Author(s): Radina Vučetić / Language(s): Serbian
Issue: 2/2017
Yugoslav film cooperation with Africa, established during the 1950s, with its peak in 1960s, was a part of Yugoslav cultural diplomacy toward the Third World and also a part of cultural cold war. In Africa, film was of extraordinary importance because it was a mark of discontinuity with the colonial authorities. Since the African countries reached their inde pendence, there was a struggle for influence on film both from the former colonial powers and America, but also from the socialist countries. Being an independent and non-aligned country, Yugoslavia had a privileged status, and soon it established cooperation with differ ent African countries, especially with Egypt and Algiers. Within this cooperation Yugoslavia promoted its production, mainly through the weeks of Yugoslav films, but also by supporting African film companies. Later it came out that Yugoslavia had not achieved notable results, playing more commercial that propaganda role, often underestimating African public, and leading inconsistent cultural policy. The most successful companies were “Filmske novosti” in cooperation with Algiers, Mali, Tanzania, Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville and Mozambique, who filmed important documentaries about these countries and their liberation movements, and also educating future filmmakers. Thus it left an unforgettable trace in making of national cinematography of these countries.
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