UNITE FOR BISSAU + AMCHILINI CHOOSE ME

AMCHILINI, CHOOSE ME
As drought and desert encroachment destroy the harvest, an imam in a canton at the edge of a Chadian desert has accused unmarried women of causing the divine wrath that has struck the village. Village leaders have decided to organize the Amchilini, a traditional ceremony in which unmarried women must choose a husband. Older women go from village to village to count the number of people who are single, give them an understanding of the Amchilini, and persuade them to take part. However, many voices, particularly those of young girls, speak up against an activity they believe infringes on their dignity and freedom. These girls assert their rights to equality and autonomy with respect to men.

By Kader ALLAMINE
Documentary Feature
North American Premiere

UNITE FOR BISSAU
In the West African nation of Guinea-Bissau, this thought-provoking film takes you on a journey that follows brave local women who challenge patriarchy by building institutions that promote self-sufficiency through agroecology. They also defy social norms by standing up against female genital mutilation and rejecting forced marriage. Carrying forward the legacy of Amílcar Cabral, the Bissau-Guinean independence leader who placed women’s rights at the center of the struggle for liberation, the women of a rising generation are taking their power back.

By Lara Lee
Mid Length - Documentary
North American Premiere