Portal:African cinema/DYK/11



We, Students! (2022) (French: Nous, étudiants) was the first ever film from the Central African Republic to premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. Written and directed by Rafiki Fariala, the documentary is a personal narrative depicting the lives and struggles of Fariala and his friends at the University of Bangui. It was ranked as one of the top 10 African films of 2022 by The Africa Report.

The 2019 drama film, This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection was the first entry by Lesotho for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. Directed by Lemohang Jeremiah Mosese it tells the story of an 80-year-old widow who prepares for her own death and to be buried alongside her ancestors. It was nominated in 7 categories at the 2020 Africa Movie Academy Awards, ultimately winning 5 awards including best director and best actress.

The Mother of All Lies (2023) by Asame El Moudir made history as the first Moroccan film to win the top prize at the Marrakech Film Festival. The documentary follows El Moudir’s own journey as she searches for truth amidst a web of family lies, fusing her personal and the national history of Morocco.

The prestigious 'Carrosse d'Or' award, given to Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cisse for his contributions to Malian cinema at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, was reported stolen from his home in Bamako in April 2024. The theft  caused an emotional public outcry and call for a national search, underscoring the cultural importance and pride surrounding Cisse’s award.

A television fiction series inspired by the novel Ségou (1984-85) by writer Maryse Condé (1934-2024) is currently in development. The project is led by the directors Cédric Ido and Antoine Chevrollier. The historical novel, spanning two volumes and following the fate of three brothers, traces the downfall of the Bambara kingdom of Ségou.