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DESERT PHOSfate – (Saara Ocidental Film Festival)
October 22, 2024 @ 9:30 pm - 10:30 pm
FREE (Registration needed)
English Synopsis
DESERT PHOSfate is an experimental film that weaves through the multilayered narrations of phosphate, sand particles, plants and human and mineral dispalcement as well as the loss of Sahrawi indiginious nomadic ways of living. It also brings up strong expressions of community resilience through gardens and art. The film is made by a Sahrawi artist who attempts to decolonize his methodology of making films and telling stories, so he bases it on elements and narratives from his community.
FiSahara (Festival Internacional de Cine del Sáhara) is a unique film festival held annually in the Sahrawi refugee camps of Western Sahara. It was founded in 2003 with the goal of raising international awareness about the Western Sahara conflict and offering cultural and educational opportunities to the refugees. FiSahara serves not only as a platform for showcasing films but also as a space for activism, dialogue, and solidarity with the Sahrawi people. The festival attracts international filmmakers, actors, and activists, and screens films from various countries, including many on human rights and exile.
Saara Occidental is an extension of FiSahara, focusing on the cultural and political realities of Western Sahara. It helps amplify the message of the main festival, promoting the Sahrawi cause through art and storytelling in other parts of the world, often touring festivals and cinemas globally to spread awareness. Both FiSahara and Sara Occidental highlight the power of cinema to drive social change and build international solidarity for the Sahrawi people’s struggle for independence.
The festival includes workshops for Sahrawi youth, covering filmmaking, editing, and photography, and aims to empower the local population by fostering a love for cinema and self-expression
More information about original festival you can check on the official website