The anniversary edition will take place on Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, 8 at Akola Boni Park in Osu, Accra, and it is free.
Launched in 2016, Classics in the Park was created to restore communal film culture by bringing curated African and diasporic cinema to open public spaces. Over the past decade, the programme has screened more than 100 films and built a loyal community of film lovers.
AFS has also established a Film Library and Theatre in East Legon to support filmmakers and audiences.
This year’s milestone edition will feature screenings of Black Girl by Senegalese filmmaker, Ousmane Sembène, and the award-winning Ghanaian classic, Kukurantumi – Road to Accra, by King Ampaw.
Ampaw will participate in a post-screening question-and-answer session and will receive AFS’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to African cinema.
King Ampaw, trained in Germany, is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Ghanaian cinema. His 1983 film, Kukurantumi – Road to Accra, remains a landmark portrayal of migration and social change.
The film, which follows a young woman’s journey from rural Ghana to the capital city, offered an unvarnished portrayal of migration, aspiration and social transformation. His other works include They Call It Love (1972), Cobra Verde (1987) and No Time to Die (2006), testaments to his skill in telling African narratives at a time when few platforms existed for such storytelling.
Ampaw’s films have screened at major international festivals and academic institutions, contributing to global recognition of Ghanaian cinema.
Founder of AFS, Blitz Bazawule, credited the programme’s growth to the support of staff, volunteers and audiences, expressing optimism for the future of African cinema both on the continent and in the diaspora.
The anniversary celebration is expected to attract filmmakers, students and cinema enthusiasts for a weekend of film, reflection and tribute.
AFS is a Ghana-based cultural organisation dedicated to screening, preserving and promoting African and diaspora cinema. Through public programming, archival initiatives and filmmaker engagement, AFS continues to deepen appreciation for African film heritage and support indigenous storytelling industries.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh