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  Films

Masai: The Rain Warriors (France/Kenya)
Director: Pascal Plisson

Synopsis: Faced with a drought that endangers the continuity of their people, Masai elders are convinced that they have been cursed by the Red God -- the God of Vengeance. Following the death of the war chief, a group of adolescents must now cross over to adulthood, forced to quickly form a new generation of inexperienced but brave warriors. The young men must bring back the mane of a legendary lion, which appears at every critical period of Masai history to appease the wrath of the Red God and bring back the rains. The survival of their culture depends on this quest.

Zaina: Rider of the Atlas (Morocco/France/Germany)
Director: Bourlem Guerdjou

Synopsis: Set in the 19th century against the breathtaking backdrop of Morocco's Atlas Mountains, Zaïna, Rider of the Atlas blends fable and adventure in a film that is certain to captivate both parents and kids. After the death of her mother, 11-year-old Zaïna doesn't know who to trust: the wealthy but dangerous overlord Omar, who loved her mother but also caused her death, or the nomadic, horse-raising father who she has never met before. Chancing life with her real father Mustapha, Zaïna joins his band of horsemen on a 20-day trek across the Atlas Mountains, as they take their prize thoroughbreds to compete in a famous race in Marrakech. But Omar, desperate to keep Zaïna for himself, chases the group, and he will stop at nothing to get the girl back. Full of life-or-death swordfights, a thrilling horse race, and stunning scenery, Zaïna, Rider of the Atlas is the story of a father and daughter's triumph over the odds in a fascinating fairytale world.

Magic Cellar (Canada/South Africa)
Director: Firdaus Kharas

Synopsis: Magic Cellar is the first 3D animated series ever created on African culture, faithfully and beautifully replicating local folktales to reflect the rich story-telling tradition of Africa. Magic Cellar preserves African folktales, some of which are being lost as the tradition of oral story-telling diminishes. It features a multi-cultural cast of characters, with the principal character being a black girl. The series celebrates Africa's culture and traditions, while promoting reading as exciting and adventurous. The stories are based on African folktales, partially collected from interviews conducted with elders in villages across South Africa. Each episode is broken up into three sections: a brief introduction and set-up; the African story; and a wrap-up with the lessens learnt. Each episode is a self-contained, animated short. Episodes include:
Lonely Old Woman, Hare and Elephant, The Lion’s Promise, Skulume-Xhosa Hero, How Chameleon Got a Bad Name, The Jackal & the Lion, Magic Cattle, Lazy Hare and the Well, Baboon and Grandmother and Leopard and her Spots.


The Pact (US)
Director: Andrea Kalin

Synopsis: The gritty, provocative true-life story of three friends from the ‘hood, Rameck Hunt, Sampson Davis, and George Jenkins, who made a pact in high school to find a way to go to college and then medical school. They not only accomplished this, but they’re now spreading the word to inspire other inner-city kids to stay off of drugs, out of gangs and to take the educational route to a better life. The Pact captures the pathos of the men’s individual journeys, the integrity of their voices and the power of their rare friendship. Their stories affirm the values that ultimately sustained and drove them: courage, tenacity, and faith. And they give tribute to the life of the mind and its power to turn dreams into reality.

La Rebelle (The Rebel) (Haiti)
Director: Sacha Parisot

Synopsis: A sweet Haitian teenage girl becomes a foul-mouthed, alcohol-drinking, drug-taking, promiscuous teen when she finds her single dad with a new girlfriend. Just how far will she take her personal rebellion?

Found Sounds Bahia (Brazil)
Director: David Zucker

Synopsis:In Salvador, Found Sound is about creating exhilarating music out of material that would otherwise be thrown away. Jair Rezende, a protege of Carlinhos Brown, has taken it upon himself to transform not only his community, but also the entire world through his band, Lactomia.

Wanna Be (US)
Director: Shani Harris Peterson

Synopsis: Tat dreams of being a video vixen. So with money originally earmarked for college, she heads to Atlanta to attend a workshop taught by the infamous Lady Jae - the #1 video girl in the biz. But will Lady Jae's expertise be enough to transform a suburban teen into a hip-hop video queen?

My Letter to Hip Hop (US)
Director: Malik Booth

Synopsis: Breakdown the Beats. The essence of Bridget Gray's original poem "My Letter to Hip Hop" was morphed into a narrative short film. In the film, Bridget offers her views on the current state of Hip Hop and its effect on youth culture. A poem about hip-hop music's degrading portrayal of women.

Sugar Cane Alley(Martinique/France)
Director:Euzhan Palcy

Synopsis:Touching without being sentimental, political without being preachy, this story set in 1930s Martinique is both lyrical and powerful. Writer-director Euzhan Palcy tells the story of a young boy who is orphaned at the age of 11 and sent to live with his grandmother, who works on one of the island's sugar cane plantations. Though he is bright, she realizes he has no future if he stays on the plantation. So she does what she can to keep him in school and away from the back-breaking, will-sapping hard labor to which she's devoted her life. Can he rise above his humble beginnings? Will he forget about his self-sacrificing grandmother and leave her behind?

AMAZING GRACE : (UK/USA)
Director: Pascal Plisson

Synopsis:AMAZING GRACE, from acclaimed director, Michael Apted, tells the inspiring story of how one man’s passion and perseverance changed the world. Based on the true life story of William Wilberforce (Ioan Gruffudd), a leader of the British abolition movement, the film Chronicles his epic struggle to pass a law to end the slave trade in the late 18th century. Along the way, Wilberforce meets intense opposition from members of Parliament who feel the slave trade is tied to the stability of the British Empire. Several friends, including Wilberforce’s minister, John Newton (Albert Finney), a reformed slave ship captain who penned the beloved hymn Amazing Grace; urge him to see the cause through.

AG has a website that includes a teachers guide amazinggracemovie.com


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