Father Geek here helping out behind our free clinic's check-in desk by welcoming you back for a second big dose of Dr. Sotha's patented medicine for what ails all fans of African Cinema from around the world. Now folks, just settle into a waiting room chair and check out the good Doc's interesting reading material until he can get around to seeing you up close and personal. He proved so popular giving geeks what they needed during last week's visitation that our room is packed with eager clients looking for his special brand of filmic hypno-therepy... Hold on, I believe that's him on the office intercom now...

CRACKLE... POP... Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz... zappp... pop... buzzzzz...

Welcome... to Africa-AICN... Group Session number two. DR. SOTHA here filing this rather detailed report, inbetween finding a cure for that epidemic of mediocrity and cliché, we're currently working on a serum called Fincherlytes.

Moving on, I have added an African-American section due to popular demand. So if there is any news from this demographic send it to me. A quick thanks to all those e-mails of encouragement from across the globe.

Let me also say that if you are a filmmaker, writer, cinematographer, grip, etc. from Africa doing well in another part of the world - I'd love to hear your stories, and perhaps post them as inspiration to others. Contact me, DR. SOTHA at MY CLINIC'S OFFICE with all the info. Now onto my weekly dose of...

SOUTH AFRICA

* Now you may be thinking, what could possibly tie "DIE HARD 4" with South Africa, where's the connection? where's the link?...well I'll tell you...listen to the tagline "John McClane sets out to find his estranged son who's been enslaved by South African mercenaries". (Seems we've been pidgeonholed again...Lethal Weapon 2 anyone?) Personal feelings aside, Joel Silver and Andrew Vajna will produce, with Bruce Willis reprising his role as John McClane. (good luck Mr. dialect coach).

* "CAPE HIGH" is set to start lensing in Cape Town South Africa, with "Bent" director Sean Mathias at the helm. The story revolves around the local mafia, a love triangle and a movie star, who all come together over a rare crate of priceless wine. Gina Gershon (Bound), James Franco (NBC's Freaks and Geeks) and Henry Thomas (ET) are all said to be attached.

* Greg Latter is prepping "LIZARD" - an action thriller. It follows a Canadian wildlife photographer who stumbles onto a remote South African town, where he meets a beautiful woman who is entangled in her husband's right wing activites. Latter is hoping to nab Patrick "I once was A-list" Swayze for the lead.

* Primediapictures bought the rights to David Lambkin's critically lauded novel "PLAIN OF DARKNESS" which details a man's exploits in Central Africa, and his relationship with a 15 year old girl nymphet, that borders on peadophile. ( I vote Dominique Swain to play the lead?)

* South African filmmaker Teboho Mahlatsi whose short film "Portrait of a Young Man Drowning" won the best short film at the Venice Film Festival in 99, is set to start production on his first feature titled "STREETBASH". It delves into the corruption caused by gangsters in Soweto and the racial prejudice that is still prevalent. (Think Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing", with a bit of Singleton's "Higher Learning" for good measure).

* I neglected 2 films out of Charlize Theron's suicidal schedule from last weeks column, and for that I will be eternally sorry. The films in question are "Wakin' up in Reno" where our lovely ambassador is set to drop her glamor image by playing Patrick Swayze's white trash wife (wow...2 mentions in one colum for Mr. Swayze - maybe I've underestimated his clout), and "Chicago" - the long in development musical with Nicolas Hytner (Center Stage) taking the reins. Theron and Madonna both fought for the role, but Charlize came up trumps, thanks to her superior fighting technique (if you don't believe me ask Teri Hatcher).

* Speaking of South African actors doing well in Hollywood, Arnold Vosloo who played "The Mummy" in Stephen Sommer's surprise hit (surprise isn't the half of it), is reprising his role in the sequel that is currently shooting in Italy, Tunisia and England. He will be payed 1$M for his services (a hefty amount in Rands).

* "THE HAG" is a horror film about a dying man trying to reclaim his penis from an evil witch, because it is the source of all his powers - (was that kryptonite or penis?) Greg Xosana wrote and will direct with Shower Films producing (Troma must be kicking themselves foor not thinking this log line up first).

* "BOESMAN & LENA" a film co-produced by South Africa's Primediapictures and France's Pathe, starring Angela Basset and Danny Glover, is expected to receive its world premiere later this year at the Venice Film Festival. Adapted from Athol Fugard's acclaimed play, it tells the story of 2 homeless drifters who must come to terms with their love/hate relationship, set in Cape Town.

* SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN'S FILM FESTIVAL - The first South African Women's Film Festival will be held in Cape Town from the 10th -12th August 2000 at the Artscape Theatre. This festival is part of a broader Women's Festival that runs from the 9th -12th August 2000 and the theme is Honouring the Spirit of Women. In spite of the fact that the Film Industry in South Africa is over one hundred years old, to date only 3 feature films have been directed by women Katinka Heynes (Paljas), Helena Noguera and Elaine Proctor. None the less South African women in film have made meaningful contributions in the production of television and short dramas both domestically and abroad. Among the documentaries that will be screened is "Paris with a Woman" by award winning documentarist Greta Schiller about 20th Century woman artists in Paris. Festival representatives are hoping to lure Kassi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou) and Jane Campion (The Piano) to form a panel. For further information contact: Maganthrie Pillay Festival Director Tel: (27) 021-4222630 Fax:: (27) 021-4222634 E-mail- hybrid@iafrica.com (Send me your reviews - DR. SOTHA)

* "Encounters" is an International Film Festival to be held in Cape Town. It was started last year in conjunction with the Swiss Arts body. It opens its doors from the 18th June - 1st July. The venue is the Victoria and Albert Waterfront. Apart from having the filmmakers there for Q&A sessions after their screening, they will also have a film laboratory to show the public and other interested parties how films are put together (Thanks to Zonkk).

NORTH AFRICA

* Director Rachid Bouchareb (Cheb) is shooting his new film titled "LITTLE SENEGAL" in New York. It tells the story of an old man from Senegal who comes to Harlem, New York, and meets a cousin of his that forgot her roots. It's about the culture clash between first generation Africans and third generation African Americans. Sotigui Kouyate plays the old man, while Roschdy Zem plays the character that welcomes him to Harlem.(Thanks to Darthbond).

* The Kenyan Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has set up a film commission to promote the country as a shooting location. This was announced in Nairobi by the Minister Johnstone Kamau. He said the Commission will also help to fight the blatant piracy that has bedevilled the industry.

*...and staying with Kenya, an Australian film crew is in the country to shoot a Sh 300 million movie on the African elephant. The movie will be shot over a seven month period in the Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks.

* For two weeks starting on May 24th, Kino International will be screening "Guimba, The Tyrant / An Epic, (Guimba, Un Tyran, Une Epoque)" at the Cinema Village in New York City. This film was the Grand Prize Winner at the Pan African Film Festival. Visit the Guimba homepage for more information or Cheick Oumar Sissoko's latest venture.

* "SUGAR CANE ALLEY" directed by Euchan Palcy revolves around a grandmother struggling to save her grandson, through whose eyes we glimpse a view of a sugar cane plantation's backbreaking work and crushing poverty.Daring to rise above the alley, lined with plantation laborers' shanties, from which the film takes its name, this Grandmother risks all to give her grandson opportunity through education. Check out the poster below...

* Filmmakers from Ethiopia, Tanzania and Nigeria have been named as the three country winners in the final round of the first ever continent-wide M-Net New Directions (NDA) filmmaking initiative for emerging filmmakers. Each three-person team has begun preparations to shoot a 26-minute short film on 35mm, to be filmed on location in each country and post-produced in South Africa.

* MISA Namibia will be hosting a three day seminar in Windhoek, Namibia to discuss regulations for the Film Law which has been passed. The Law will set up a Film Commission in Namibia which will begin to harness all activities, funds and visions under one roof. The participants will include government ministries who will be represented on the Commission, filmmakers and other stakeholders. The seminar will be led by industry expert Veronica Sive from Australia. For more info email Right Here .

* The 2nd Annual Black Filmmaker Film Festival runs from the 11-17th of August. This year's festival will take place at the Metro cinema, Piccadilly, London. Along with a series of American and UK films, Africa is represented by "GENESIS" - a biblical tail, "RITUALS OF FIRE" a Ghana production by Joel Aryeetey, and Spin! A Nigerian film set in London. A tale of deceit and avarice directed by Ayo Shonaiya. This feature is one of a growing trend of Nigerian stories produced in London shot on digital formats. (For the love of film, send me your reviews - DR. SOTHA).

* I'd like to recommend a film by acclaimed Senegalese filmmaker Ousmane Sembene called "CEDDO". This film is a national epic that bears the same definitive relationship to its culture that Griffith's The Birth of a Nation, Renoir's La Marseillaise and Eisenstein's Potemkin do to theirs. It's an exciting political thriller that examines the confrontation between opposing forces in the face of Moslem expansion. The ceddo&emdashor feudal class of common people&emdashcling desperately to their customs and their fetishistic religion. Set loosely in the19th century, Ceddo is not strictly a historical film. It includes philosophy, fantasy, militant politics and electrifying leaps across the centuries. In this, his most ambitious and remarkable film, Sembene evokes the whole of the African experience. Ceddo received its theatrical release through New Yorker Films, and I implore any film fan to consider renting this African classic.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN

* American actor/director Forrest Whitaker (The Crying Game...or would you rather have me say Battlefield Earth) and Channel Four television' film division FilmFour are currently closing negotiations, with the aim of Whitakers' company and FilmFour pooling there efforts to bring more British black Asian and African films to the big screen.

* A tidbit about the Florida Film Festival - it will close with "PUBLIC ENEMY", an exploration of the Black Panther movement directed by Jens Meurer.

COAXIAL AFRICA

* South African entries stream into Cannes Lions. Only three countries had more media entries than South Africa in this year's Cannes Lions International Commercial Festival to be held from 19 to 24 June. Entries from SA include124 for Film, 12 Cyber and 30 Media Lions. All South African entries came from a total of seven agencies.

* After having been nominated for a BAFTA Award in the category of Best Arts Programme or Series, Synergy Films' documentary, "SPIRITS OF THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA", produced by Jacqueline Fox, will be participating at the Riccone Festival in Italy. The programme was a finalist at the 1999 Prix Italia (a first for South Africa) and won similar acclaim at the New York Film Festival. Spirits of the New South Africa was produced for LWT's South Bank Show and the SABC.

Well that's all the news for this week. Most people in talkback got the answer to last weeks question right.the most successful South African film of all time is in fact "The Gods must be Crazy". Right, now for this week's question which comes with a prize to the first correct answer in talkback (the prize you ask, why a free physical check-up from DR. SOTHA), what film did a young Michael Caine star in, made in 1964 revolving around a historical event in Africa? Answer and prize next week. Send me your thoughts, reviews, critique, acclaim, love, symptoms, organs to MY CLINIC down here in South Africa.