Our programme is just about finalised. As always, we are very excited to welcome you to an amazing festival. For those of you who havent noted down the dates yet, the 2010 Africa in Motion Film Festival is taking place from 21 October to 5 November at Filmhouse Cinema and other venues in Edinburgh.

Wed like to start by giving you a few sneaky peeks at whats to come. We like sharing and giving you something to look forward to!

Films
More than 70 films from 28 African countries will keep you focused on Africa for over two weeks! We have selected the best contemporary fiction and documentary films in line with our theme of Celebrations. Some of the highlights are two days entirely devoted to African music and dance, with performances by Scotland-based African musicians and a dance masterclass at DanceBase by a celebrated Zimbabwean dancer. We will screen films about Senegalese Sabar and Tanzanian Taarab, about African drumming, all the sounds and musical fusions from Zanzibar, about Sufi rhythms and songs from North Africa and colourful choirs from the Cape Peninsula. The festival promises to be upbeat and electrifying!

Poetry in Motion
On the first Saturday of the festival, AiM is presenting an afternoon of poetry in the Scottish Poetry Library on Crichton's Close in Canongate. We have a line-up of seven young African poets who will read from their own work and the work of their poetic idols and inspirations. AiM offers its loyal and discerning audiences a chance to experience the vibrant work of these talented poets firsthand, and for free. Please keep the 23rd of October, from 2-4 pm free for some wonderful poetry.

Childrens event
On the second Saturday of the festival, the 31st of October, all children are invited to our screenings of short films and animations made by and for African children. After the screenings Kenyan/Scottish storyteller Mara Menzies will enthral the children with her wondrous African tales. An exciting afternoon of animation filmmaking will be hosted by Red Kite Animation Studio and talented Kenyan animator Alfred Muchilwa. Alfreds films, Tinga Tinga Tales, have been screened on CBeebies, so many of you may know his work! This afternoons animation workshop is especially geared towards 8 to 12 year olds.

Afro-jazz charity event - 31st July
An Afro jazz-themed charity event and fashion show is taking place at Surgeon's Hall in Nicolson Street, Edinburgh on Saturday, 31st July from 7pm. The event will include live music, an African show and an exclusive auction. All proceeds go to the SOS Childrens Villages in Zimbabwe, in response to the BBC documentary Zimbabwes Forgotten Children. Tickets are £15.00, and are available for purchase from: www.eventelephant.com/everyoneschildcharityevent. Contact Vee/Faith: faykuzz@live.co.uk or 0786177150 for further details.

Zimbabwean drama at the Fringe

Allegations
The Zoo
22 - 30 August, 5.15pm

A story of hope, fear and frustration in Zimbabwe today. A peasant farmers home is burnt down during a politically-motivated attack; a commercial farmer suffers a farm invasion. The two meet and have more in common than imagined. Developed by Zimbabwean director Patience Tawengwa and playwright Mandisi Gobodi, Allegations examines Zimbabwes brutal past and present and is a true story of hope, fear and frustration in the country today.

This two-man theatre piece was originally developed for the 2009 Harare International Festival of the Arts and will be performed in Scotland at the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time this August, as part of Beyond Borders 2010, a new festival of small nation cultures; events will include art exhibitions, film screenings, literature discussions and live performances. Find out more at www.bbscot.com.


Beyond Borders are offering friends of AiM a special 2-4-1 offer on tickets for Allegations throughout its run at the Fringe. To claim this offer you simply need to contact The Zoo box office: box@zoovenues.co.uk or 0131 662 6892.

Fair Trade on the Fringe

14 - 22nd August 2010 @ 10:00-18.00

During the Edinburgh International Festival, Fair Trade on the Fringe offers a wonderful selection of fairly traded products during one of the world's highest profile arts festivals - in an open sided massive marquee on Princes Street. The event is an ideal platform for organisations and businesses to sell and promote their work to a local and international audience. Last years event saw thousands of visitors and several celebrities including Clarke Peters from "The Wire". For last years event, see here.

This years event has been extended from four days to nine days and will have exhibitors coming from as far as Kenya and Nigeria and as local as One World Shop and Hadeel.

Venue:
Princes Street/Castle Street, Edinburgh

Contact:
Tania Pramschufer
Email: tania@handupmedia.co.uk
Phone: 0131 226 2674