Noted Senegalese Filmmaker to Screen, Discuss
"Un Amour D'enfant" at UNC Asheville

UNC Asheville’s Africana Studies Program will host a screening of the award-winning Senegalese film “Un Amour D’enfant” (“A Childhood Love”) at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3, at UNC Asheville Rhoades-Robinson Hall room 125. Acclaimed African filmmaker Ben Diogaye Beye will discuss the film following the screening. The event is free and open to the public.

Beye drew on his childhood memories to create “Un Amour D’enfant,” a lyrical and entertaining story of puppy love between 12-year-old classmates in contemporary urban Dakar. The film’s backdrop provides a commentary on the interplay of African tradition and modernity and the challenges and opportunities of globalization. The 102-minute film was released last year. It won the UNICEF’s Special Award for Children’s Rights at the 2005 Pan-African Film Festival as well as a special mention from the World Catholic Association for Communication.

Veteran Senegalese filmmaker Beye began his career as a journalist and radio producer for Radio Senegal and later a television director in France, Sweden and Italy. In 1974, he moved into film and has produced and directed several short films and a documentary. His first feature-length film, “Sey, Seyti,” explored the practice of polygamy in Senegal. “Un Amour d’Enfant” is his second feature film.

For more information, call UNC Asheville’s Africana Studies Program at 828/251-6979.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Afaf Omer, UNC Asheville’s Africana Studies Program Director, 828/251-6979
• Jill Yarnall, UNC Asheville Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526