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"Young people know how to talk about HIV like doctors. Now we need different approaches - emotional, psychological."
Mama Sabé, educational specialist, Mali, during 1997 selection process
















"These films will not be something concocted in some office and then filmed. This comes from deep within our communities; it comes from our young people. And that is something that people will want to see, because it will resemble us."
Dr. Georges Tiéndrébéogo, Burkina Faso, during 1997 selection process

 


 

 











"The films are a good tool for discussions and disseminating information on HIV/AIDS…they are short, yet effective, and lead to more discussion than other films because they are relevant and people identify with the characters."
Health educator with the Ministry of Health, Pikine, Senegal to external evaluator, 2003

Film ProductionCartoon character "Overlord AIDS"

...His Royal Heinous, the "Overlord AIDS" with his ingenious - but scarcely foolproof - plan to defeat humanity… Still of "The Warrior"

...The warrior who believes that AIDS is a human enemy and sets out on his horse to find "him"….
Still of "Uncle Ali"
...The uncle who, despite his illness, knows how to make his nephew laugh...

These characters - brought to life by some of Africa's finest filmmakers - are the invention of young contest winners.

There are thirteen short films in the SCENARIOS FROM THE SAHEL collection, produced between 1997 and 2001. They are touching and funny, and their message is one of hope, optimism and empowerment!

Another 15 films were produced in 2003-4 based on winning ideas in the SCENARIOS FROM AFRICA 2002 contest.

Photo from shoot of "The Warrior", Burkina FasoThe first three SCENARIOS FROM THE SAHEL films, The Shop, Just Once and The Warrior, directed by Idrissa Ouédraogo of Burkina Faso, were shot at the end of 1997 in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, and in neighbouring villages.

Photo of animator at work at Pictoon studiosTwo more films were completed in Spring 2000: Advice from an Aunt, a fourth film by Idrissa Ouédraogo; and The General Assembly of Diseases, a cartoon featuring the Senegalese music star Ismaël Lô, directed by Pierre Sauvalle of Cameroon and animated at Pictoon Studios in Dakar, Senegal.

Photo from shoot of "Uncle Ali"The Malian director Cheick Oumar Sissoko shot two Scenarios films, Uncle Ali and For Aïcha in Dakar in April 2000. He followed up with three further films in June 2001: My Brother (featuring the rap musician Didier Awadi), Shared Hope and To the Rescue.

Fanta Nacro from Burkina Faso directed three films in the collection in 2001: Iron Will, The Voice of Reason and A Ring on her Finger.

The films are available in a range of African and European languages, including: English, French, Portuguese (courtesy of Abraço and Santa Claus, Portugal), Dioula Pulaar, Wolof, Mooré, Fon, Twi, plus additional languages courtesy of project partners.

In September 2001, a further film was added to the SCENARIOS collection: "What's AIDS?" by the young Senegalese director Hamet Fall Diagne. The thirty-nine-minute video draws on the SCENARIOS fiction films to provide explanatory information about AIDS in a highly engaging and entertaining way. It was shot in Senegal and is currently available in French and Wolof.
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