RED Africa
by Alexander Markov
Documentary, 2019, 64′, 4:3, colors
Supported by ICA and RTP
Red Africa is a whirlwind overview of the views, desires, and policies embodied in the systematic work of Soviet film crews in Africa from 1960 to 1990.
I see no point in duplicating and promoting propaganda. My idea is to deepen the poignancy of Soviet newsreels and documentary films about Africa, to render the propaganda even more propagandistic, and thus сall its bluff in certain excerpts and extinguish its “bold flame” in others.
Red Africa involves shifting the emphasis by undertaking a fast-paced review of the entire corpus of Soviet film footage about Africa in which I identify the most important and recurrent themes and motifs. In the process of this research, I trace how Soviet views of Africa and plans for Africa evolved over three decades, finally vanishing into oblivion altogether.
The nonlinear soundtrack combines excerpts from official speeches by Soviet and African leaders, punctuated background noise, and African music, as recorded by Soviet filmmakers during their African expeditions.
Written and Directed by: Alexander Markov
Editing: Svetlana Pechenykh
Music: Victor Sologub
Sound Director: Sergey Moshkov
VFX and motion graphics: Elena Bovtyun
VFX Portugal: José André
Sound Mix: Pedro Góis
Color Grading: Gonçalo Ferreira
Production: Stan Poplavskii, Ansgar Schaefer, Rui Ribeiro
- [2022] Visions du Réel, Nyon, [Suíça];
- [2022] Festival Internacional de Cinema IndieLisboa, Lisboa [Portugal];
- [2022] Internacional Documentary Film Festival of Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis [Senegal],
- [2022] Doker Fest Moskow, [Rússia],
- [2022] Lima Alterna Film Festival, [Perú]
Alexander Markov, (b. 1973 in Leningrad, USSR) is a documentary filmmaker and artist. He makes films in St. Petersburg and abroad, teaches documentary directing at Saint Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television, and works as an independent curator.
His video installations were shown at Sharjah Biennial, Calvert 22, Iwalewahaus, Africa.Cont, CEU etc. Markov’s films were screened and awarded at various international film festivals like Berlinale Talents, Visions du Réel, DocPoint, Sheffield Doc, Film Africa, Message To Man, NYAFF, Artdocfest, Cinefest, Directors Lounge, Stalker, Temps d’Images and others.
Synopsis
Red Africa is a whirlwind overview of the views, desires, and policies embodied in the systematic work of Soviet film crews in Africa from 1960 to 1990.
I see no point in duplicating and promoting propaganda. My idea is to deepen the poignancy of Soviet newsreels and documentary films about Africa, to render the propaganda even more propagandistic, and thus сall its bluff in certain excerpts and extinguish its “bold flame” in others.
Red Africa involves shifting the emphasis by undertaking a fast-paced review of the entire corpus of Soviet film footage about Africa in which I identify the most important and recurrent themes and motifs. In the process of this research, I trace how Soviet views of Africa and plans for Africa evolved over three decades, finally vanishing into oblivion altogether.
The nonlinear soundtrack combines excerpts from official speeches by Soviet and African leaders, punctuated background noise, and African music, as recorded by Soviet filmmakers during their African expeditions.
Credits
Written and Directed by: Alexander Markov
Editing: Svetlana Pechenykh
Music: Victor Sologub
Sound Director: Sergey Moshkov
VFX and motion graphics: Elena Bovtyun
VFX Portugal: José André
Sound Mix: Pedro Góis
Color Grading: Gonçalo Ferreira
Production: Stan Poplavskii, Ansgar Schaefer, Rui Ribeiro
Festivals
- [2022] Visions du Réel, Nyon, [Suíça];
- [2022] Festival Internacional de Cinema IndieLisboa, Lisboa [Portugal];
- [2022] Internacional Documentary Film Festival of Saint-Louis, Saint-Louis [Senegal],
- [2022] Doker Fest Moskow, [Rússia],
- [2022] Lima Alterna Film Festival, [Perú]
Alexander Markov
Alexander Markov, (b. 1973 in Leningrad, USSR) is a documentary filmmaker and artist. He makes films in St. Petersburg and abroad, teaches documentary directing at Saint Petersburg State Institute of Film and Television, and works as an independent curator.
His video installations were shown at Sharjah Biennial, Calvert 22, Iwalewahaus, Africa.Cont, CEU etc. Markov’s films were screened and awarded at various international film festivals like Berlinale Talents, Visions du Réel, DocPoint, Sheffield Doc, Film Africa, Message To Man, NYAFF, Artdocfest, Cinefest, Directors Lounge, Stalker, Temps d’Images and others.