A tender tale of forbidden first love told in an electric, colorful Afropop style, Rafiki tells the story of the tender but illegal and taboo romance between Kena, a skateboarding tomboy blessed with great grades and soccer skills, and Ziki, the charismatic daughter of a conservative local politician.
Black Perspectives Shorts: Growing Pains
Synopsis
In these shorts from across the diaspora, our protagonists are forced to mature in the face of difficult and uncomfortable truths. Featuring works by Laetitia Angba, Julie Redon Lissouba, Tevin Kimathi, Millan Tarus, Jean Gaspa, Natalie Jasmine Harris, Samuel Laine, Guilherme Gomes, and Julia Conatti.
A teenager grapples with the increasing likelihood of her father’s deportation in Lana (Canada). Stero (Kenya) puts us in the shoes of a young Kenyan boy as he embodies the traits of a badass hero. Go in Peace (Al nan la paix) (France) transports us to the crowded, sweaty waiting room of a Haitian consulate as tensions boil over. In Grace (United States), we take a trip to the American south of the 1950s, where a teenager grapples with guilt and her sexuality ahead of getting baptized. Free Lunch (United States) showcases the tragicomic events that take place when a child doesn’t have enough money to pay for his school lunch. Finally, we explore the ruminations of two twentysomethings from São Paulo in Trying (Estamos tentando) (Brazil).
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Animated Shorts: Major Developments
VariousBelgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Singapore, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States
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Stero [short film]
Synopsis
Bruce is in elementary school, and starting to trust his own instincts over the lessons instilled in him by teachers and authority figures. Using the guiding voice of his own personal superhero, he puts his bravery to the test and defies his school in the name of self-respect.
This film screens as part of the Black Perspectives Shorts: Growing Pains program.
Film Credits
- Juliana Kabua
- Millan Tarus
- George Mugambi
- Viboks Omondi
- Kael Wafubwa, Lucarelli Onyango, Justin Miricii, Angel Mwende, Amalie Chopetta
- Sean Peevers
- Bramwell Iro, Sam Soko, James Kimani, Newton Gitahi & Ahmed Saleem Deen
- Lbx Africa, Aftales Film Hub, Cafe Luna Films, Acre on a Hill
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Rafiki
Something Necessary
Kenya erupts in widespread violence following the results of a controversially disputed Presidential election in 2007. In the wake of that violence, Something Necessary tracks the lives of multiple characters trying to rebuild their lives and atone for their actions, doing whatever they can to move forward and change themselves for the better.
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