hence our tagline 'Simply Afropolitan'.

Once again, we take pride in the achievement and growth of the Black Star
JOHN KUFFUOR Interna onal film is very much pleased to be affiliated with this year's event. I
MANAGING DIRECTOR
would like to take the opportunity to wish all nominees the very best of luck.
 MESSAGE FROM IVET

It has been barely three years since I introduced the IVET brand
into Ghana's technological space and today I can beam with smiles
at the remarkable successes my team and I have achieved with the
introduc on of the a endance management systems, Recep on
and Feedback services. Being the de facto event a endance
management and feedback service on the market, IVET has gone a
long way over the past years, and is s ll doing a tremendous job at
elimina ng the long and winding manual process of managing
a endance at conferences, seminars, fundraisings, social
gatherings and other corporate events. IVET Recep on has also
achieved great heights in managing guests for many industry-
leading firms across the country.

The countless posi ve feedback we keep receiving from our

ROBERTO BEZZICHERI
growing circle of clients is a testament of our great works, and we
CEO
will not rest on our laurels; we at WebAd can only push harder in
our quest to make life easier by con nuing to develop innova ve
products for the Ghanaian market and beyond.
PARTNERS &
SPONSORS