An evening dedicated to contemporary African cinema featuring three powerful short films that explore childhood, identity, and dreams across the continent. From Ghana to Senegal, and South Africa, these films offer intimate and authentic perspectives on African realities through the eyes of the youngest generation.
« Da Yie » (Ghana, 2019) – Directed by Anthony Nti, this award-winning dramatic thriller follows two young friends, Matilda and Prince, who embark on a life-changing journey with a charismatic stranger nicknamed “the Bogah.” Shot on Ghana’s vibrant coast, the film captures both the innocence of childhood and the hidden dangers that threaten it. Selected for the 2021 Oscars and awarded at over 140 international festivals, “Da Yie” (meaning “good night” in Twi) explores peer pressure and the loss of innocence with stunning cinematography and gripping tension.
« Dem Dem » (Senegal, 2017) – A contemplative short film that follows Matar, a Senegalese fisherman who finds a Belgian passport on a Dakar beach. Along the way, he encounters N’Zibou, a wise fool who measures clouds and questions him about identity. « Dem Dem », meaning “to go” in Wolof, explores themes of migration, identity, and the desire for elsewhere that inhabits so many young Africans facing seas emptied of fish and an uncertain future.
« What Did You Dream? » (South Africa, 2020) – Directed by Karabo Lediga, this enchanting story is set during the summer of 1990, as South Africa stands on the threshold of democracy. Boipelo, 11, spends her vacation at her grandmother’s home in Atteridgeville township, Pretoria. She worries because, unlike her two cousins, she can no longer remember her dreams and cannot help her grandmother play the local Chinese lottery (Fahfee). Blending magical realism with authentic slices of life, the film captures a symbolic moment of transition through the innocent eyes of a child who must also face her own changes.
Three childhood stories, three countries, one shared ability to capture the beauty, complexity, and resilience of African life. A cinema evening celebrating the narrative and visual richness of contemporary African cinema.
Claude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.
Practical information:
⏰ Thursday, December 4th, 2025 at 8 p.m.
👉🏼 Alliance Française
💰 Free entrance