Quartiers Lointains: Season 4
Theme: Justice!
Through the exploration of justice, fairness, and societal norms, the short films of the fourth season of Quartiers Lointains challenge, inspire, and captivate us. From personal struggles to systemic inequalities, these stories reflect a universal quest for balance and accountability, bridging diverse cultural perspectives from Africa and beyond.
Our Godmother: Jihan El Tahri
Jihan el-Tahri is an Egyptian-born, French filmmaker, author, and news correspondent. She has authored, directed, and produced award-winning documentary films, authored books, and reported on political conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.
Jihan is a Member of the Executive Bureau of FEPACI (Federation of Pan-African Cinema) and Secretary General of The Guild of African Filmmakers in the Diaspora. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (with honors) in Political Science and a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science, both from the American University in Cairo.
Speaking French, English, and Arabic, as well as some functional Spanish, Jihan was a correspondent/super stringer for US News & World Report covering the Middle East while residing in France. The main stories covered were: Return of Yasser Arafat to Gaza, Algerian Elections, Madrid Peace Conference, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm (Gulf War).
Her full-length feature films The Koran and the Kalashnikov (1995), L'Afrique en morceaux (2000), The Price of Aid/Les maux de la faim (2003); The House of Saud (2004); Cuba! Africa! Revolution! (2007), and Behind the Rainbow (2009) were screened internationally. Jihan El-Tahri was twice nominated for the Emmy Awards and has received numerous international awards (Figra d'Or 1995, European Media Prize 2004, BANFF Festival Award 2005, and 2nd Prize Documentary at the Fespaco 2009). Her last full-length feature film, a documentary named Les pharaons de l'Egypte moderne, was partially screened at the MOMA in New York.
The Films of Season 4
The Aftermath of the Inauguration of the Public Toilet at Kilometer 375 de Omar El Zohairy
Fiction - 2014 - Egypt - 18min
Synopsis :
Fear is an instinct lying under the skin. But what if it mutates? Adaptation of "Death of a Government Clerk," a short story by Anton Chekhov.
Carrière du film :
Palmsprings International Shortfest 2014 (USA)
Cinéfondation at the Cannes Film Festival 2014 (France)
Screened at the Medfilm Festival 2014 (Italy)
Screened at Dokufest International Documentary Short Film Festival 2014 (Kosovo)
Screened at Mill Valley International Film Festival (USA)
Madama Esther de Luck Razanajaona
Fiction - 2013 - Madagascar - 15min
Synopsis :
Madama Esther, a cleaning lady in her fifties, has just lost her job. As she cannot keep her promise to take her grandson to the sea, she accepts an offer to host illegal cockfights in her backyard - a world filled with angels and crooks in equal measure.
Carrière du film :
Silver Tanit at the Carthage Film Festival 2014 (Tunisia)
Silver Foal at FESPACO 2015 (Burkina Faso)
GOLD Zebu Prize at the Short Film Encounters Festival 2014 (Madagascar)
Screened at the Zanzibar International Film Festival 2015 (Zanzibar)
Screened at Clermont-Ferrand 2013 (France)
Screened at the African Film Festival of Luxor 2014 (Egypt)
Screened at the AfryKamera Film Festival 2014 (Warsaw)
Screened at RFC Film Festival 2014 (Madagascar)
Screened at FIFAI Film Festival 2014 (Réunion Island)
Screened at ILES COURTS Festival 2014 (Mauritius Island)
Screened at Fribourg International Film Festival 2014 (Switzerland)
Screened at FILMINITIATIV 2014 (Germany)
80 de Muhannad Lamin
2012 - Libya - 6min
Synopsis :
80 follows a man during the two most important days of his life: the day he is imprisoned and the day he escapes.
Carrière du film :
TROPFEST Arabia 2012 (United Arab Emirates)
Locarno Film Festival 2016 (Switzerland)
A Place For Myself de Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo
Fiction - 2016 - Rwanda - 20 min
Synopsis :
At a casual elementary school, a five-year-old albino girl, Elikia, arrives. Due to her skin color, her classmates make her realize that her being ‘different’ is more of a problem than a special trait. While the neighborhood treats her as a stereotype, her mother encourages her. Together, they fight back and raise their voices to find a place for themselves.
Carrière du film :
Sembene Ousmane Award for Best African Short Film
Golden Show Award for the Best Short Film
Signis Award 2016 for East African Talent
Zanzibar International Film Festival 2016 (Tanzania)
Tunisian Short Film Days of Gabès 2016 (Tunisia)
Bronze Tanit – Carthage Film Days 2016 (Tunisia)
FESPACO 2017 (Burkina Faso)
Toronto Black Film Festival 2017
Luxor African Film Festival 2017 (Egypt)
27th Edition of the African, Asian, and Latin American Cinema Festival
Milano Festival