Biography
Florence AYISI was born in Cameroon. She is professor of International Documentary Film at the Faculty of Creative Industries, University of South Wales, U.K. (USW). She teaches diverse aspects of film theory and history, and documentary film practice. She has taught at several Higher Education Institutions in the U.K. including University of Sunderland, Coventry University, University of Glamorgan and University of Wales, Newport.
Florence is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker, whose main vision is to decolonise the image of Africa from Pan-African and woman-centred perspectives; offering rare, subtle and discerning insights, lived experiences and stories where African subjects have ‘agency’ and ‘voice’. Her documentary filmmaking is an important part of her critical practice research which is framed around diverse ideas related to post-colonial discourse, representation, feminism, transnational and African cinema, spectatorship, and ethnographic film. Her research in film contributes to the thriving research culture in the Faculty of Creative Industries.
Florence has made several documentary films in Cameroon and Tanzania and has won numerous prestigious film awards including PRIX ART ET ESSAI at Cannes film festival; Grierson Award for Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue; and Peabody Award in USA. Her first feature documentary film, Sisters in Law (2005; Co-directed with Kim Longinotto) was also long-listed for an Academy Award nomination (Oscars) in 2006. Her films have been screened at numerous festivals and on television worldwide.
In 2017, Zanzibar Soccer Dreams (2016; Co-directed with Catalin Brylla) was shortlisted for the prestigious Research in Film Awards by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), U.K. Florence was presented with the ICON Award during Africa Week (2018), University of West of England, Bristol, U.K. The award recognises the "exceptional contributions by individuals in promoting Pan-Africanism on a personal, national and global scale".
Film paves the way for women’s football in Africa.
Documentary research raises important questions about the status of Muslim women
19/11/2014