Haile Gerima's "Sankofa" to be featured in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, January 27(ENA)-- "Sankofa", the widely acclaimed film of Ethiopian director, Haile Gerima, is due to be featured for the first time in Ethiopia next Sunday, the 2nd of February 2003, Manager of Mypheduh Films Incorporated (MFI) said.

Selome Gerima said the company will feature "Sankofa" at the Ethiopian National Theatre and has plans to screen it later in the different parts of the country.

"Sankofa" addresses the 19th century slavery and the continuing problem of those persons in the African Diaspora who neglected their own history, a synopsis of the film says.

"Sankofa" is an Akan (indigenous African language) word, meaning to return to the past in order to go forward.

Haile received his MFA from the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1976 and produced several films. "Hour Glass", "Child of Resistance", "Bushmama" and "Harvest 3,000 Years" were all produced during Haile's years at UCLA.

Haile also produced "Ashes and Embers", "After Winter: Sterling Brown", "Through the Door of No Return" (Co-producer and editor), "Imperfect Journey", and "Adwa - An African Victory", among others.

MFI would premier "Adwa- an African Victory" on the 2nd of March 2003 at the National Theatre on Adwa Victory Day, according to Selome.

Haile traveled to the United States in 1967 to study at the Goodman School of Drama. He is described as an "independent filmmaker," for he produced and distributed most of his films himself.

"By approaching filmmaking this way Haile believes that he can maintain the content of his films, without having to follow the 'formula' dictated by 'Hollywood films'", says a commentary written on him.

In an attempt to address the imbalanced system of distribution in the United States Haile founded MFI in 1982. MFI distributes Haile's films and films by other filmmakers of African descent from around the world.

Haile is currently working on "Adwa Part II - The Children of Adwa". This film will look at the return of Italy to Ethiopia during WWII and the gallant determination of Ethiopians to remain free.

Haile teaches film at Howard University and is a father of five.

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