“Rare and Exhilarating” I AM NOT A WITCH opens Friday, October 12, at AFS Cinema

I AM NOT A WITCH opens Friday, October 12th at AFS Cinema. Get tickets here.

In her BAFTA awarding-winning debut feature, Rungano Nyoni crafts a satiric feminist fairy-tale set in present-day Zambia. When 9-year old orphan Shula is accused of witchcraft, she is exiled to a witch camp run by Mr. Banda, a corrupt and inept government official. Tied to the ground by a white ribbon, Shula is told that she will turn into a goat if she tries to escape. As the only child witch, Shula quickly becomes a local star and the adults around her exploit her supposed powers for financial gain. Soon she is forced to make a difficult decision – whether to resign herself to life on the camp, or take a risk for freedom. A hit at over 50 international festivals, I AM NOT A WITCH is a must-see for anyone interested in new African Cinema and contemporary female filmmakers. (Film Movement)

Here’s what critics are saying:

“…a wickedly smart satire about modern Africa.” – Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times

“the story is put across with formal confidence and real originality,” – Ben Kenigsberg, N.Y. Times

“It’s rare and exhilarating that a new filmmaker arrives on the scene so sure of herself and so willing to take bold, counter-intuitive chances.” – Jessica Kiang, Variety

“a remarkably assured debut, one that knows its strengths and plays to them.” – Matthew Nickona, San Diego Reader

“[Director Rungano Nyoni’s] preferences for long takes, bright colors, and dynamic wide shots that resemble paintings cement the film as high art for its imagery alone.” – Leah Pickett, Chicago Reader

“Nyoni is clearly confident in her vision and the story she wants to tell, and in her capable hands, the result is spellbinding.” – Katie Rife, The A.V. Club

I AM NOT A WITCH opens Friday, October 12th at AFS Cinema. Get tickets here.

• Contributed by Henry Graham