romeoumulisa – Page 2 – OUAGA FILM LAB

Taddart

Synopsis

The film “Tixerain” immerses us in the story of a Kabyle village located in the heart of Algiers. While the film explores the contradictions between tradition and modernity, identity, and citizenship, it also highlights the absence of women in the public space. The women of the village are often stealthy, appearing behind windows, closing doors, and staying in the background during assemblies.

Nevertheless, the women of Tixerain are guardians of culture and traditions. Fouzi, Laarbi, and Wahab, all native to the village, share the same desire to build together. Fouzi has been working for years to improve the village while preserving its Kabyle identity. The film’s protagonists, all committed to preserving the village’s cultural identity, seek to bring greater visibility to the history and origins of this mythical and mystical village. However, we also seek to hear the voices of the women and their concerns within this community. In summary, “Tixerain” is a documentary that explores the contradictions of modernity in a traditional village while shedding light on the injustice of women’s absence in the public space. The film takes us on a journey through narrow streets and ancient houses filled with mystery.

Walinzi

Synopsis

May 16, 1997, the AFDL rebellion is at the feet of Kinshasa. Negotiations between Mobutu and the rebel leader Kabila under the mediation of Nelson Mandela fail. The Zairian army is no longer able to secure Marshal Mobutu, many high-ranking officers have been returned. Within the army, discontent is spreading. The Chief of Staff and Minister of Defense is shot dead by one of his bodyguards. In this decay, where no one knows who with whom is, a close security officer receives the delicate mission of sheltering Marshal Mobutu and his family.

OUAGA FILM LAB 2022 AWARDS

Ouaga_film_lab_2022

After an intense week of meetings, mentoring, training and networking at the Ouaga Film Lab and despite the political situation in Ouagadougou, the award ceremony took place on Saturday 1 October. We are very pleased to announce the winners of this 7th edition of the prizes donated by our partners:

IDRISSA OUÉDRAOGO AWARD: Grant for a writing residency at the Moulin d’Andé, in partnership with the CNC (France)

Mnema, fiction project by Selim GRIBAA (Tunisia), produced by Sahbi KRAIEM – Intage Production (Tunisia)

SUD ÉCRITURE AWARD: Grant for a writing residency in Tunisia

Dear Ajayi, fiction project by Damilola ORIMOGUNJE (Nigeria), produced by Bose OSHIN – 2o9ine Films (Nigeria)

FRENCH INSTITUTE AWARD: Invitation offered by the French Institute Paris to the director and producer of one of the Ouaga Film Lab projects at Fespaco 2023.

We, People of the Islands, documentary project by Elson SANTOS (Cape Verde), produced by Lara SOUSA – Kulunga Filmes – (Mozambique)

MEDIENBOARD BERLIN-BRANDENBURG (BerlinAiR-Nipkow) AWARD: Grant for a 3-months writing residency in Berlin (Germany)

Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore, fiction project by Morad MOSTAFA (Egypt), produced by Sawsan YUSUF – Bonanza Films – (Egypt)

FIDADOC AWARD: Grant for a documentary project development workshop at the International Documentary Film Festival of Agadir (Morocco)

Life after Diamonds, documentary project by Solange KONE (Ivory Coast), produced by Arnold SETOHOU – NEW DIRECTION FILMS (Benin)

GROUPE OUEST AWARD 2022 / Annual Selection: Preselection of a feature film project for annual selection at Groupe Ouest’s francophone author coaching project.

Dear Ajayi, fiction project by Damilola ORIMOGUNJE (Nigeria), produced by Bose OSHIN – 2o9ine Films (Nigeria)

WORLD CINEMA FUND – AUDIENCE DESIGN AWARD: intensive consulting and mentoring to develop a complete audience design strategy for a film project.

Dear Ajayi, fiction project by Damilola ORIMOGUNJE (Nigeria), produced by Bose OSHIN – 2o9ine Films (Nigeria)

ALCA AWARD of New Aquitaine in collaboration with Poitiers Film Festival: Grant to participate in the “Jump In Workshops” of the Poitiers Film Festival and 4 weeks of residence at the Villa Bloch.

Congo Boy, fiction project by Rafiki FARIALA (Central African Republic), produced by Vicky Nelson WACKORO – Makongo Films (Democratic Republic of Congo)

ROTTERDAM LAB: Grant for a producer to participate in the Rotterdam Lab during IFFR – International Film Festival Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

Our Sweet Hell, fiction project by Katya ARAGÃO (São Tomé and Príncipe), produced by Sévérine CATELION – Merveilles Production (Benin)

LES ATELIERS DE L´ATLAS DU FESTIVAL DE MARRAKECH AWARD: Online consulting with an expert scriptwriter.

Our Sweet Hell, fiction project by Katya ARAGÃO (São Tomé and Príncipe), produced by Sévérine CATELION – Merveilles Production (Benin)

MIRADAS DOCS AWARD:
Preselection of a project for a grant to participate in the Miradas Docs pitch forum during the International Documentary Film Festival Guía de Isora (Canary Islands, Spain)

Shadow Runner, documentary project by Karanja NG’ENDO (Kenya), produced by Joan NJERI – Purple Mango Production (Kenya)

Selection to the writing incubator at MiradasAfro

John Carlos Le Sherif de Ouidi, documentary project by Gaston BONKOUNGO (Burkina Faso), produced by Carine Stella NZANG ASSOUMOU – Diam Production (Burkina Faso)

PRIX CANAL PLUS: Writing and mobility grant

The Spirits & Black Lioness, series project by Christian MOKUBA (Democratic Republic of Congo), produced by Deirdre JANTJIES – Na Aap Productions – (South Africa)
Le Grand Transporteur, series project by Latigone N’GOMA (Ivory Coast) produced by Alassane Sy – Boucan Production (Senegal)

PRIX RED SEA FILM FESTIVAL: Development grant for consultations at different stages of the project (Saudi Arabia)

Commandanté Titina Sila “Victoria Certa”, documentary project by Diao SAMBA (Senegal), produced by Pape Abdoulaye SECK – SangomArt Original – (Senegal)

We would like to thank our partners who have made this edition possible, offering the young generation of filmmakers from the African continent the opportunity to continue meeting and creating together.

Aisha Can’t Fly Away Anymore

Synopsis

Aisha is a 26-year-old Somali woman who works as a caregiver for the elderly in Ain-Shams, a neighbourhood in the heart of Cairo. There she discovers the underground society of African immigrants and the tensions between the different groups. In addition to the routine and pressure of her job, and a dead-end relationship with an Egyptian cook, Aisha finds herself involved with the gang that controls her neighbourhood, who blackmail her and force her to steal her patients’ keys. Routine, pressure of dreary work and being stuck in a loveless relationship with an Egyptian cook leads her into impasse.

Commandanté Titina Sila “Victoria Certa”

Synopsis

Ernestina “Titina” Sila, thirty years old, (1943-1973) is a Bissau Guinean heroine and martyr, comrade in Amilcar Cabral’s struggle for the independence of her country. Her figure as a military woman and warrior commanding an army of more than a thousand men contrasts with the “postcard” image of the African woman always with a bundle of wood on her head and a child on her back.

With my van (just like my father), I take photos and video images from archives and press clippings, to crisscrossing Guinea Bissau to hear Titina Silà’s story from her relatives, her comrades in political struggles, and also from Guineans themself. I will also interview researchers, journalists, politicians, and anonymous people on the place that Titina Silà still occupies today in the hearts of Bissau Guineans.

Congo Boy

Synopsis

Bangui, Central African Republic. Albert is 16 years old and has just discovered the world of music. He is fascinated by this world and dreams of making a life for himself in it, despite the admonitions of his parents who absolutely want him to study hard. With his musician friends, Rafiki lives in a carefree youth. Yet Rafiki is not a Central African like the others. He is a refugee. His parents fled the Congo when he was very young. And their status in Bangui remains very precarious. When his father started to apply for Central African nationality, things went wrong and both parents were sent to prison. At 16, Rafiki finds himself without any support. He has to take care of his four younger children and find the money to get his parents released. Against all odds, music will help him.

Dear Ajayi

Synopsis

Dear Ajayi is a film set in Nigeria in the late 1990s. It follows the story of two sisters: Ade Ajayi, a devoted Christian and bread-winner of her home, and Titi Ajayi, a local upcoming singer who feels she’s hated by her sister because of her secular lifestyle.

Both are shouldered with the responsibility of taking care of Mama, their paralytic mother shortly after the demise of their father. A “film noir” with all shades of unrelenting bleakness versus earnest hope of the protagonists.

John Carlos Le sherif de Ouidi

Synopsis

Issa Bougma was born on 28 June 1960 in Ouidi, a district of the city of Ouagadougou. One day while watching a Western film, he was touched by the acting of the Italian actor Franco Nero. Then, he decided to take the plundge. He adopted the clothing of the cowboy film actors, their style, and their lines. From then, he called himself “John Carlos, the Sheriff of Ouidi district” and created his own world, his own universe like a fictional film. He patrols the streets of the district every day.

Today, he is 62 years old. The neighbourhood has been modernised and most of the places he used to frequent have disappeared. The movie theatres and entertainment venues of the past have closed, but John Carlos the sheriff remains. That’s why I’m going to meet the character to understand his philosophy, his motivations and to immerse myself in his world.

Le grand transporteur

Synopsis

Dakar, a large megalopolis facing the ocean, is today one of the most important hubs for cocaine trafficking. Abass Diao, 19 years old, presents himself as an orphin native of Fouta who has just arrived in Dakar. He has a gift, he inherited from his father the mystical power of water. He uses his swimming skills to serve a drug gangster, Ali Kande, better known as the “Grand Transporteur de Dakar”, who is some kind of Senegalese Don Corleone.

But Ali is getting older, his business is threatened, and his children are not ready to succeed him. With his talent and strength of character, Abass gains the confidence of the godfather who sees him as a potential successor. As Abass becomes unavoidable, the enemies of the present and ghosts of the past make life impossible for him.

Life after Diamonds

Synopsis

In 1947,the rich subsoil of this part of the Ivory Coast generated the town of Tortya. Twenty-seven years later, the SAREMCI mining company closes. Then begins the adventure of the artisanal exploitation of the old diamond mines. Although it has provided the world with millions of carats of diamonds, Tortya remains an austere town with a poor population. From the first populations settled with the opening of the diamond mines to the present day, the town of Tortya retains the same appearance as if time had stood still. But in the end, the exploitation of the precious stone has degraded the rich ecosystem in which Tortya and its lands were bathed. Having left at the age of 7, Foloki, aged 40 years, returns to her roots. Through three generations of age, she shares her beautiful memories contrasted with the current reality, the ambitions of Tortya and its population.