And that's a wrap!

The 20th anniversary of the One World Film Festival has come to a close. This year's event was a fantastic success, and we'd like to thank everyone for making this year one to remember. A special thanks to all our sponsors, volunteers, and to each and every attendee. Also, many thanks to the organizations and businesses who setup kiosks and brought a diverse and unique appeal to this year's festival. And let's not forget our fabulous musical performers and Umi Cafe for the delicious snacks and coffee!

While this year's festival is over, WIAM events have not come to a halt. If you would like to receive email updates about upcoming events, please send your contact information (email address) to the WIAM office.

Take care and we hope to see you again at the festival in 2010.

Last chance to bid on the South African Safari

On an overcast day such as today, a South African Safari sounds pretty good! Tonight, the final evening of the One World Film Festival, is your last chance to bid on the Safari for Two package we're giving to the highest bidder.

How can you bid?

Come down to Library and Archives Canada at 395 Wellington Street and make your bid in-person before 9:30 p.m. While you're down, stay for the four films we're screening this evening!

Can't make it in time? Email Andrew at: astrutty@gmail.com and he'll give you more info on your bidding options.

The bid is currently at $950!! If you're willing to bid a little more for this chance of a lifetime, make us an offer!

The winner to be announced tonight at the festival.

More than just films

One of the great things festival goers are raving about this year's event is that it's more than just compelling international films. Going to the One World Film Festival really is an all-encompassing experience. Not only can you see some great documentaries that touch on global and social issues worth contemplating, but you can catch some toe-tapping live musical performances, grab a bite to eat or some fair trade coffee from Umi Cafe, and engage in some interesting and thought-provoking discussions after the films.

Another fantastic part of the One World Film Festival is the wide assortment of kiosks we have. At the kiosks, you can find fair trade businesses and other organizations that have representatives who are more than happy to discuss where they come from and what they do. This year we have a lot of great merchandise for sale as well, including jabu bags that come from Swaziland and help generate revenue for the women in the region who make the bags.

Be sure to stop by our Safari kiosk and ask our volunteers about how you can bid on an Africa Safari trip for two. There's still plenty of time to bid—the highest bidder and "winner" of the trip will be announced October 30—the last night of the festival.

And that's not all! But to get the full experience, you can't just read about what the One World Film Festival offers. You have to be there! Your next chance is coming up this Friday, October 23, when the film selections will focus significantly on women's rights in Afghanistan and Iran. For more information about the films this Friday, please visit our website!

The Festival begins tomorrow!

We're very excited for opening night of the One World Film Festival tomorrow. Besides seeing three great films, you can also visit the many kiosks we have setup, pick up some great fair trade products, and listen to some wonderful music by live performers.

Tomorrow is just the beginning! There are still three other days to the festival, happening October 23, 29 and 30, plus some bonus screenings at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University.

Here's the film lineup for tomorrow:

Us Now
6:00 pm

The Fair Trade
7:45 pm

Milking the Rhino
9:30 pm

And keep your eyes peeled for our collection of posters from past years of the festival. This year, as a special treat, you can take home your own 20th anniversary poster for $5!

See you tomorrow for the festival kick-off! That's at the Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St.

Africa Week Specialty Screenings

In celebration of our 20th anniversary and Africa Week—October 19th to 23rd—we're proud to partner with the new Institute of African Studies at Carleton University to bring you two specialty screenings this October.

Buud Yam
Wednesday, October 21 @ 7 pm
Theatre B, Southam Hall, Carleton University

and

Zan Boko
Thursday, October 22 @ 7 pm
210 Tory Building, Carleton University
Hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

About the films

Buud Yam
Burkina Faso filmmaker Gaston Kabore brings us a story about Wend-Kuuni, the son of a sorceress, who embarks on a quest after his sister falls ill. His long and eventful journey to find a healer for his sister ultimately becomes a journey of self-discovery.

Zan Boko
Another film by Burkina Faso filmmaker Gaston Kabore, Zan Boko portrays the effects of urbanization on traditional village life through the story of a single farmer, Tinga.

For more information about Africa Week, please visit Carleton University's website.

Has God Forsaken Africa? on October 26

Don't forget to join us for our special benefit screening at the University of Ottawa on October 26. We'll be screening Has God Forsaken Africa?, in partnership with the university's Masters of Globalization and Internation Development Student Association. Suggested donation: $5 at the door.

Hope to see you at all these fabulous film screenings!

The program is here

Here it is: the official program for the 20^th Anniversary of the One World Film Festival! On Program 1, you will find information on the festival’s schedule and all of the screenings, as well as contact information. On Program 2, you will find a detailed write-up of each of the films, giving you the chance to learn more about each film and the powerful stories they tell. Click on either of the images below for an enlarged version.

Special screening: October 26

The 20th anniversary of the One World Film Festival is turning out to be a very special year indeed. We're pleased to invite you to a special screening of the film Has God Forsaken Africa? followed by a panel discussion that everyone is welcome to participate in. We're also very excited to announce that the director, Musa Dieng Kala, will be in attendance for the event along with two other guest speakers! Please note that this event will be in both French and English.

EVENT INFO:

Has God Forsaken Africa?

Monday, October 26 @7 p.m.

Room UCU 205, Université Private

University of Ottawa

Suggested donation: $5

This screening is presented in partnership with the Masters of Globalization and International Development Student Association of the University of Ottawa.

About the film:

Each year, thousands of young Africans risk their lives to flee a continent scourged by war and endemic poverty. Many drown or die of cold, hunger and fatigue. Shocked by this growing phenomenon, Musa Dieng Kala returns to his country’s capital, Dakar (Senegal) to ask the question: Has God Forsaken Africa? See how this documentary is a moving call for a global ecology in which no nation or people is abandoned.