BYU NewsNet - Film Festival to Benefit African Refugees

Art and nature will combine in a film festival that not only aims to entertain, but also benefit the lives of refugees in Africa.

Beginning Sept. 12, the Bridal Veil Film Festival will be screening critically-acclaimed international films at the foot of Provo's Bridal Veil Falls. Proceeds and donations from the festival will be donated to the Rwandan Cinema Center.

From Sept. 12 through the 28, films from various countries and genres will be screened each weekend night.

This weekend features the films "Life is Beautiful," from Italy, and "Amelie," from France.

Stuart Farmer, owner and founder of Open Air Cinema who is holding this event, says the festival is going to be memorable, both for the experience and for the cause it benefits.

"This is going to be incredible because it's at a beautiful venue, we're showing great movies and it's a community experience," Farmer said. "The proceeds will provide people in Rwanda with more equipment and screens, which are taken to villages and used to show films on subjects such as AIDS awareness and women's rights."

Film has proven to be a powerful medium in Africa, being a simple way to educate people in masses. At a recent screening at a UN refugee camp, people walked from villages up to ten miles away to see an educational film.

Pius John, a Tanzanian man who works for FilmAid, a company also working with this festival, said the films have educated and enlivened refugees around Africa.

"Refugees love very much FilmAid," John said via email to the Deseret News. "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!"

Jessie Giles, festival coordinator, said the festival was chosen to be held near Bridal Veil Falls to make a strong connection between art and nature.

"We chose international films that were both beautiful and had a connection with art and nature," Giles said.

Giles also visited Rwanda last year and saw firsthand the great things being done at the Rwanda Cinema Center.

"At the refugee camps in Rwanda, it was really exciting to see people enjoying films both for education and for enjoyment," Giles said. "Films bring hope and uplift the people."

Tickets may be purchased at the gate for $8 and students are encouraged to bring couches, inflatable rafts, barbeques, or anything to make the night memorable. Further information and a full list of films can be found at www.bvfilmfest.com.