Adopted Screens On Day 3 of LABAFFOR the November edition of the monthly screening of the iREP Documentary Film Forum/Goethe Institut collaboration, the choice film is Adopted, a documentary film that has become a toast of film gatherings, especially in Europe and parts of Africa.For its first showing in Nigeria, Adopted will be screened from 7pm tomorrow at the 13th Lagos Book and Art Festival, LABAF ground at the Freedom Park on Broad Street, Lagos.Adopted is a Europe-Africa dialogue on a crucial issue that affects humanity ' adoption; but it also explores inter-racial relationships between the two continents.The filmmaker, Gudrun Widlok, has arrived the country from her base in Germany and will be available to field questions from the audience at the screening.O the story behind the film, Goethe Institut international website states: It all started with an inconspicuous leaflet in her letter box. Ten pairs of love-hungry eyes stared at her from the centre-fold. The leaflet was from a charity organisation calling for Europeans to sponsor a child in a Third World country.Gudrun F. Widlok, feeling a little melancholy herself, stuck a photo of herself next to those of the children. And had an idea: Why not find people in Third World countries to adopt lonely, melancholy city dwellers like herself'Five years later, in her light-flooded kitchen in Berlin, Gudrun F. Widlok runs her fingers through a large pile of photos and starts spreading them out on the table. Pictures of pale, tired-looking young Europeans, taken in their flats, offices, or out on the street mingle with photos of proud-looking, erect Africans, standing in colourful robes next to green palms, their faces glowing in strong African sun. Two worlds which couldn't be further apart. Two worlds between which Widlok wants to build a bridge.Gudrun F. Widlok organises the adoption of unattached Europeans by families in the Third World. Europeans who like her,have gonetheir individual ways, see their families only once every few months and often, especially on a dull winter's evening, yearn for a breath of comforting, family warmth. Adopted by people who may be lacking in riches and western wealth but not in family ties and simple joy. The adoption is merely symbolic, the project not about materialistic but pure emotional exchange.'Many people wish for company but at the same time want to stay unattached and uncommitted. Which is why I help them find a new, symbolic family in countries where this kind of family life still exists'.One of these countries is in Africa. Widlok has always been fascinated by life on the African continent. Many of her travels have led her to Africa's bustling cities, sandy deserts and windy plains and the continent turns up repeatedly in her artistic work. For her current adoptionproject, called 'Adopted', Widlok took to Africa to look for potential godparents for her European counterparts at home. Laden with portraits of adoption candidates, and with the help of an African contact, she opened up her first mobile office in Africa in Burkina Faso. It was an experience she will never forget: 'Not only were the Africansboth curious and fascinated by the candidates', she says, eyes shining. 'They were so warm-hearted, too'.During her trip, Widlok managed to find families for 30 adoption candidates. People like Martin, 37, photographer from Berlin. Julia, 29, actress from Cologne. Or Franciso, 49, Professor from Zaragoza, Spain. His 'new' father is called Ousmane Sawadogo, is 41 and works and lives as a banker in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougo. On the photo that Widlok has taken of him he grins broadly, a friendly, but also proud, smile. In the register form that Widlok hands out to everyone who wants to take part, he has written 'I want to be there for other people'.In the pile of photos on Widlok's kitchen table, Francisco and Sawadogo's photos now lie together. Two worlds, west and east, black and white, red sand and Berlin gloom, pinned together to form one. Whether they will make contact, write or speak, or even one day visit each other, Widlok cannot say. 'When the arrangement is done then that's the end of my part. But I am definitely curious', she says with a grin.Sometimes, when Gudrun F. Widlok sifts through her photos, reads the newspaper clippings or simply recalls the many people and places she has encountered through 'Adopted', she still finds it all difficult to believe. What started off originally as a purely fictitious art project has taken on realistic dimensions way beyond her imaginations. For months, friends and visitors to exhibitions where she first presented 'Adopted' beleaguered her to really try out her idea. Today, 'Adopted' is already more fact than fiction and as the yearning for security and warmth appears to be growing, so is the number of applicants, too.And what about the artist herself - does she not yearn for the security of family life, too' Widlok laughs. 'When I was in Burkina Faso everyone immediately made me feel part of their family. In a way, I have been adopted several times'.' Hay Festival of UK makes appearanceALSO attending the festival as an observer is Maggie Robertson of the famous Hay Festival of Wales, UK, who is expected to participate in aspects of programmes of the festival. She, and another colleague, are attending the LABAF, courtesy of the British Council, Lagos. Hay is an international festival production company based in Wales, celebrating literature across all mediums from Britain and around the globe. The Festivals are fun and informal, but also a valuable literary resource, featuring performances and talks from writers, musicians, filmmakers and comedians. Valuing its audience above all, Hay Festival strives to encourage and implement newtechnologies that grant optimum accessibility to its resources, and encourage digital innovation to this end.Set in the Welsh border town of Hay-on-Wye in the staggering beauty of the Brecon Beacons the festival continues to attract the most exciting writers, filmmakers, comedians, politicians and musicians to inspire, delight and entertain. For 10 days in May, Hay is full of stories, ideas, laughter and music. The festival runs for 10 days; featuring 100,000 programmes in 500 events; with over 200,000 tickets sold; and over 400 accredited media.And Contemporary dance presentation from EuropeAlso this evening at the amphi theatre of the Freedom Park, a dance presentation will feature at the festival. Slated for 6pm, it is taken from the series of Contemporary Dance Workshops directed (in October) by visiting dancers/choreographers Francois Verhunes (France) and Vincent Mantsoe (South Africa); and in November by Isabelle Schad(Germany) and Samir Akika (Algeria/Germany). Participants were drawn from Nigeria, Togo and Republic of Benin. The workshop was jointly facilitated by Goethe Institut, Institut Francais, Abuja and Alliance Francaise Lagos with collaboration of Trufesta and Danse meets Danse.
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