AfricaPress-Tanzania: A NEW local film, dubbed ‘Binti’, literally meaning a ‘Young Lady’ has been selected to premiere at the 29th edition of the Pan African Film Fetival of Los Angeles (PAFF).
Seko Shamte, the director of the Binti film, was overjoyed to learn that her film will be premiered at a major festival. This year’s edition of PAFF will take place online due to the Covid-19 pandemic which is still raging in California.
The film looks at the modern day lives of Tanzanian women in the city of Dar-es-salaam as they strive to seek fulfillment in their lives.
Binti unfolds in four chapters and according to Shamte, “It was a dream come true to work with this group of women. “It’s not everyday you get a chance to tell these honest, dynamic stories about the female experience and I really credit my fellow producers for creating space for this type of storytelling.”
Shamte says, “I worked really closely with my actors, some of whom had their first film’s roles to play and I am so proud of what we have accomplished. People are going to be blown away.”
The film will premiere at PAFF on March 8th which coincides with International Women’s Day and will be accompanied by simultaneous VIP screenings in three East African cities, including one in the city where the story is set, Dar es Salaam. Binti is the first feature film produced by Black Unicorn Studios.
“We are extremely proud of our first feature and all the hard work that went into it,” says Alinda Ruhinda, who co-founded the Studio along with her sister Angela.
“Binti is a story for women and by women but it should be watched by all. We hope that this film will show the world that Tanzanians deserve to be included in the conversation of good storytelling. Our time is now,” Angela Ruhinda added.
The film can be viewed online from March 8th on the PAFF website by purchasing a festival pass. The trailer is scheduled to be released by mid-February.
