Accès Cinéma Africain – African Film Access
Penobscot School in Montréal at Vues d’Afrique
- French language immersion in the context of Francophone-African cinema and video
- Using French to explore contemporary film and video from Africa as unique documents for research and study
- Using film and video documents from contemporary Africa as a unique context for language improvement
Letter from the New Director of Accès Cinéma Africain. . .
Dear Friends:
Accès Cinéma Africain took a break in 2009. But we are now beginning to plan our return in 2010, re-invigorated and re-energized.
The occasion for the break was Julia’s stepping down as director of the program. I will be replacing her for the 2010 program. I will do my best to pick up where she left off.
I have participated in the program a number of times as an African cultural informant. Fresh out of college I spent two years in Togo as a Peace Corps volunteer. I then completed a Ph.D. in anthropology based on two years of fieldwork in Senegal. For nearly 30 years, I have worked as an anthropologist consultant in international development projects. I’ve carried out assignments of varying lengths in nearly all of the francophone African countries.
The 2010 Accès Cinéma program will take place in Montréal from April 22 to April 25. We do not yet know what films will be on our program. We will send around another message with program details as soon as Vues d’Afrique lets us know what they will be screening during the three days. We will also continually update this website with information regarding the program and suggestions for lodging in Montréal, etc.
General registration for 2010 will be $210. Registration for students will be $185. To help us in our planning, please register by April 1, 2010.
For further information concerning the 2010 Accès Cinéma Africain program please contact Patti Luchetti (patti@languagelearning.org) at Penobscot School (207.594.1084) or contact me directly at waldstei@together.net.
I hope you will be able to join us in Montréal.
Best wishes,
Abe Waldstein
Accès Cinéma Africain consists of a French immersion program for adults in Montréal, combining French language with Francophone African film and video. We offer French immersion study during the first weekend of the Vues d’Afrique Film Festival. The workshop is highly interactive and informative.
“The key to learning is the films, which provide intense and immediate insight into contemporary African society in all its variations and complexities,” according to Julia Schulz, Co-Founder and former Director of Accès Cinéma Africain. “Participants should expect to have their eyes opened and awareness deepened by viewing the films and discussing them with the filmmakers; and their French language skills will soar.”
News from Penobscot School:
Thanks to the generous support of the David and Eleanore Rukin Philanthropic Foundation, limited scholarship funds are available to world language teachers attending Accès Cinéma Africain. The Foundation's wish is to address the need for professional development funds. Funds are available in the form of $100 tuition grants on a first-come, first-served need basis. Please see registration information. Bon cinéma!