Last Saturday was the closing of the first edition of Ateliers Mwinda. Several filmmakers, directors and cinephiles made the trip to attend this event which highlights the creativity and sense of storytelling of students and high school students in Cameroon.
On Saturday 23 January, several personalities both political and Cameroonian cinema were present at Canal Olympia Yaoundé for the closing ceremony of the Ateliers Mwinda Workshops. An initiative that aims to train young college and high school students in the cinema. Despite a year 2020 marked by the Covid19 pandemic, the Mwinda Workshops have shown resilience. They managed to train 12 young college and high school students in the field of the seventh art. From these 12 young people, 6 pairs were formed with the mission of making documentary films of 7 minutes each under the mentorship of several cinema experts.
Osvalde Lewat
This first edition of Ateliers Mwinda was sponsored by the former French international footballer Lilian Thuram. The footballer returned to the reasons for his association with such a project by encouraging young people to more dream and dare: “Young people, do not be afraid of having big dreams, do not be afraid of making mistakes” . A reasoning that joins that of the two ladies behind this project: Osvalde Lewat, Cameroonian photographer and director and Véronique Cazeneuve, French editor. In her introductory speech Osvalde affirms “when Véronique Cazeneuve and I thought of setting up the Mwinda Workshops, we were convinced by the strong conviction that it was imperative for young people and adolescents to have access to an intellectual space, a space creative and artistic that will allow them to think for themselves. Think for yourself and think against yourself. It is by thinking against oneself that we can fertilize a new world … I remember how we felt in Véronique and me when the first shooting images arrived. These images made our long months tangible and palpable. Those months of worry, those laborious months where we wondered are we going to get there? But seeing these films, everything for us was justified … our dream to us Véronique and me, but also the dream of young people, that we guessed, without knowing them, but intuitively we knew that these young people wanted to tell the world … “
The films of the first edition.
At the heart of legends.
The film by the duo Moifo Takou and Meko-Nsi Urielle was in the spotlight. He received the Grand Prix for this first edition of Ateliers Mwinda. The film tells the story of two major queens of the Bamoun dynasty who reigned during a historical period dominated mainly by men. A film produced in an ingenious way to overcome the lack of archives. It was the director Cyrille Masso who was the supervisor of this project.
The Net of Hope.
A film that received the Prize for Hope. Directed by Konde Céleste and Nafissatou Mohamadou under the monitoring of Françoise Ellong. The pair recounted in 7 minutes the daily struggle of Sarah, 38, who is raising her three children by perpetrating the family profession which is very often reserved for men; the Peach. A film that has come a hair’s breadth away from the grand prize.
The 36th wife.
It was produced by Nzimi Mégane and Alex Ebougue in the Ndé department in Cameroon. They were mentored by director Narcisse Wandji. This is a documentary about Claude Bergeret, French, daughter of a Christian missionary, who married Chief Bangangté Francois Njike Pokan. She becomes his 36th wife and finds no problem with polygamy. He received the Award for best achievement.
The go of benskin.
This documentary was produced by Momha Youmba Ismael and Zidane Yasine under the supervision of Agnès Ndibi. He received the Diffusion Award. The Mwinda Workshops, placed under the theme of gender equality for its first edition, accompanied these young people in the making of this film about a divorced mother, who defies all prejudices and embarks on the profession of driver of mototaxi commonly called benskineuse.
The other game of women’s football.
Was produced by Stéphany Ngwanshi and Eugénie Metala under the monitoring of Lionel Nname. This documentary is about a young lady Davila, who chose football for her profession. A choice that initially was not well received by his family. This particular documentary with its rendering, emotions and a story that captivated the audience. He was awarded the jury prize by artist musician Kareyce Fotso.
Agro-dreamer.
Last but not least was directed by Faith Mbiseh and Clarence Kwamong with mentor Lionel Nname. They went to meet Michelle who talks about her ambitions to become the best woman in eco farming; by improving plant health and growth while protecting the environment. This documentary was awarded the Environment Award by Brasseries du Cameroun.
Six documentaries made by young Cameroonians who had never trained in cinematography. They only had two months to complete these works. Novices in the seventh art, who could well be a good next generation for Cameroonian cinema. Cyrille Masso, mentor of the documentary duo Au cœur des Légendes, tells us about this adventure “Discovering young people who have never been in contact with the profession, it was not easy. So we were lucky to have a whatsapp group that allowed us to work every hour. When they had questions, they asked me. I showed them how to materialize their ideas. I admit it wasn’t easy because at one point they felt like I was the one who had to make the film for them. But I had to explain to them that they are the directors and I am only an accompanist. Once they understood the principle, the mayonnaise set and things went away on their own. Especially since their subject was complex it required the archive, the drawing, the voice, the text, it was really complex cinema so they had to try to master, know when to use what material and for where … Personally, beyond the Mwinda Workshops, I will ensure that those who have the vocation to continue in the trades to be able to supervise. And luck is that the two of them have chosen, I think, performing art at the Institute of Fine Arts and the film industry. I think we’ll hear about it in the next few days. “
Encouraging words for these young people, some of whom have randomly chosen the art and culture sector by participating in this first edition of the Mwinda Workshops. Roll on the second edition!
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