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Demba

Encounters 2024
© Mbar Diop / Joyedidi
Demba is about to retire after 30 years of service in the city hall of his small hometown in northern Senegal. During this hot summer, as the second anniversary of his wife’s death approaches, Demba realises that he is unable to simply “shake off” her passing. But as his mental health deteriorates, he discovers a new connection with his once estranged son. Can Demba recover from his loss without losing himself?
The film takes the life of a middle-aged man to explore the tension between grief and healing, belonging and estrangement, mental health and psychiatric disorder. Its inspiration stems from a genuine question: How can a society that does not have a word for “depression” come to terms with it?
by Mamadou Dia
with Ben Mahmoud Mbow, Awa Djiga Kane, Mamadou Sylla, Aicha Talla, Abdoulaye Dicko, Saikou Lo, Mamadou Bayo Sarr, Hamadi Baila Senegal / Germany / Qatar 2024 Fula 119’ Colour World premiere | With the support of: FOPICA-Senegal, Berlinale World Cinema Fund, Canal+ International, Doha Film Institute, Visions Sud Est

With

  • Ben Mahmoud Mbow (Demba)
  • Awa Djiga Kane (Awa)
  • Mamadou Sylla (Bajjo)
  • Aicha Talla (Oumy)
  • Abdoulaye Dicko (Mayor)
  • Saikou Lo (Salam)
  • Mamadou Bayo Sarr (Pekane)
  • Hamadi Baila (Rama)

Crew

Director Mamadou Dia
Screenplay Mamadou Dia
Cinematography Sheldon Chau
Editing Alan Wu
Music John Corlis
Sound Design Eli Coen
Sound Ousmane Coly
Production Design Caterina Da Via
Costumes Salimata Ndiaye
Make-Up Anna Senghor
Producer Maba Ba
Executive Producer Oumy Djegane Niang
Co-Producer Nicole Gerhards

World sales

The Party Film Sales

http://www.thepartysales.com http://www.thepartysales.com

Produced by

Joyedidi

http://www.joyedidi.com http://www.joyedidi.com

NiKo Film

http://www.nikofilm.de http://www.nikofilm.de

Additional information

With the support of: FOPICA-Senegal, Berlinale World Cinema Fund, Canal+ International, Doha Film Institute, Visions Sud Est

Photos

Mamadou Dia

© Mbar Diop Joyedidi

The Senegalese director obtained his master’s degree in screenwriting and directing from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His feature film Nafi’s Father premiered at Locarno where it won the Best First Feature Award and the Golden Leopard in its section. The film was also Senegal’s official entry for the 2021 Oscars.

Filmography (selection)

2015 Contained; short film 2016 Samedi Cinema; short film 2019 Baamum Nafi (Nafi’s Father) 2024 Demba

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2024