The Casamance region in the South of Senegal is one of the last area of traditional fishing in West Africa. Facing the growing menace of industrial fishing companies and overcoming very harsh working conditions, the fishermen of Casamance contribute to the food supply (ou food safety) of many African countries.
But for how long?
Director Statement
This film analyzes the recent evolutions of the smoked sardinella sector in Casamance through the point of view of workers operating in this sector (fishermen, cashiers, handlers, hullers, oven owners, smokers, traders).
The fish processing sector has always generated many jobs in Senegal, attracts workers from all over West Africa and provides a steady supply of quality processed products, which are fundamental for the people of the African Continent.
But over the past decade, the development of international aquaculture has led to a new demand for wild fish meal, used to feed farmed fish and livestock, attracting the interest of many foreign investors. Russian, Chinese and Turkish factory boats operate freely and / or illegally offshore Morocco, Mauritania, The Gambia and Senegal causing distress among artisanal fishermen.
And now for 10 years, fishmeal factories have been created, settled all along the coast, close to the landing areas and ports, inducing additional pressure, a real looting, a diversion of the former product. reserved for our populations, and a loss of activity for the workers who live thanks to the fish landed on our beaches.
Fish of high commercial value, fresh or frozen, is treated and exported massively for 50 years, or reserved for the richest of our country. The Senegalese people have not had access for a long time, and must be satisfied with the sardinella to feed. And our sardinella, which costs more and more expensive, is rare and irregular in our markets.
Sardinella and Ethmalose are popular fish, fundamental for food security in West Africa (Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria …). Local, national and international citizen mobilization is needed to protect this essential fish by the absolute refusal of its treatment in export flour.
News & Reviews
Project Links
- Festival International Pêcheurs du Monde
Lorient, France
March 22, 2018
European Premiere
Prix du Jury, Mention Spéciale Jury Professionnels, Mention Spéciale Jury Jeunes
- Festival Ecrans Noirs
Yaounde, Cameroon
July 14, 2018
African Premiere
Ecran du Documentaire International, Prix TV5 Monde
- Festival International Sahélien du Film – FISFI
MAROUA, Cameroon
September 24, 2018
Official Selection
- Festival Alimenterre Belgique
BRUXELLES, Belgium
October 12, 2018
Official Selection
- Festival International de Cinéma de Kinshasa – FICKIN
KINSHASA, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the
October 14, 2018
Official Selection
- Festival des Cinémas d’Afrique du pays d’Apt – FCAPA
APT, France
November 6, 2018
Official Selection
- GLOBAL MIGRATION FILM FESTIVALGENEVE
Switzerland
November 28, 2018
Official Selection
- Festival Image & VieDakar
Senegal
October 6, 2018
Official Selection
- Festival de Films Masuku Nature et EnvironnementFranceville
Gabon
December 6, 2018
Etudiant Prize
- Festival des Identités Culturelles FESTICOuagadougou
Burkina Faso
November 3, 2018
Official Selection
- Festival International du Cinéma Numérique de Cotonou FICNCCotonou
Benin
December 3, 2018
Official Selection
- Festival International du Film des Droits Humains de Paris FIFDHParis
France
December 5, 2018
Official Selection
- Toukountchi Festival de Cinéma TFCNNiamey
Niger
October 24, 2018
Best Documentary Medium/Lenght Prize
- Festival International du Cinéma Francophone en Acadie FICFANouveau Brunswick
Canada
November 19, 2018
North American Premiere
Official Selection
- Festival International de Films sur les Droits Humains FIFIDHONiamey
Niger
November 27, 2018
Best Direction Award
- Green Image Film FestivalTokyo
Japan
February 22, 2019
Japan Premiere
Grand Prize
- West African Film FestivalHouston, Texas
United States
December 24, 2018
Us Premiere
Official Selection
- Black Movie- Independant Film Festival of GenevaGeneva
Switzerland
January 26, 2019
Swiss Premiere
Official Selection
- Festival International du Film Documentaire de KhouribgaKhouribga
Morocco
December 28, 2018
Morroco Premiere
Grand Prize, Prize of the Critic
- Festival Curieux VoyageursSt Etienne
France
March 29, 2019
Official Selection
- Festival International du Film Panafricain de CannesCannes
France
April 17, 2019
Official Selection
- Festival L’ici et L’ailleursSt Martin en Bresse
France
March 28, 2019
Official Selection
- Luxor African Film FestivalLuxor
Egypt
March 20, 2019
Official Selection
- Eko – International Film FestivalLagos
Nigeria
April 25, 2019
Official Selection
- Rencontres Cinéma-NatureDompierre sur Besbre
France
April 4, 2019
Grand Prize, Public Prize
- Rencontres Documentaires de KoudougouKoudougou
Burkina Faso
April 25, 2019
Official Selection
- Festival de Films pour l’EnvironnementSt Casimir
Canada
April 23, 2019
Best Foreign Film Prize
- Afrika Film FestivalLeuven
Belgium
May 5, 2019
Official Selection
- African World Documentary Film FestivalSan Diego, California
United States
April 30, 2019
Official Selection
- Festival International du Film de Mer « Les Ecrans de la Mer »Les Sables d’Olonne
France
May 2, 2019
Scripture Prize
- Festival de Lasalle-DOC CévennesLasalle
France
May 31, 2019
Official Selection
- The African Film Festival-TAFFDallas, Texas
United States
June 14, 2019
Best Feature Documentary Award
- Festival CinemAmbulanteCalabra
Italy
June 1, 2019
Official Selection
- African Diaspora Film FestivalFirenze
Italy
June 15, 2019
Official Selection
- Festival Alimenterre FranceParis
France
October 1, 2019
Official Selection
- Deauville Green AwardsDeauville
France
June 12, 2019
Golden Award
- Festival AfriclapToulouse
France
August 25, 2019
Official Selection
- Festival Espelhos d’AfricaSalvador de Bahia
Brazil
May 31, 2019
South American Premiere
Official Premiere
- Afrika Film Festival KölnKöln
Germany
September 25, 2019
German Premiere
Official Selection
- Festival International de Cinéma Environnemental de Gabès -FICEG-Gabes
Tunisia
July 11, 2019
Tunisian Premiere
Official Selection
- Festival Alimenterre
France
October 15, 2019
Official Selection
- Euro-Africain Cinéma Festival de Souss MassaSouss Massa
Morocco
June 22, 2019
Official Selection
- Festival International du Documentaire des Droits de l’HommeRabat
Morocco
June 29, 2019
Jury Prize
- Festival International des Films d’Environnement de ChefchaouenChefchaouen
Morocco
June 26, 2019
Official Selection
- Migranti Film FestivalBra
Italy
June 28, 2019
Best Documentary Award
- The Buddah International Film FestivalPune
India
June 17, 2019
Indian Premiere
Official Selection
