As the World Cup Finals approach, it’s hard to imagine a place that has not yet been infected with FIFA Fever. Even in the most remote villages in the most distant corners of the world, locals keep score while honking their vuvuzelas in support of their favorite team.

It is of course no small feat to bring the World Cup games to football fans in locations with limited access to television and the Internet. Over the past few months Open Air Cinema has been working with several partners to assist in bringing the FIFA World Cup to remote African villages. In the video above you can see how UNICEF has used Open Air Screens to broadcast live football to football fans in Zambia. These screenings combined with journalism workshops for local youth will open windows to the world for thousands who normally do not have access to international media. Over the next week we will follow UNICEF as they set their inflatable screens up in the sands of Zambia and light up the desert sky with their CineBox projection system.

We will also be taking you to the eastern coast of Africa to follow our own Stuart Farmer (Founder of Open Air Cinema) as he continues his work with Google and the Field of Dreams to screen the World Cup Finals in villages along the coast of Kenya.

Stay tuned to the Open Air Cinema blog to hear more about these exciting programs!

Once again, the Open Air Foundation of Open Air Cinema is teaming up with nonprofits to help change the world through the medium of outdoor cinema. Stuart Farmer, the founder and owner of Open Air Cinema, has headed to Kenya to hand-deliver an OAC outdoor movie system that will be used with the nonprofit programs of Kampala 2 Cape Town. K2CT is providing community outdoor screenings using Open Air Cinema equipment of the 2010 World Cup in Gisenyi Rwanda, Kampala Uganda, Oyugis Kenya and Mongu Zambia. The live World Cup screenings provide an excellent opportunity for K2CT to gather local communities in Africa and provide them with educational experiences, all of which will further the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals of ending poverty and hunger, providing universal education to all, the promotion of gender equality and child and maternal health, the combat of HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability, and the development of a global partnership for development.

From the K2CT blog: “K2CT is a technology savvy group, we searched long and hard for a technical solution to screening matches. With Open Air Cinema and their amazing inflatable screen we have selected a partner to help bring the World Cup to rural communities in Africa. Our attraction to Open Air Cinema was that they are already realizing the potential for more than just World Cup screenings to educate and inspire many.”

The Open Air Foundation is thrilled to be a part of such a historic global event, and we’ll be keeping you posted on the screenings and activities as the World Cup 2010 commences. Only two more days left until World Cup 2010!

The Fespaco Film Festival, held every year in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, is a pan-African Film Festival known especially for its outdoor film screenings. The festival is an important part of African culture as it gives native filmmakers a chance to screen their work for a large and prestigious audience. It is also important for the African people to have the opportunity to see films made by, for, and about, Africans in an industry which is so inundated with Western filmmaking. The outdoor movie screenings are often free, and may be the only opportunity locals have to see African films, or films at all. This is cinema in much of rural Africa: under the stars in the open air, surrounded by crumbling concrete, in a language people understand. Where cinemas are sparse and quality films are even fewer and farther between, occasional outdoor movies are often the only way rural Africans will experience the magic of the cinema. “Buud Yam” was one of the films screened at this year’s Fespaco Film Festival. It portrays the journey of a young man as he searches for a healer to save his sister. The following is a review of “Buud Yam” published by Variety magazine. You can read the original blog post about Fespaco’s outdoor movie screenings here.

To avoid his mother’s fate and save his sister, the youth sets forth on horseback on an arduous quest that will take him through forests and across deserts. At last, nearly dead himself, he stumbles onto a wise old healer whose potions cure Pughneere. With heartfelt apologies and much rejoicing, the villagers reinstate Wend Kuuni as a member in good standing of the community.

Fespaco Film Festival's Outdoor Movies are Introduced in Celebratory Style

On one level, the story is similar to Western and Eastern myths about the hero and his quest for a lost Grail, or, in this case, a magical medicine. Not only does it restore health to the sick girl, but it dissipates the clouds of superstition, intolerance and suspicion that hang over the otherwise happy village. Kabore’s message, arising out of the story itself, is that we must be tolerant of people different from ourselves.

As Wend Kuuni, Yanogo is a dignified young horseman with a faraway look in his eyes, who knows he is set apart from his native-born companions. It is easy to see why the two graceful teenage girls, Pughneere and her friend Komkieta (Severine Oueddouda), adore him. Last scene sets the stage for a third round of Wend Kuuni stories, as the young hero asks himself who his real father is.

Kabore is a masterful raconteur able to hold the viewer’s attention despite the typical slow pace of African films. He tells his story in exceptionally clear, simple images that are restful to look at, aided by Jean-Noel Ferragut’s sharp-edged cinematography. Composer Michel Portal adds an unexpected modern note to the timeless story through his musical commentary, combining native instruments with a soft jazz sound.

Source: Deborah Young -Variety. Read full review here: http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117329718.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0.

In Africa, movies can be more than a night out; they can be a step up. Making and watching films can change lives and empower individuals with information and ideas.

Outdoor cinema is an ideal medium for people in many parts of Africa and is growing in its use.

To show a film, they don’t have to own the land or build a building-the screens can be set up in an open field.

A provider of large inflatable movie screens, Open Air Cinema is making it possible to provide this medium for NGOs and small business owners in Africa at a discounted rate.

With the inflatable screens, projectors, speakers, sound equipment and generators everything is completely transportable.

For example, in Rwanda, Open Air Cinema has partnered with the Rwanda Cinema Center which has a program to showcase the talent of the brilliant local filmmakers at several locations across the country.

Meanwhile, Open Air Cinema, the world leader in outdoor cinema equipment, is announcing a humanitarian effort that includes a subsidized program to provide Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and small business owners in Africa with its inflatable movie screens to show films in an outdoor environment.

The Open Air Cinema CineBox product comes equipped with everything needed to offer NGOs a portable, durable solution to distribute information, education and entertainment via outdoor movie screens.

The systems are simple enough to set up and use for small events with a few people, yet large enough to easily accommodate gatherings of several thousand people.

“With the infrastructure challenges that are common throughout Africa, we are offering NGOs an effective and enticing new medium to deliver critical information and needed entertainment,” said Stuart Farmer, president of Open Air Cinema.

“Our inflatable movie screens and systems can be made available anywhere, even in the bush, so NGOs can now deliver consistent messages-through training films about AIDS awareness or women’s rights or an entertaining movie to help elevate the morale of those in the audience.”

Inflatable movie screens from Open Air Cinema have been used by the United Nations and FilmAid in refugee camps in Kenya and Tanzania.

The screens are also used for “Hillywood,” the traveling Rwandan film festival. Movies featuring filmmakers from Rwanda and other African states are shown on the inflatable screens in seven locations over seven days.

Up to 10,000 people attend each showing. Each community has the opportunity to feature their own stories, in their own voice.

“We take our film festival to remote areas of Rwanda to bring the magic of cinema to a people who desperately need it,” said Eric Kabera, founder of the Rwanda Cinema Center.

“Many people in this region have never seen a film, and we are working to educate and inspire them and open their eyes to the world of achievable possibilities.”

“Outdoor cinema is an ideal medium for many parts of Africa,” Farmer said.

“To show a film, you don’t have to own the land, it can be in an open field.

“Everything can fit in a Land Rover including the screen, projector, speakers, a sound mixer and a generator for remote outdoor viewing.”

The Open Air Cinema subsidized program is for use by NGOs and other organizations that desire to use the cinema equipment for humanitarian efforts in Africa.

The program includes detailed training, technical support and reduced pricing for participating organizations.

To apply for the program and for more information, visit www.openaircinema.us/humanitarian.htm

Please see previous post for more info: Eric Kabera, CEO of the Rwanda Cinema Center, is currently touring the US to meet with important partners and friends of RCC. These entries were taken from the RCC blog, which can be found at http://rwandacinemacenter.wordpress.com/

I am glad to let you know that on Monday, 22nd, the events that were scheduled went very well!

We met the 4 scholastic kids from Rwanda, the Minister of Culture Joseph Habineza, Jennifer, Dante and Nadine the kid’s chaperon at the Marriott Markis on Broadway for breakfast. This was the start of the day!

As we talked, I introduced myself to Dante who had not yet gotten the video we made of the kids in Rwanda! To our relief, the video only came in by mid morning. It will be edited and presented at the Gorillas summit on Friday.

Off we went for our first meeting at the Essex hotel. We were introduced to Craig Hacktoff, Jennifer and Tom the father of the famous baby tigers! (For those who do not know this extraordinary story, check the web: baby tigers adopted by two dogs!) We all know cats and dogs do not mix, but this is an incredible story that can give the rest of mankind a lesson: We can mix and tender for one another as long as we give that bit of love and care we all have! Or so goes Tom’s story…

About ten of us crowded the room where Tom freed the 3 baby tigers from their cage! We were allowed to touch them, give them milk and experience the bond the tigers had with the dogs. What a treat! Photos were taken and the kids from Rwanda had a blast! This was an incredible encounter!

After the interaction with the tigers, our group went for lunch and had to prepare for our next meeting and encounter! Guess what, the Scholastic Kids of Rwanda met their counterparts from the USA to sign a declaration protecting mountain gorillas in the presence of the 42nd President of the most powerful nation on earth! Former President Bill Clinton!

Sweating, as we were about 9 people crammed in a small room,we waited to be ushered into the room where we would shake the hands with Clinton. But shaking hands was not part of my agenda. The Rwanda Cinema Centre and I had been among the team that facilitated the program of the Scholastic Kids,so not only did I have the responsibility of following the kids and be part of the delegation but to also record their special moments (with Jennifer Brunetti’s camera). In the end I think my presence with all these cameras was too noticeable so our friends from the Clinton Global Initiative kindly suggested that we do not video record the event but only have pictures of the former president taken. So like many photographers on TV and movies, I decided not to line up and shake hands with Clinton but rather walked behind him flashing away!

Minister Joe had a chat with Former President Clinton, and it was fun to see the kids from Rwanda have an interaction with him too and even ask questions! As some of you may recall, I have filmed Bill Clinton before for one of my haunting documentary films on the survivors’ account of the 1994 Genocide. The footage of Clinton is featured in a sequence of an under toned Mea Culpa! A very strong sequence.

Clinton is such an amazing orateur! He spoke with the kids on conservation and even on the current McCain and Obama campaign! It was interesting, one of the Scholastic kids from American came forward and to ask questions but forgot the content, a bit intimidated he had to go back. Clinton was kind enough walk up to the kid and request that he ask the question again. “How bad or good is this campaign compared to the others?” the boy finally asked. This ended up being one of the best questions from the kids.

More photos were taken to the point we had to use a second camera. (Peter from the BBC had given me his camera to take pictures of him with Bill Clinton!) It was fun and I was glad that I did not only get to meet Clinton again, but that I took so many pictures that some of his security guys whispered to me that it is enough! “Your flash is too strong,” they had told me.

Finally, the Scholastic Kids and I went to another event. Back to back, from one President to another. This time it was the President of the Republic of Rwanda in an event organized by the Macy’s Stores. Macy’s sells the famous Peace Baskets of Rwanda. These are known to be the best baskets, better than what Japan, China and other places that are putting out on the market. Cecile Kayirebwa (famous Rwandan singer) performed at the event, speeches were made by the CEO of Macy’s followed by President Kagame… it was a great event!

Again, I was flashing away. Upon reaching my President and shaking his hand, he recognizing me and quietly asked how I was, to which I replied, “I am fine your Excellency.”

Having an interaction with 3 baby tigers in a New York Hotel with dogs taking care of them, meeting two Presidents in a day, watching an Opera in an open space on Broadway, what else can excite kids of 11 and 12 years old? In a nutshell, this was too much for them! They were soon worn out! However it was all worth it as they were given five MacBook laptops by Craig Hacktoff the co-founder of Tribeca Film Festival. Nadine, their chaperon got one too! A very welcomed ‘goodnight kiss’ for the kid’s last evening.

This entry was taken from the official blog of the Rwanda Cinema Center and its CEO, Eric Kabera. For more information check out http://rwandacinemacenter.wordpress.com

CEO and founder of the Rwanda Cinema Center, Eric Kabera, will be touring the US from September to November this year.

Eric’s main aim on this tour will be to meet with potential partners and supporters of RCC and reinforce their relationship with the TRIBECA Film Institute.

RCC along with the TRIBECA Film Institute are working to create an exchange program which will enable Film students from Rwanda to visit the US and get a first hand experience the US film industry. Film students from the US will get the same opportunity in Rwanda.

Eric will be visiting universities that have shown an interest in RCC and Rwandan films namely; the University of Southern California (USC) and some universities in Michigan. He will be meeting up with groups from Hollywood to further develop our relationship and will be talking especially to comedy writer Edward Greenberg.

This tour will also serve to present our achievements and prospects to the interested parties. Our progress on the independent movies theatre will especially be presented to Philip and Monica Rosenthal, who helped materialize it from a simple idea.In addition, Eric will be meeting with the manufacturers of inflatable screens in Utah to discuss and further explore the use of this technology.

Upon the success of Eric’s tour to the US, RCC hopes to officially launch film classes at the first film institute in Rwanda (Rwanda Film Institute) by next year. We hope to have updated a yearly calendar and to have recruited mentors to kick-start this phenomenon.

Finally we hope to have introduced, to potential producers, our first comedy feature called CBB (formerly under the title ‘Dodou Goes to the World Cup‘).

If any of this has inspired or even made you a tiny bit curious, please get in touch by leaving a comment on Eric’s blog (http://rwandacinemacenter.wordpress.com/) or by contacting Eric himself at erickabera@yahoo.com

If you are a producer and are interested in film from Rwanda, Eric would be over the hills if you were to contact him or better yet meet up with him on tour.

Here are some dates and locations for those interested:
New York (20th – 28th September, 22nd and 27th October,7th – 8th November)
Michigan (28th September – 3rd October)
Los Angeles (4th – 11th and 14th – 22nd October)
Utah (11th – 14th October)
Boston (22nd – 26th October)
Atlanta (27th – 31st October)
Washington (1st – 6th October)

The Rwanda Cinema Center

The Rwanda Cinema Center was created to facilitate film and video production; to deliver informative, entertaining, and educational content; and to explore a wide spectrum of issues and raise awareness on local and global development agendas, community outreaches, and socio-cultural, political and economic development. Film is one of the most popular forms of entertainment, but it also represents an industry that is growing- thus creating trades, foreign investments and job opportunities. Rwanda is now a country on the move and their cultural diversity and creative energy is finding the space to flourish.

In addition, Rwanda Cinema Center is putting up Rwanda’s first independent movie theater. This will be the scene of workforce training and include a sound stage that can be used by public and private entities. The main hall will be built to the same standards used for Los Angeles and Hollywood facilities. There, filming of major motion pictures, television documentaries, commercials and independent films will take place. It is hoped the complex will meet every aspect of a production company’s needs. This investment will mean more jobs and opportunities for the Rwandan people, and will facilitate the growth of Rwandan cinema.

So there is no cinema in your neighborhood? No cinema in your city? Not even a cinema in your country? Well, that didn’t stop a group of young Rwandan filmmakers from screening their films in nearly every corner of their country.

With an inflatable movie screen from Open Air Cinema thousands of Rwandans have been able to enjoy a special new brand of cinema: Rwandan cinema. A wave of Rwandan films have been circling the world since Eric Kabera (a Rwandan native) produced a film entitled 100 days, a story about the years of genocide that plagued Rwanda. That film heavily influenced a number of other movies including the award-winning Hotel Rwanda. Rwandan cinema has been highly acclaimed in film festivals as prestigious as the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. But international success was not enough for Kabera, who felt that these films would have a much greater impact in rural Rwandan villages. Kabera immediately set up the Rwandan Film Center in the capital of Kigali as a space for young Rwandans to learn the skills needed to produce movies, films and documentaries about relating to Rwandan culture and history. Armed with a large inflatable movie screen from Open Air Cinema, the Rwandan Film Center has roamed through the hills of Rwanda screening hundreds of films and movies, both foreign and domestic.

The lack of movie theaters in Rwanda has not at all hindered the growth of Rwandan cinema, with a portable compact cinema system, anybody anywhere can now enjoy the wonders of film!

The largest outdoor cinema event ever held in Africa! Open Air Cinema in cooperation with Film Aid International staged the largest outdoor movie event ever held on the continent of Africa. An open air screening of George of the Jungle drew over 15,000 participants from a Sudanese refugee camp in Tanzania. The movie screening was followed by a short documentary film.

Open Air brings films to Refugees in Africa

Tanzania. The forest stillness is broken by squeals of laughter as African refugee children watch monkeys drive cars in the movie “George of the Jungle.”
The next film “Neria,” teaches them about human rights, with an emphasis on the rights of women.
For many of the 15,000 or more Tanzanian refugees watching tonight, these are the first movies they’ve ever seen.
“These kids are going to have to move back to their country and not have anything like this, (but) for a little while, it’s good,” said Stuart Farmer, president of California-based Open Air Cinema LLC, which provides outdoor movies on inflatable screens.
“With outdoor cinema in America, we’re here to entertain people and promote community involvement,” Farmer said. “But out in Africa, outdoor movies are much more than that.”
Farmer started Open Air Cinema in 2001 after winning a business competition at Brigham Young University. When he learned about FilmAid International, a nonprofit group that reaches out to refugees through film, Farmer knew they had to help.
So the company donated three screens, projectors and speaker systems, which all run on gas generators. Farmer just returned from three weeks in Africa where he saw the grateful reception.
“The inflatable screen represents a new technology for us that I believe is going to give us more flexibility,” said Andrew Heyduck, program director for FilmAid International. “We’re really, really happy. The inflatable screen has become a key part of what we do.”
Prior to the inflatable screens, films were shown on screens attached to stacked shipping crates.
Headquartered in New York City, FilmAid International brings educational videos and entertaining films to the nearly 33 million people who are forcibly displaced from their homes by war, natural disasters or political upheaval, according to the group’s Web site, www.filmaid.org. One of their biggest geographical focuses right now is Africa.
“We’re providing entertainment and education, but it’s also about giving them a voice,” Heyduck said.
Heyduck’s background is in delivering relief supplies to refugees. However, refugees need more than just food and first aid, he says.
“We’re … empowering them, giving them film production training,” he said. “We’re providing services that nobody else provides to refugees.”
FilmAid only goes into areas where basic life needs are already being addressed.
In response to education needs, the films address HIV/AIDS, domestic abuse, rape, sexual exploitation and land mines, as well as how to promote peace and reconciliation.
A refugee advisory committee screens each movie to check for cultural sensitivities and whether it would be relevant to that particular group.
Refugees also develop scripts, produce and shoot many of the films.
“Films that are shot on site have a real special impact,” Heyduck said. “They’re much more relevant.”
Tanzanian native Pius John was hired by FilmAid International in December 2002 as a technical assistant. He has moved up through the organization and is now a participatory video coordinator and helps to train others and repair equipment.
“Refugees love very much FilmAid,” John wrote in an e-mail to the Deseret Morning News from Tanzania. “It is the only program that can pass messages to the thousands of people at a time. FilmAid program also refresh refugees mind so as to forget the past!”
He said the program not only entertains and inspires refugees, but it provides them with skills and training that will help them find opportunities in their own countries.
Farmer said he was amazed at how respectful and gentle the crews were with the equipment that represented so much for them and the community.
“Refugees around the world need help,” Farmer said. “They have absolutely nothing. FilmAid is looking to educate them, also to entertain them and inspire them.”

See the footage made by FilmAid Event Staff in Tanzania