About the Festival

The Africa World Documentary Film Festival (AWDFF) is sponsored by the E. Desmond Lee Professorship in African/African American Studies, Center for International Studies, University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The AWDFF has as its objective the promotion of knowledge and culture of the people of Africa, in a Pan-African context.

In promotion of the Pan African context, public viewings of submission accepted by AWDFF shall also occur in Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.

Though the AWDFF is non-competitive, prizes of $1,000 and $500 shall be awarded to two documentaries judged by the AWDFF committee as furthering understanding and contributing significantly to knowledge of the African World.

Coming Soon!

Online course webinar in Africa World Documentaries by Dr. Sheilah Clarke Ekong

Director’s 2012 Festival Message

Greetings:

Welcome to the 5th E. Desmond Lee Africa World Documentary Film Festival, sponsored by the E. Desmond Lee Professorship in African/African-American Studies, International Studies and Programs at the University of Missouri, Saint Louis.

Through the art of documentary filmmaking, the AWDFF is committed to the promotion of knowledge, life and culture, of the people of Africa worldwide.   In this 5th year we shall be presenting over 60 films submitted by filmmakers from Australia, Benin, Brazil, Canada, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Haiti, Ireland, Italy, Kenya Liberia, Libya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Switzerland, Tanzania, United Kingdom, Uganda, USA, US Virgin Islands, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 

We celebrate and congratulate the extraordinary group of talented filmmakers who have employed their craft and skills in the exploration of African subjects.  The majority of subjects covered in these documentary films are Cultural, Historical, Religious, Social and Political issues, and Human Rights issues.

This year we are thrilled to announce a new major partnership with the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization (CBAAC) in Lagos, Nigeria.  This is quite essential as CBAAC is the organization entrusted by the Federal Government of Nigeria to maintain the central mission of FESTAC; the World Festival of Black Arts and Culture, which was held in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977. Please allow me to take this opportunity to thank Professor Tunde Babawale - Director/Chief Executive of the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilization for the confidence he has displayed in the festival, and look forward to the success of this partnership and shared mission.

In this 5th year we are fortunate to be in continued collaboration with the Missouri History Museum in Saint Louis, University of West Indies in Barbados, University of Yaoundé in Cameroon and, “I Will Tell” International Film Festival in London, England.  We are also quite thrilled with our new collaboration with St. Louis University, The University of Kansas, Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria and the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame/Carver Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. 

My plethora of appreciation goes to the International Studies and Programs, especially the Director, Dr. Joel Glassman, Mr. Terry Marshall, Senior Coordinator of the E. Desmond Lee Global Ethnic Collaborative and International Performing Arts Series and Mr. Ephrem Andemariam, the Coordinator of African/African American Studies and the film festival.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation to the following individuals: Ms. Alex Detrick and Ms. Emily Underwood - Missouri History Museum, Professors’ Jane Bryce and Ian Craig - University of West Indies, Dr. Donatus Tandem - University of Yaoundé, Professor Dele Layiwola - Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Drs.’ Joya Uraizee, James Scott, Vincent Casaregola, and  Michelle Lorenzini – St. Louis University, Drs.’ Christina Lux and Beverly Mack - University of Kansas, Dr. Leah Tucker - Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame and Ms. Jenny Lee - “I Will Tell” International Film Festival.

Enjoy the Festival

‘Niyi Coker, Jr.
E. Desmond Lee Professor
Festival Director.