Eminent film maker Haile Gerima to deliver this year’s Aravindan Memorial Lecture

Haile Gerima (Ethiopian filmmaker)

This year’s Aravindan Memorial lecture is set to be delivered by Ethiopian writer, producer and director, Haile Gerima on the 14th of December. Gerima is best known for his internationally acclaimed film ‘Sankofa’ made in 1993. His most recent film, ‘Teza’ made in 2008 is to be screened as part of this programme. Throughout his career; Gerima has used his work as a critical lens for personal growth and creative development. His concern for people of African descent is evident, especially, where the representation of their image is concerned.

'Teza’ is a personal drama, set in Ethiopia and Germany. The film chronicled the return of an African intellectual to his country of birth, during the repressive regime of Haile Mariam Mengistu. ‘Teza’ was also well received by International Critics.

 An alumnus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Film and Television, Gerima has spent over 40 year making high value, low budget films outside of commercial institutions. Gerima has been a distinguished professor of film at Howard University since 1975. He is also a leading member of the L.A. Rebellion film movement, also known as the Los Angeles School of Black Filmmakers.

 Aravindan Memorial lecture is an annual programme conducted by the International Film Festival of Kerala in the honour of legendary Malayalam film maker Padma Shri Govindan Aravindan.