Thanks a lot, now makes sense... Here is what I have, kindly feel free to
look through whenever you have the time. I merged the mission/vision but I
still might be doing something wrong.
Two heads or are better than one so feel free to take a punch below:
{{Infobox film festival
|name=Black Star International Film Festival
|logo=Official_BSIFF_logo.jpg
|founded=2015
|location=[[Accra]], [[Ghana]]
|founder=[[Juliet Asante]]
|partnerS=[[National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI)]], [[Silverbrid
Group]]
|website=http://www.bsiff.org}}
The '''Black Star International Film Festival''' ('''BSIFF''')<ref>{{cite
web|url=http://bsiff.org|title=BSIFF official
website|access-date=2017-09-15}}</ref>
founded by [[Juliet Asante]] with support from partners in 2015 is an
annual film festival held around August in [[Accra]], [[Ghana]]. It started
in 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://citifmonline.co
m/2016/02/03/black-star-international-film-festival-launched
-in-accra/|title=BSIFF launched|access-date=2017-09-15}}</ref> The festival
is held between three to four days, which include various activities about
the festival’s theme<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bsiff.org/program/ |
title=BSIFF Theme | publisher=bsiff.org | accessdate=15 September
2017}}</ref> Typically, submissions are opened around February for
filmmakers all over the world after which the portal is closed for the jury
to judge and decide on the best films to be screened at the festival.
All activities for the festival are normally coordinated by the Festival
Producer<ref>{{cite web | url=http://africanwomenincinem
a.blogspot.com/2016/04/black-star-international-film-festival.html |
title=Ellerson Beti, a Black Star International Film Festival Producer |
publisher=africanwomenincinema | accessdate=15 September 2017}}</ref>. The
Producer for the maiden event in 2016 was Jacqueline Nsiah. The 2017
festival was produced by Sarah Wechselberger.<ref>{{cite web | url=
https://bsiff.org/what-we-do/ | title=Sarah Wechselberger, a Black Star
International Film Festival Producer | publisher=bsiff.org | accessdate=15
September 2017}}</ref>
As a non-profit, BSIFF creates global connections through films by helping
to bridge the gap between African cinema and the world. [6] The festival
focuses on the business of film and advocacy in the region. BSIFF works to
create a bridge between filmmakers in Africa and the world and facilitate
the exchange of cultures, the creation of employment, enhancing investments
in the sector, and generally improve the skill sets within the sector in
the region.
== History of BSIFF ==
Actress turned [[Film producer]] - [[Juliet Asante]] - started BSIFF in
2015 as a major platform to promote the film business in Ghana<ref>{{cite
web | url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5183296/?ref_=nv_sr_1 | title=Juliet
Asante on IMDb | publisher=IMDb.com | accessdate=15 September 2017}}</ref>
and Africa<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thenet.ng/2016/08/f
emi-odugbemis-gidi-blues-goes-to-ghana-uganda/ | title=BSIFF encourages
Africa Film Industry | publisher=thenet.ng | accessdate=15 September
2017}}</ref> and advocate for its growth within an African
context.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.accraexpat.com/
events/?type=event&story=3831 | title=BSIFF opportunity for Africa Film
makers | publisher=accraexpat.com | accessdate=15 September 2017}}</ref>
who attend. It also encourages the use of film to change the African
narrative outside the continent.
BSIFF commenced on August 25 and ended 28 of the same month in
2016<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bsiff.org/upcoming-activitiesnews/ |
title=BSIFF 2016 | publisher=bsiff.org | accessdate=15 September
2017}}</ref>, with Gold Coast<ref>{{cite web | url=
http://peacefmonline.com/pages/showbiz/movies/201608/290407.php |
title=Gold Coast film | publisher=peacefmonline.com | accessdate=15
September 2017}}</ref> – a Ghana/Denmark collaboration, and Gidi Blues – by
Femi Odugbemi<ref>{{cite web | url=http://mediahouse360.net/b
lack-star-international-film-festival-lit-accra-25th-28th-august/ |
title=2016 BSIFF | publisher=mediahouse360.net| accessdate=15 September
2017}}</ref> as the Opening and Closing Films respectively. Of the over
3000 submissions that made it to the premier edition, only 40 were selected
to be screened during the festival. The Festival Producer at the time,
Jacqueline Nsiah<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bsiff.org/about | title=BSIFF
Producer Jacqueline Nsiah | publisher=bsiff.org | accessdate=15 September
2017}}</ref> - was a freelance film festival and arts & culture consultant.
She is the co-director and curator of UHURU festival in Rio de Janeiro and
is currently a Programmer at Film Africa, London.
In 2017, Moonlight – Oscar-winning film directed by Barry Jenkins – was
the Opening film, while Amma Asante’s 'A United Kingdom' was the Closing
Film. Sarah Wechselberger<ref>{{cite web | url=https://ameyawdebrah.com/b
lack-star-international-film-festival-opens-accra-expect/ | title=Sarah
Wechselberger | publisher=ameyawdebrah.com | accessdate=15 September
2017}}</ref> – a festival volunteer in 2016 became the Producer of the 2017
event. Sarah had previously worked with the native section of the [[Berlin
International Film Festival]] and was part of a German – American
production in the States with [[Jamie Foxx]] (Sleepless Night, 2017), where
she was assisting the director of the film<ref>{{cite web | url=
https://bsiff.org/what-we-do | title=BSIFF Producer assists director of
German-America production | publisher=bsiff.org | accessdate=15 September
2017}}</ref>. Being a platform for networking and industry business, both
years saw the attendance of film distributors like Linda Nelson from Indie
Rights Movie, and Betty Sulty-Johnson of DIFFA (Distribution Internationale
de Film et Fictions d’Afrique) – a Distribution company specialised in
Selling African TV Content, who attended the festival in 2016, and Kunle
Falodu<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.
com/entry/when-the-first-lady-of-ghana-attended-my-party_us_
59a2b81ce4b0cb7715bfd682 | title=Kunle Falodu | publisher=huffingtonpost.com |
accessdate=15 September 2017}}</ref>, Vice – President (Distribution,
Africa) of [[Sony Pictures Television]] attending in 2017.
In 2017, there were a few additions to the festival: Yaa Asantewa – UNDP
Awards, Talent Market, and Cultural Immersion. The Yaa Asantewa – UNDP
Awards were awarded to films that filmmakers that went deep and told
stories that resonate to promote global good and to ensure that the
sustainable development goals (SDGs) become a reality for all. The Talent
Market, as an addition, is a high-level networking opportunity with the
goal of fostering business, co-production, and cooperation among industry
players. The Cultural Immersion was introduced to focus annually on a
different cultural group and present everything related to its culture –
from dance, music, art, and fashion to traditional food and drinks. These
additions pushed the reach of the work of the festival.
== BSIFF Today ==
The Black Star International Film Festival is the main activity of the
Black Star International Film Institute, which is engaged in other
projects, programs and activities beyond the festival, of which Advocacy is
a major role. The 2017 edition of the festival which started on August 19,
and ended August 21, had about 100 volunteers helping across all sections
of the festival program. These volunteers under the Volunteering Program of
the festival learn, network, and build their resumes while being a part of
the festival.
BSIFF 2017 was themed ''For the Young at Heart''. A major break was that
senior government officials came on board to promote the
festival<ref>{{cite web | url=http://citifmonline.com/20
17/08/18/first-lady-pledges-support-for-black-star-internati
onal-film-festival/ | title=BSIFF gets support from Ghana First Lady |
publisher=citifmonline.com | accessdate=15 September 2017}}</ref>. The
Institute continues to advocate for the growth of the film business in
Ghana and Africa even after festivities are over.<ref>{{cite web | url=
https://amaphiko.redbull.com/tr/projects/black-star-inte
rnational-film-festival | title=Beyond film | publisher=amaphiko.redbull.com|
accessdate=15 September 2017}}</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Film festivals established in 2015]]
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