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Ne réveillez pas l’enfant qui dort

Don’t Wake the Sleeping Child
Generation 14plus 2025
Diamant, a 15-year-old girl from Dakar, dreams of making films. But her family has other plans for her future. Faced with decisions about her life being made without her consent, Diamant confides in her sister: she longs for escape and rest. Next morning, Diamant has fallen into an inexplicably deep sleep – a silent act of resistance against the obligations being imposed on her. Her mysterious slumber stokes tensions and fears that come to threaten not only Diamant herself, but also her family and the very home that shelters them all.
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by Kevin Aubert (Director, Screenplay)
with Khadia Ndiaye Fall, Mama Sané, Samba Ly, Adji Mareme Hanne Senegal / France / Morocco 2025 Wolof 28' Black/White World premiere | Short Film recommendation: 14 years and up

With

  • Khadia Ndiaye Fall (Diamant)
  • Mama Sané (Sister)
  • Samba Ly (Father)
  • Adji Mareme Hanne (Mother)

Crew

Director Kevin Aubert
Screenplay Kevin Aubert
Cinematography Louis Mas
Editing Jeanne Fontaine
Music Pablo Altar
Sound Design Adil Aissa
Casting Abdou Khadir Ndiaye, Fatou Touré
Producer Chloé Ortolé
Co-Producers Sébastien Hussenot, Julien Fouré

Produced by

Tangerine Productions

La Luna Productions

Free Monkeyz

Photos

Kevin Aubert

© Thibaut Piel

The French-Cameroonian director spent his early years in Ziguinchor, Senegal, before moving to Montceau-les-Mines in Burgundy, France, where he completed his education. He earned a master’s degree in the history of philosophy from the University of Paris IV – Sorbonne in 2015. In 2020, he relocated to Dakar and managed the Ousmane Sembène Cinematic Complex for over a year before founding Le Sel Dakar, the city’s only analogue film laboratory. For more than six years, he has focused on directing music videos and commercials. He has also created two music documentaries. Ne réveillez pas l’enfant qui dort is his debut short film.

Filmography

2025 Ne réveillez pas l’enfant qui dort (Don’t Wake the Sleeping Child); short film

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2025