Dunia Moja Human Rights Film Festival, Dec 14-18 2009 @ Alliance Française

DUNIA MOJA HUMAN RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL
14 – 18 December at 6pm at the Alliance Française auditorium
Entrance free

Dunia Moja will once again be marking the Human Rights Day with a Film Festival on human rights related issues. This year, the Festival will also highlight the 30th anniversary of the ‘Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)’, one of the most important women’s human rights conventions that defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination.

All films will be followed by a panel discussion.

December 14th
THE PLANET by Johan Soderberg & Michael Stenberg / Sweden (2006 – 1h24)
In this film, twenty-nine experts give their not-quite-pessimistic opinion about the state Planet Earth is in.
Panel Discussion: The global and local environmental crisis & the recommended alleviation processes on climate impact on Kenya

December 15th
ISETA – BEHIND THE ROADBLOCK by Juan Reina (2008 – 55min)
The film flashes back in April 1994, when British cameraman Nick Hughes filmed a murder in a street in Kigali. He is the only person to have captured such violence in Rwanda on camera. Years later, he returns to Rwanda, where neighbours, family and friends of the victims manage to identify those involved

December 16th
GETTING JUSTICE: KENYA’S DEADLY GAME OF WAIT AND SEE by Maina Kiai / Kenya (2009 – 1h04)
This is a documentary about the search for accountability and reconciliation in Kenya. The film gives voice to survivors; it looks at what they desire and discusses some of the issues that they would like to see.
Panel Discussion: Transitional Justice, national reconstruction and reconciliation processes in Kenya

December 17th
PEACE WANTED ALIVE by Judy Kibinge / Kenya (2009 – 45min)
In December 27th 2007, 11 million Kenyans queued peacefully to vote for president. The results were bitterly disputed and two days later, the country was on fire. Most badly affected were Nairobi’s informal settlements. But as we follow the journeys of a handful of young Nairobians and their struggles during and after the violent post-election violence conflicts in this powerful documentary containing never before seen archive footage, we will find new reason to hope and believe in Kenya.
Panel Discussion: Youth and their role in peaceful democratic processes – in all the sectors (political, social and economic)

December 18th
ENEMIES OF HAPPINESS by Eva Mulvad, Anja Al-Erhayem / Denmark, Afghanistan ( 2006 – 59 min)
(Winner of the Sundance World Cinema Jury Prize in Documentary and the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) Silver Wolf Award.)
This inspiring film follows extraordinary 27 year-old Malalai Joya – a folk hero and a women’s rights activist – who (despite four assassination attempts) was elected to the newly formed democratic parliament in Afghanistan in 2005.

Concert: Omar Sosa, Dec 11 2009 @ Alliance Française

Highly recommended – Omar Sosa is a phenomenal world-class artist!

OMAR SOSA
Afreecanos Trio from Cuba
Friday 11 December, 7pm
Alliance Française gardens
Tickets: 400/-

Afreecanos. Rooted in Africa. Omar Sosa’s new studio album brings together musicians from Africa, Cuba, Brazil and France to celebrate the rich heritage of African music in jazz and Latin music. A musician extraordinaire, composer, arranger, pianist, percussionist, Omar’s music is full of power and passion, subtlety and grace. Sosa’s performance can be described as an extraordinary example of state-of-the-art jazz, splendidly illustrating how entrancing the music can become when it is open and receptive to global input and interaction. The artist is on an Eastern and Southern African tour sponsored by CulturesFrance.

Movie: The Devil Dentist, Dec 7 2009 @ Alliance Francaise

THE DEVIL DENTIST
by Alexandros Konstantaras (2009 – 1h10)
a Pamoja Film Initiative
Monday, 7 December, 6pm
in English, Entrance Free

Dr. Karau, a successful Kenyan dentist, is about to seal a big deal with Crystal Gold, a multinational dental company. But when the deal goes bad the dentist decides to take revenge by using a secret formula that holds supernatural powers.

Watch the trailer on You Tube

Concert: Mbuvi Live, Dec 4 2009 @ Alliance Française

Exhibition: Portraits Autoportraits, until Dec 18 2009 @ Alliance Française

Concert: Asylum No More, Nov 27 2009 @ Alliance

ASYLUM-NO-MORE
Sam Ondieki and the Bakowola Band
Friday 27 November, 7pm
Alliance Française gardens,
Tickets: 500/-
A cocktail of high powered ethno fusion music from Sam Ondieki’s two albums ‘Monto Monene’ and ‘His Excellency’.

Movie: Someone To Run With, Nov 23 2009 @ Alliance

SOMEONE TO RUN WITH
by Muishehu Larutz Ito (2006 – 1h58)
presented by the Embassy of Israel
Monday, 23 November, 6pm
With English subtitles, Entrance Free

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Miami International Film Festival. The film follows Assaf and Tamar on parallel timelines, highlighting the distance between them and the loneliness they must endure before their narratives finally converge. Assaf, a shy, awkward 17-year-old is given an impossible task to track down the owner of a lost Labrador found wandering the streets of Jerusalem. The owner, Tamar, a gifted musician is ensnared in a seamy underworld that captivates Assaf.

Play: Ten Angry Kenyan Women, Nov 24 – Dec 13 2009 @ Alliance

Heartstrings Kenya is back with this year’s curtain downer, TEN ANGRY KENYAN WOMEN

Comedy: TEN ANGRY KENYAN WOMEN
Directed by: Victor Ber and Sammy Mwangi
Concept by: Dan Ndambuki aka “Churchill”
Venue: Alliance Française de Nairobi
Times: 6.30pm weekdays 3 & 6.30pm weekends
Charges: 500/-

Dates and status:
Tuesday 24th Nov
Press Night and Friends of Heartstrings Night, to our friends and die-hard fans, this is a special night, where we’re offering one ticket for every that you buy as our reward-15year reward dont come this easy! While they last!!!
Wednesday 25TH Nov,
This is Rotary Night -organized by Rotaract Club of Westlands in conjunction with Heartstrings Kenya to support the Fairmille Project in Kangemi. This is also our community social responsibility and sensitiveness to the community and environment we live in as we are called upon to leave this society better and more refreshed than we found it.
Thursday 26TH Nov,
It is NGOs Night- this organized under the auspices of networking-in-entertainment for the likeminded socialites in the Community and Non Governmental Organization’s players for an evening of networking, refreshing acquaintances and developing more, amongst other things. Coordinated by Akiba-Uhaki’s Mr. Kephta Ombati
Saturday 28th Nov,
Sunday 29th Nov
Tuesday 1st Dec, OPEN
Youth and Colleges/ Students Night, (proposed) a chance of students who love theatre to come and watch the show at an affordable rate
Wednesday 2ND Dec, -
Professionals Night, (proposed) – people who work as professionals in all the sectors, this is the night to meet, brush shoulders, renew acquaintances, energize your momentum, know the other players, while sitting down and being entertained, and also being seen to support the arts—now that’s something worth the while!
Thursday 3RD Dec, OPEN
Saturday 5TH Dec, 3pm
Sunday 6TH Dec
Tuesday 8TH Dec, OPEN
Wednesday 9TH Dec, OPEN
Thursday 10TH Dec, OPEN
Saturday 12TH Dec,
Sunday 13TH Dec

Tickets Hotline: 0721 60 86 56

SYNOPSIS
This comedy (Ten Angry Kenyan Women) is a must for all women but compulsory to all men.
It is a show written by Kenyan men for Kenyan women.
This comedy explores how politics, economy, society, education, poverty, marriage, business, religion, tribalism, corruption etc have managed to successfully categorize and marginalize women as the weaker sex. This is a cliché that the comedy will succeed in defying. Heartstrings Kenya strives to put women at the forefront for the first time. This is because the exclusion of women at the forefront has thrown our society into disarray and thus the ills that are afflicting us. The society is now reeling from the effects of neglecting the womenfolk. This has been witnessed in all spheres of life. Politics, religion, and economy: the list can go on.

The comedy thrives to raise and lift the woman to her deserved position: the top. This we will show by showing the anger that they are going through. This sidesplitting comedy will manage to drive the message home amid jaw dropping laughter. This we believe is the best way of passing on messages that need to be thrown out to the wider public. The pillars of society sit steadily at the lap of women. We are staring at a disaster if we ignore this. Heartstrings Kenya is proud to bring this home.

Among the talents featuring in this side-splitting comedy is the 6 finalists of TOP COMIC by Churchill.

Heartstrings Kenya is a versatile theatre company in Kenya which engages the society with their satires

Heartstrings Kenya
P.O. BOX 43321-00100
NAIROBI
www.theatrekenya.com

Screenings: Month of Documentary, Nov 16 2009 @ Alliance

Exhibitions: Joseph Bertiers, Ernersto Houngbo, Gilles Porte, Nov 9-20 2009 @ Alliance

EXHIBITIONS
9 – 20 November
Alliance Française Galleries

FROM KENYA: JOSEPH BERTIERS
paintings and sculptures

Bertiers’ obsession with art was ridiculed by his parents until an in-law prophetically intervened, convincing the family that this might well be his future livelihood. Bertiers also holds a diploma in commercial art. His satirical and colourful pictorial commentary earned him the ‘Jury Prize’ at the 2006 Juried Competition/Exhibition organized by Alliance Française and Goethe-Institut in Nairobi. Bertiers continues to draw attention to social and political issues of the time through his brimming canvasses that display penetrating wit.

FROM BENIN: ERNESTO HOUNGBO
paintings and totems

Self-taught artist, Ernesto holds a diploma in commercial graphic design. He undertook further fine art training in Abidjan following in the vein of expressionism. He also had the opportunity of indulging in the sport of fencing which led to improved steadiness of the hand. Ernesto does not use paint brushes, he paints with his fingers. Ernesto defines his art as having gone through three stages of metamorphosis: the form (he started with figurative painting), the force (the vigour that begin to impose on the form) and the essential (he learnt to go beyond the physical to the spiritual). Ernesto has exhibited in several West African countries, in France and in England. Ernesto will be an artist in residence at Kuona Trust from 11 to 18 Nov. interacting with Kenyan artists.

GILLES PORTE
Portraits & Autoportraits

A series of portraits and auto portraits by children from over 20 countries to mark the 20th anniversary of the International Convention on Children’s rights (20 Nov. 2009).

Movie: MR73, Nov 9 2009 @ Alliance

MR73 by Oliver Marchal (2007 – 2h4)

Monday 9 November

With English subtitles, Entrance Free

A discredited and alcoholic detective Louis Schneider earns a chance at redemption by protecting a woman from the man who killed her parents as he is about to be released from prison.

Concert: Spotlight on Kenyan Music – Final 2009, Nov 13 2009 @ Alliance

Play: Absent Friends, Present Enemies, Nov 6-8 2009 @ Alliance

The guests have interrelationship tensions and this is near erupting when Collins (Derrick Amunga) arrives for a party in his honour. John, Evelyn’s husband (Paul Mbuthia), has no business sense and needs Paul (Francis Amos) for deals that amount to handouts. But Paul has recently had an affair with Evelyn (Shirleen “Shish” Wangari), John’s wife. Diana (Angie Musira) hangs in as Paul’s wife, as long as she can pretend they have an open marriage. Her self-righteous friend, Marge (Margaret Karanja) chooses to confront Evelyn over her affair with Diana’s husband, heightening tension.

Give your spirits a boost: go see Absent Friends, Present Enemies at Alliance Francaise from 6th to 8th November 2009, Fri 6th @6 & 8pm, Sat & Sun @ 3 & 6pm . Tickets are on sale at Alliance Francaise, Assanand’s Music Shop on Moi Avenue and at Sarit Centre Information desk on ground floor at 500/= (students tickets at 400/=). Special offer of 400/= per ticket for tickets purchased by Thursday 5th November

FOR TICKETS: Call 0726-524-124
Or 020-2025811, 0728-130-134, 0733-993-654.
You can purchase tickets via Mpesa tel 0726-524-124, 0728-130-134

New French Classes, from Sep 7 2009 @ Alliance

French Movie: Pardonnez-Moi, Apr 20 2009 @ Alliance

PARDONNEZ-MOI
by Maïwenn (2007 – 1h26)
Monday 20 April, 6pm at Alliance
with English subtitles, Entrance Free

Expecting her first child, Violette decides to make a film on her family as a gift for her first born. Camera in hand, she ends up revealing shocking truth and family secrets as she confronts her mother, her sisters, a journalist that her mother knew 20 yrs ago and finally her father…

Concert: Kachumbari 7, Mar 27th 2009 @ Alliance

KACHUMBARI SEVEN
Fri. 27th March, 7.30pm
Alliance Française auditorium
Tickets: 400/-

The New Nairobi meltdown of Africa, Asia and Europe. An eclectic mix of musical backgrounds representing North Indian classical and folk traditions, the European classical tradition, the English folk tradition and African music traditions. The group’s music is a colourful mixture of acoustic sounds, moods and atmospheres, mixing improvisation with strict dance rhythms, folk melodies and ragas. A not to be missed cross-cultural experience.

Play: The Night Before, Mar 26,28,29th 2009 @ Alliance

THE NIGHT BEFORE
an Undone Theatre Production

26, 28 & 29 March
Friday: 6.30pm, Weekend: 3 & 6pm
Alliance Française auditorium, Tickets: 500 /-

By the Nigerian playwright Bode Sowande This is the night before the most important day in the life of a university student. It is a drinking party on the eve of a graduation ceremony. The students thrash about in anticipation of their future as time flips from past to present, future and back again.

Xavier Verhoest Exhibit, Mar 17th-31st 2009 @ Alliance

Opening of the exhibit March 17th at 6.30pm by the French Ambassador

Xavier Verhoest was born in Congo in 1964. He studied cinematography in Belgium and has been involved in different art projects in Kenya for the past 6 years. His work is strongly inspired by writers, including Paul Celan, Adonis and Le Clezio (winner of the 2008 Nobel).
This exhibit is his humble effort to construct an image through words, to create a link between what is common to all and what makes us different, to paint a territory that exist between the soul and the universe.

Poetry Show: Cut Off My Tongue, Mar 10th 2009 @ Alliance

At 7.30pm, tickets 1000ksh
‘Cut off my tongue’ is based on poetry by Sitawa Namwalie and is a dramatized poetry show that incorporates spoken narrative, music, dance and movement. Performed by eight versatile women from different professional backgrounds, whose love for the Arts has brought them together; the show critiques today’s society for a better tomorrow.

The poet, also known as Betty Wamalwa Muragori, is a mother, a wife, an environmentalist in her daily existence and is the brain behind the programme ‘Building Bridges of Understanding’ that is reaching out across ethnic groups who were in conflict, one of the causes of the post election violence of 2008.

Kenyan Movies: Subira & Killer Necklace, Mar 9th 2009 @ Alliance

At 6pm, free entrance

‘Subira’ by Ravneet Chadha (Winner of 8 International awards, 12min., produced by Hot Sun Films), is the story of a young rebellious girl who struggles against conformity in search of freedom. Ravneet worked as a financial adviser and only took to film making in her early 40s, breaking away from set traditions expected of an Indian woman, in order to fulfill her need for creative freedom.

‘Killer Necklace’ by Judy Kibinge (MNET New Directions film, 40min.) is a twisted tale of desire and deceit set in a modern African city where a lover will risk anything in an effort to win his woman’s heart. Judy Kibinge was Creative Director of one of East Africa’s largest agencies before starting her filmmaking career. Her other fictional films include ‘The Aftermath’, ‘Dangerous Affair’ and ‘Project Daddy’ besides several documentaries on human rights, wildlife and environmental issues.

Concert: Celebrating Women in Music, Mar 7th 2009 @ Alliance

Art Exhibit: Unity Through Diversity, Mar 2nd – 8th @ Alliance

UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY – A KENYAN PERSPECTIVE
an exhibition of artworks
Presented by the Embassy of the United States of America
2 – 8 March @ Alliance Française ground floor gallery

The United States celebrates its many cultures – native and immigrant – throughout the year. On 20 January, America highlighted this diversity in a unique way with the inauguration of its first bi-racial president on the day after Martin Luther King, Jr Day. To mark US-Kenya mutual respect for diversity, the US Embassy invited artists to submit representations on the theme in song, poetry, visual arts and dance. This exhibition is a display of the winning artworks.

Movie: The Black Candle, Mar 2nd 2009 @ Alliance

THE BLACK CANDLE
by M.K Asante Jr., (1h11min)
a Pamoja Film inititive
Monday 2 March, 6pm at Alliance Francaise
in English, Entrance Free

The Black Candle is an extraordinary, inspirational story about the struggle and triumph of African-American family, community, and culture. It is the first feature film on Kwanzaa (the week long cultural holiday honoring Africa heritage observed from 26 Dec. to 1 Jan. and dedicated to the seven principles of Kwanzaa: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), Imani (Faith).