AFI Silver is proud to host the fifth annual New African Films Festival, co-presented by AFI, TransAfrica Forum, and afrikafe. The vibrancy of African filmmaking from all corners of the continent will be on display. This year also includes a selection of classic African films recently restored by the World Cinema Foundation.

AFI Member passes will be accepted at all films in the 2009 New African Films Festival, except the opening night film.

13 MONTHS OF SUNSHINE

First-time director Yehdego Abeselom demonstrates a light touch in this drama that explores the tensions between traditional values, cultural identity and the pursuit of one's dreams. In Los Angeles, Soloman and Hanna enter a marriage of convenience that becomes complicated with intimacy, love, jealousy and a clash of cultural values. A uniquely Ethiopian experience of the American dream. (Note courtesy of British Film Institute)

DIR/SCR/PROD Yehdego Abeselom; PROD Jeremiah Lewis. US, 2007, color, 98 min. In Amharic, English and French with English subtitles. NOT RATED

Thursday, March 19, 7:30; Encore Screening: Sunday, June 28, 7:00

SHOOT THE MESSENGER

A bold, funny and controversial film directed by the politically explosive Nigerian-Brit filmmaker Ngozi Onwurah. The film's opening line,"...everything bad that has ever happened to me has involved a black person," rouses and prepares us for a critically insightful and intellectually charged confrontation of ideological and cultural perspectives that is candidly rendered in this remarkably thought-provoking film. (Note courtesy of AFI 20/20)

DIR Ngozi Onwurah; SCR Sharon Foster; PROD Anne Pivcevic. UK, 2006, color, 90 min. NOT RATED

Thursday, March 19, 9:45; Saturday, March 21, 7:45; Encore Screening: Friday, June 26, 7:00