1969, dir. William Klein
with Nina Simone, Archie Shepp, Miriam Makeba
120 min, 35mm

The first Pan-African Cultural Festival took place in Algiers in July, 1969. A celebration of post-colonial African nations and a call for liberation for the rest of the continent, this historic festival brought a global spotlight to African culture and arts. Klein’s film captures the sense of jubilation in the moment with footage of the concerts and speeches, but also goes further to provide extra historical context for understanding a continent united in their desire for freedom.