Harambee Africa International has made official the winning documentaries of the 9th edition of the International Award: “Conveying Africa”. There were two categories in the competition: video documentaries and video clips made by young people under 25 years of age. A total of 841 applications were received from filmmakers, production companies and non-profit organisations from different countries in Africa, Europe and the United States, selected by a jury composed of authoritative international figures from the communications sector.

The Award, which is held every two years, aims to highlight the commitment, through video works, to the construction of a more realistic account of Africa that takes into account the countless challenges but also the progress, potential and richness of African realities. And in this sense: “The award-winning videos are emblematic of an important change of perspective.

For this edition, and for the first time ever, the same director won both categories: the young Ghanaian David Boanuh, co-founder of the production studio “Beautiful Stories”. The jury declared “Reframed” the winner of the video clip section and “The Golden Seeds” took first place in the documentary video category.

The motivations
For REFRAMED.  “Very aesthetically pleasing, the video clip effectively builds the image of the Continent by restoring its complexity, variety, dynamism, enthusiasm, joy. The jury wished to reward the commitment and the ability of the authors to contribute to an image of Africa different from the most frequent representations“. https://youtu.be/QMB7KwAYczU

For THE GOLDEN SEEDS. “In exploring a specific and complex problem -the cocoa industry- the documentary projects us into a world -African- with an African perspective, showing the difficulties of people with a realistic and respectful look that avoids commiseration. A portrait of determination, commitment, strength and hope emerges. The jury particularly appreciated that, through the testimonies collected, the desire for family, education, deep ties with the community and proactive engagement in one’s daily life was highlighted.” https://youtu.be/zD29eAXsHQc

The jury also deemed the video documentary KANDIA by Jean Hamado Tiemtoré deserving of a special mention: “The jury appreciated the hopeful look at local society, through the narration of a concrete and original experience of coexistence and integration. The author’s desire to show a different kind of relationship between ‘migrants’ and ‘natives’ than the one proposed by the media is effectively and poetically portrayed.” Tiemtoré is a young artistic director, born in Burkina Faso and living in Lecce, committed to the enhancement of African cultures through theatre and cinema. https://youtu.be/N2CLpqgeoXA

With this Award, Harambee wishes to offer opportunities for dialogue and greater knowledge of the realities of “Africa is a Continent of bursting vitality and a place of a thousand nuances, but unfortunately images of war, poverty and backwardness still prevail”. Furthermore, it adds, “we are convinced that more solidaristic attitudes are encouraged by offering a perspective of hope rather than inexorably catastrophic scenarios”.

The award ceremony of the competition took place in Rome, on Friday 30 September, at 4 p.m., at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

Partners of the H Prize are: REDANI, Signis Services Rome, Further Africa, Vado in Africa, Banca Popolare di Sondrio, On The Road TV, HappyChild.