Reflecting the politics of the African continent in the 60s/70s, in this seminal documentary William Klein captures the radical atmosphere of the first Pan-African Cultural Festival in the continent that took place in Algiers in July 1969. The festival is a genuine meeting of African cultures united in their denunciations of colonialism and fights for freedom. Journalist Kevin Le Gendre remarks “The festival, for all its ecstatic concerts and processions is cast against a backdrop of casualty and fatality, as many of the performers knew first hand the realities of colonial repression and the protracted warfare that brought it to an end... Klein intercuts archive footage of the horrific brutality inflicted upon the Congolese at the height of Belgian rule... Culture had to be urgent, vital and revolutionary, otherwise it would not facilitate the demise of a dominant force that exerted control on all indigenous expression, from spoken and written word to ritual and customs”

This screening is part of a 2-part ‘Algerian Perspectives’ event and will be followed by an Artist Talk with with Nadja Makhlouf, Sarah El Hamed & Yasmine Boudiaf (see listing)

THIS EVENT IS PART OF THE CULTURE CONNEX FESTIVAL SEASON IN COLLABORATION WITH URBANFLO, PACE, BRIGHTON FRINGE, BRIGHTON PRIDE & UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX ([email protected])