Mali Magic

Filmmaker Salif Traore, from Mali presents his first feature film Faro, La Reine Des Eaux (Faro, Goddess of the Water) at DIFF this year. In a quick interview he talks about his film and projecting Africa as it really is to the rest of the world.

Faro deals with the fight between science and superstition. Is it based on your personal experiences or a general commentary on African society?

I was inspired by the surroundings around me. I think we all have a bit of science and superstition in us and I wanted to show that with all our prejudices we can't evolve. I hope the film helps change that.

Has the film been screened in Mali? What was the reaction to it?

No it hasn't. In Africa there are hardly any distributors, so it's only been screened abroad.

So what films are screened at the cinemas in Mali?

Oh, Hollywood, Bollywood, Chinese action films. Maybe once every two years, we can watch an African film in the theatre.

It can't be very encouraging for a filmmaker to know that his film might never be screened in his home country.

Well, we live in hope really. It's this eternal fight for us. We're fighting a lot of issues in Africa at the moment and cinema really isn't high on the agenda for a lot of governments. But us filmmakers just hope that someday there will be a true audience back at home.

Considering you're projecting African cinema to an international audience, are you wary of depicting a less negative face of the continent?

I want to move away from the traditions and prejudices that persist with Africa and its cinema. I think we should accept Africa as it is and also I think Africa needs to move away from superstitious beliefs in order to progress.

How to enjoy DIFF

• Most films screened at DIFF have talent - filmmakers and/or cast members attending. The talent fields questions from viewers at the end of the screening. It's a great chance to interact with the talent as they're usually very relaxed at festivals.
• DIFF has 141 films from 52 countries. Open your minds and try a random selection.
• Sometimes smaller, independent films from lesser-known film industries turn out to be big surprises.
• Remember all films are subtitled. So there's really no excuse to not watch a foreign film.
• If a film's sold out, don't fret. The stand-by queue is known to spring surprises.
• Screen on the Green films are free. Get your family and friends, hang out on the bean bags and enjoy the following films under the stars. All start at 8pm:
• The Banquet - An epic film from China and Hong Kong set in a nameless Chinese kingdom - December 10
• When the Road Begins - A documentary following five different gypsy bands from all over the world - on December 11
• Before the Rains - Set in 1930s British ruled Kerala, a love story develops in a lush landscape - December 12

Don't miss it!

Faro, Goddess of the Water screens this evening at 5.30pm and on Wednesday, December 12 at 6.30pm at CineStar Mall of the Emirates.