Abderrahmane Sissako (; born 13 October 1961) is a Mauritanian-born Malian film director and producer. His film Waiting for Happiness (Heremakono) was screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival official selection under Un Certain Regard, winning a FIPRESCI Prize. His 2006 film Bamako received much attention. Sissako's themes include globalisation, exile and the displacement of people. His 2014 film Timbuktu was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in the main competition section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Early life and education Sissako was born in Kiffa, Mauritania, in 1961. His father is a Malian from Sokolo. He spent his childhood in Mali, then returned to Mauritania at age 18 to live with his mother. He left for Moscow in 1983 with a scholarship to study cinema at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, where he made his graduation film, The Game, in 1988.
Career Besides his work as a director, he also worked as a cultural Advisor for former head of state Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.Abderrahmane Sissako, une imposture mauritanienne , Mondafrique, 20 February 2015.
In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Sissako signed an open letter published in Libération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.
Personal life After twelve years in Moscow, Sissako moved to Paris in 1994.
Sissako is married to the Ethiopian film director Maji-da Abdi.
Sissako's mother died on the last day of filming of his 2002 film Waiting for Happiness; the film is dedicated to her.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1990 Sex et perestroïka Assistant director Directed by François Jouffa & Francis Leroi 1991 Le jeu Director & Writer Short 1993 Oktyabr Director & Writer Short 1995 Petite météorologie ou Sept histoires de temps Actor Short directed by Charles Castella Molom, conte de Mongolie Production designer Directed by Marie-Jaoul de Poncheville1997 Africa Dreaming Director TV series (1 Episode) Documenta X - Die Filme Director Directed with Charles Burnett, Harun Farocki and Aleksandr Sokurov Rostov-Luanda Director & Writer DocumentaryNamur International Festival of French-Speaking Film - Best Documentary Award - Special Mention 1998 La Vie Sur Terre Director, Writer & Actor San Francisco International Film Festival - Golden SpireFribourg International Film Festival - Ecumenical Jury AwardFribourg International Film Festival - FIPRESCI Prize - Special MentionFribourg International Film Festival - Grand PrixPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou - Air Afrique Special AwardPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou - INALCO AwardPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou - Special MentionPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou - TELCIPRO Award - Feature FilmTaormina Film Fest - Silver Charybdis2002 Waiting for Happiness Director & Writer Cannes Film Festival - Foreign Cineaste of the YearCannes Film Festival - FIPRESCI PrizeBuenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema - Best FilmGijón International Film Festival - Special Jury AwardNamur International Festival of French-Speaking Film - Youth Jury Emile Cantillon AwardPanafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou - Grand Prize - Etalon de YennegaParis Biennal of Arab Cinema - IMA Grand PrizeNominated - Gijón International Film Festival - Grand Prix Asturias - Best FeatureNominated - Namur International Festival of French-Speaking Film - Golden Bayard - Best Film Abouna Executive producer Directed by Mahamat Saleh Haroun2003 Le silence de la forêt Producer Directed by Bassek Ba Kobhio & Didier Ouenangare Malenkie lyudi Producer Directed by Nariman Turebaev2006 Bamako Director, Writer, Producer & Actor Lumière Award for Best French-Language FilmInternational Istanbul Film Festival - FACE AwardFestival Paris Cinéma - Audience Award Daratt Producer Directed by Mahamat Saleh Haroun2008 8 Director & Writer Directed with Jane Campion, Gael García Bernal, Jan Kounen, Mira Nair, Gaspar Noé, Gus Van Sant & Wim Wenders Stories on Human Rights Director Directed with Marina Abramović, Sergei Bodrov, Shira Geffen, Jia Zhangke, Etgar Keret, Idrissa Ouedraogo, Pipilotti Rist, Walter Salles, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Jasmila Žbanić, and others 2010 Je vous souhaite la pluie Director TV Short 2014 Timbuktu Director & Writer César Award for Best FilmCésar Award for Best DirectorCésar Award for Best Original ScreenplayCannes Film Festival - François Chalais PrizeCannes Film Festival - Prize of the Ecumenical JuryLumière Award for Best FilmLumière Award for Best DirectorChicago International Film Festival - Best DirectorGlobes de Cristal Award - Best FilmAfrican-American Film Critics Association - Best World CinemaJerusalem Film Festival - Best FeatureFrench Syndicate of Cinema Critics - Best FilmGrand Prix de l'UCCNominated - Academy Award for Best Foreign Language FilmNominated - Cannes Film Festival - Palme d'OrNominated - Satellite Award for Best Foreign Language FilmNominated - Cairo International Film Festival - Best Arabic FilmNominated - Louis Delluc Prize - Best FilmNominated - Hamburg Film Festival - Art Cinema Award2024Black TeaNominated - 74th Berlin International Film Festival - Golden Bear
Bibliography Thomas Sotinel, « Abderrahmane Sissako. Pour en finir avec le cinéma du Nord », Le Monde, 21 octobre 2006, p. 19 Samuel Lelièvre, « Les cinémas africains, Abderrahmane Sissako et les frontières du monde », CinémAction, no. 137, 2010, pp. 182–185.
References
External links
Interview: Abderrahmane Sissako with Kwame Anthony Appiah Sight and Sound, Film of the Month: Bamako A Fragmented Epistemology: The Films of Abderrahmane Sissako Sissako YouTube Interview, 2007