We deeply regret to announce the death of Guido Huysmans, Artistic Director of the Afrika Film Festival (AFF) (Uccle) 25 November 1958 - (Diest) 1 August 2014. (Leuven, August 5, 2014 AFF). Guido Huysmans, the Artistic Director of the Afrika Filmfestival Leuven (AFF) passed away suddenly at his home in Diest. Guido had recently returned from a mission to Rwanda and Burundi where he had very close contacts with professionals of the local film industry and partners of the AFF. In Kigali, he was a member of the international jury of the Rwanda Film Festival or Hillywood. A passionate advocate for African cinema, Guido was very close to and considered an international specialist on Burundian and Rwandan cinema. He knew also well most of the Congolese, Mozambican, Senegalese, Burkinabese, South African, Tanzanian and Kenyan filmmakers. He was working on a special project with film maker Raoul Peck to publish a photo album of a Haitian photographer. Guido has been member of international juries at international film festivals organized in Amiens, Venice, Prix Italia Torino, Zanzibar, Kigali, Cape Town and Bujumbura. Many international and national events and institutions like the Bozar, the Royal Museum for Central Africa and the European Commission consulted or worked with him on African cinema. Guido was active in the alternative film organization “De Andere Sinema” and the Third World Movement from the time of his studies in Leuven. He later worked for various social institutions and organizations as coordinator, editor, staff member and educational expert. As a communications specialist for Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), he organized numerous exhibitions and events while coordinating the work of the many volunteers. In 1995 he became one of the founders of the Afrika Filmfestival (AFF) in Leuven. It happened in the wake of the national manifestation of Vierkant Voor Afrika, where the national NGO’s presented their activities in Africa. From the very beginning Guido was deeply concerned by the lack of African voices at this and other major cultural events on Africa. Over the years he strived to make the Afrika Filmfestival (AFF) a venue where Africans told their own story. He obtained the full support from the Province Flemish Brabant and the city of Leuven. In Belgium he integrated in the festival not only with the wider African film world, but also with the various African communities in the country. He became an informal ambassador for African cultural voices in Belgium and beyond. Guido turned the Afrika Filmfestival into one of the leading festivals of its kind in Europe. In recent years Guido strived to build an international collaboration between the various African film festivals in Europe and to develop a sustainable a market for African audio- visual productions and culture. With the establishment of the African Artist Award, the integration of the Umoja fashion show with AFF and the organization of numerous exhibitions he was one of the principal promoters of African artists in Flanders. For Guido the Afrika Filmfestival was more than screening films. It was a way of bringing people together, to counter prejudices and to create opportunities for the African talents in Europe and in Africa. In this life project and passion, Guido was full supported by his partner Bernadette, without whom his commitment and achievements would not have been possible. At the request of the family the funeral will take place in an intimate circle. A wider memorial ceremony is planned in the autumn for the numerous people whose lives Guido touched, especially in the circles of the African Film industry (to be informed about the event please do contact [email protected] The passion, and steadfast commitment of one of African cinema’s greatest advocates will be deeply missed and loss of Guido Huysmans will be profoundly missed by many. The family doesn’t wish flowers but a contribution can be made for Guido’s project “Support of Young African Filmmakers”. General Contact : [email protected]
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