Cannes Film Festival 2021: Chadian Mahamat Saleh Haroun, an enlightened filmmaker
Mahamat-Saleh Haroun in 2017 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
AFP - VALERIE MACON
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Mahamat Saleh Haroun is undoubtedly a personality of Chadian culture.
His film “A Screaming Man” is the first film by a Chadian filmmaker to be selected in the official competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010. And above all to come away with the Jury Prize.
Since then, this prolific filmmaker has made a series of nominations in Venice as well as in Cannes.
This year again, his film “Lingui” is in competition at the 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
Return on the course of Mahamat Saleh Haroun.
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With our correspondent in N'Djamena
,
Aurélie Bazzara-Kibangula
Mahamat Saleh Haroun is a discreet character who has 27 years of experience in cinema.
Originally from Abeché in the east of the country, he was first a journalist before becoming a filmmaker.
“Creation is a home for an exile,
” explains Mahamat Saleh Haroun, who left N'Djamena at the age of 20 after being hit by a stray bullet.
He sets down his suitcases in France, where he joins a film school, his childhood dream.
Mahamat Saleh Haroun grew up in a Chad marked by coups and rebellions, which serves as the backdrop for most of his films.
He signs a shocking documentary "
Hissein Habré, a Chadian tragedy
" in which he gives a voice to the victims and witnesses of the repression.
In 2017, return to Chad.
He is appointed Minister of Culture.
He resigned a year later simply citing "
personal reasons
".
"
He is rigorous and punctual
" says one of his favorite actors, Youssouf Djaoro.
Speaking of a man with the legendary salt and pepper mustache who willingly transmits his passion for cinema during filming.
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Cannes Film Festival 2021: Africa present through six films
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