Lone African film bags award at the Berlin film festival

An African film won a Jury Grand Prix on Saturday.

“Felicité”, was the only African film in the competition which talks about the evolution of a courageous mum who struggled to feed her family by raising money from her job as a singer in a bar in the DR Congo.

“It’s a movie about us, the people, we are beautiful, we can love what we are”, said the movie
director, Alain Gomis while receiving the award.

This wouldn’t be his first time in Berlin, he had showcased a movie titled “Tey” (today) in 2012.

“Felicité”, his fourth movie is the portrait of a courageous mother who takes her job with seriousness because her son has been a victim of an accident and needs financial resources for medical care.

“It was difficult to make this film. “It was a difficult year in the DRC,” admits the Director, referring to the elections which should take place in the country.

Prix du jury à la #Berlinale2017 pour le beau #Felicite du talentueux Alain Gomis, qui entre pour de bon dans la lumière, on s'en réjouit. pic.twitter.com/AA53XMo0d5

— Frederic Strauss (@FredericStrauss) 18 février 2017

The film produced partly in France and Senegal will also be competing at the Fespaco, the Pan-African film festival which will be held late February in Ouagadougou.

“I see a generation of filmmakers who have never been to the movies, because there are no more cinemas”, on the African continent, said Alain Gomis.

He has also called for more generous financing of the cinemas in African countries.