A film by Moritz Siebert & Estephan Wagner, Abou Bakar Sidibé
In northern Morocco, lies the Spanish enclave of Melilla: Europe on African Land. On the mountain above, live over a thousand hopeful African migrants, watching the fence separating Morocco and Spain. Abou from Mali is one of them – the protagonist in front of the camera, as well as the person behind it. For over a year, he has ceaselessly attempted to jump the fence.
At the fence, they have to overcome the razor-wire, automatic pepper spray and brutal authorities. After every failed attempt, they return to Mount Gurugú, scouring for food in the nearby villages, trying to uphold some sort of order in the camp and building up their confidence again. Some give up and return home, others never return.
Through the lens, Abou gradually finds expression and meaning in his situation. “When filming I feel that I exist”. But after 16 months on the mountain, Abou is close to a tragic accident. Returning to Mali is not an option for him and he becomes more determined than ever to pursue his dream of a better life in Europe.
By the producers of Academy Award Nominees
THE LOOK OF SILENCE and THE ACT OF KILLING
Biography
Moritz Siebert director
Moritz Siebert has worked on migration for the last 15 years and was originally trained as a medical doctor and an anthropologist. He studied documentary filmmaking together with Estephan Wagner at the National Film and Television School in the UK.
Estephan Wagner Director
For Estephan, Les Sauteurs is a feature debut even if he worked as a documentary director for over a decade, always approaching his themes from the point of view of his protagonists. Both as editor and director, he won several awards on the international festivals circuit.
Abou Bakar Sidibé CO-DIRECTOR
Abou, born in Kidal, Mali, owns a University degree in English and has worked as a teacher, a cell phones seller, a construction worker or a cash carrier between Western Union offices in the Moroccan village and people on Mount Gurugú. Les Sauteurs is Abou’s first film.
Original language: French, Bambara
Produced by: Final Cut for Real (Heidi Elise Christensen & Signe Byrge Sorensen)
With the support of: Danida, The Danish Film Institute / Film Workshop by Film Consultant Christina Rosendahl, BMU Foundation
In collaboration with: DR – Mette Hoffmann Meyer
Filmography
Moritz Siebert
– Harvest Hand (G, 2013, 70’, siebertfilms)
– Blue Elephant (G, 2010, 15’, WEED e.V)
– Long Distance (UK, 2009, 30’, National Film and Television School)
– My Name is Karl (UK, 2008, 32’ National Film and Television School)
– Anne and Gail (UK, 2009, 15’, National Film and Television School)
– Belgrade Backspin (G, 2005, 34’, HFF Potsdam)
Estephan Wagner
– Last Dreams (New Danish Screen/DFI, Final Cut for Real, 2013, 59’)
– Vanishing Worlds (UK, UK Film Council/BBC, 2011, 28’)
– The Finishing Line (UK, Channel 4, Century Films, 2009, 29’)
– Waiting for Women (UK, NFTS/WagnerDocs), 2008, 35’
Award(s)
- Nominated for Robert Prize for Best Documentary (the Danish Film Academy)
- Cinema Eye Honors 2017 – Spotlight Award
- Biberstein Gusmão Award (for emerging directors) to Abou Bakar Sidibé, Porto/Post/Doc, Portugal
- Honorable Mention, Porto/Post/Doc, Portugal
- Honorable Mention, Hamptons Int. Film Festival, USA
- White Goose Award for best film, Int. Competition, DMZ Docs, Korea
- Special Jury Mention, Camden Int. Film Festival
- Best Editing Award by The Italian Association of Film and TV Editors, AMC, Salina DOC Fest 2016
- Premio Tasca d’Almerita, Salina DOC Fest 2016
- Amnesty International Award, Docs Against Gravity 2016
- Main Prize, dokKa Karlsruhe, 2016
- Special Mention, DOK.fest München 2016
- The Jury’s Second Prize, Feature length Competition, DocumentaMadrid 2016
- Main Award: Int. Feature length Award, Frankfurt Lichter IFF 2016
- Ecumenical Jury Award, Berlinale 2016iting Award
Festival(s)
- Bertha Doc House, January 2017, UK
- Festival du Film Documentaire de St Louis, December 2016, Senegal
- Transcinema, December 2016, Peru
- Porto/Post/Doc, November 2016, Portugal
Black Nights, November 2016, Estonia - IDFA, November 2016, The Netherlands
- DOC NYC, November 2016, USA
- 9th Panorama of the European Film, November 2016, Egypt
- Nordic Film Days Lübeck, November 2016, Germany
- Leeds Int. Film Festival, November 2016, UK
- Afrikanische Filmtage Munich, October 2016, Germany
- Film Africa UK, October 2016, UK
- Independent FilmFest Osnabrück, October 2016, Germany
- Corsica Doc, October 2016, France
- Sao Paulo Film Festival, October 2016, Brazil
- Antalya Film Festival, October 2016, Turkey
- Prix Europa, October 2016, Germany
- Cinemigrante Film Festival, October 2016, Argentina
- DOCS DF, October 2016, Mexico
- Festival de Cine de Valdivia, October 2016, Chile
- Hamptons Int. Film Festival, October 2016, USA
- BFI. London Film Festival, October 2016, UK
- FEMF, October 2016, Slovenia
- Zimbabwe Int. Film Festival, October 2016, Zimbabwe
- War on Screen, September 2016, France
- Festival du Film Francophone de Namur, September 2016, Belgium
- Moldox, September 2016, Moldova
- Zürich Film Festival, September 2016, Switzerland
- Cinematik Int. Film Festival, September 2016, Slovakia
- Milano Film Festival, September 2016, Italy
- Camden Int. Film Festival, September 2016, USA
- DMZ Docs, September 2016, Korea
- Nordisk Panorama, September 2016, Sweden
- États Généraux du Film Documentaire, August 2016, France
- Melbourne Int. Film Festival, August 2016, Australia
- Galway Film Fleadh, July 2016, Ireland
- Sommerberlinale Köln, July 2016, Germany
- AFIDOCS, June 2016, USA
- DocuFest, June 2016, Kosovo
- Durban International Film Festival, June 2016, South Africa
- Biografilm Festival, June 2016, Italy
- Salina DOC Fest, June 2016, Italy
- Seoul Agape Film Festival, May 2016, South Korea
- Int. Film Festival Innsbruck, May2016, Austria
- Docaviv, May 2016, Israel
- dokKa Karlsruhe, May 2016, Germany
- Docs Against Gravity, May 2016, Poland
- DOK.fest München, May 2016, Germany
- DocumentaMadrid IFF, May 2016, Spain
- Crossing Europe, April 2016, Austria
- Frankfurt Lichter IFF, March 2016, Germany
- Hong Kong IFF, March 2016
- True False, March 2016, USA
- Berlinale World Premiere 17 February 2016, Germany
