User:Jollof Musso/sandbox/MÉBÉT - A Mother's Plea

MÉBÉT - A Mother's Plea

MÉBÉT is a short film produced in The Gambia by RebelVZN in 2019. The film is also set in The Gambia, a country with a relatively high prevalence of child marriages. It is estimated that 30% of girls in The Gambia are married before turning 18 years old. Young and talented girls often have to drop out of school in order to not only fulfil what are believed to be traditional and cultural duties, but also adhere to the will of their parents. Culture and tradition are important aspects of society; this is why MÉBÉT is not passing judgement, but starting a conversation through respect and mutual understanding.

SYNOPSIS

14-year-old Njillan, one of the top students in her class, has just been awarded a government scholarship to pursue her secondary education. Excited to share this achievement with her family, she is welcomed with bad news: Her father has given her away in marriage to Sengan, despite the protests from her mother.

Njillan is forced to let go of her dreams and fulfil her marital duties. She falls pregnant and faces complications while giving birth to her son, Modi. She doesn’t survive. Modi grows up and is initiated into manhood by his grandfather, Njillan’s father. Now a man, he has the opportunity to carry forward the culture of child marriage or reverse the trends and protect his future daughters. He has an encounter with the spirit of his mother, telling her story and pleading him to break the cycle.

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

A sister and a dear friend of mine was forced into marriage as a child to someone she did not choose – in fact, she was too young to make a choice at all. She had to endure unimaginable pain and challenges during this period, but her resilience saw her triumph over all adversity.

MÉBÉT deals with the serious matter of child marriage, which continues to be a challenge in the lives of many young girls in The Gambia and all over the world. The motivation for child marriage in a lot of households and families may include economic challenges and/or a strong desire to uphold certain traditions and cultures. We present this film in a way that values the good aspects of our cultures and traditions, but going further to pose a crucial question: What happens to our community if girls continue to be married off, without their consent and against their wishes?

My sister and friend was lucky to come out of it alive and turned around her life to become an example of resounding success – many others are not so lucky!

PRODUCTION TEAM

MÉBÉT was produced by RebelVZN, an independent production company specialising in multimedia production, cinematography and audiovisual concepts. The company hopes to inspire a renaissance of the film industry in The Gambia, telling stories that highlight the country's rich cultures and traditions, while addressing and hoping to remedy various societal ills and injustices. The company has worked on several productions including Calabash (2005) and Darkness Under the Sun (2012).

For the production of MÉBÉT, RebelVZN worked in partnership with Linguere Communications, STS Pictures, Studio 411 and Image n Sound.

Ousman Jarju - Director | Producer

Ousman Jarju is a director, editor and screenwriter, with almost two decades of experience in producing, directing and editing TV commercials, programs, music video and other material for TV. He developed a passion for film and storytelling at a very young age and started acting on stage and writing skits on issues that affect young people in his community. He collaborated with his friend Muhammed Hakeem Mahoney to produce their first feature film, Calabash (2005), which he directed and acted as the lead character. Ousman took filmmaking courses at the London Film Academy (LFA), after which he wrote and directed a short film – Darkness Under The Sun (2012).

Sheikh Tijan Secka - Director of Photography

Sheikh Tijan Secka is an Artistic Director, Cinematographer, Photographer and Editor, and has gained stellar recognition in The Gambia’s creative industry for his work. He leads the creative process at STS Pictures, and has become a household name. He has won the award of Best Video Director of the Year for four consecutive years.

Jama Jack - Writer | Communications and Partnerships Manager

Jama Jack is a writer, communications professional and feminist leader who has developed a niche for herself through her creative writing which focuses on addressing social issues. She wrote A Mother’s Plea, the original story for Mebet in 2014, and has led the publicity and promotion of the film in The Gambia and at international festivals. She also manages communications, partnerships and PR for RebelVZN.

Mariama Colley - Production Manager

Mariama Colley is the founder of Studio 411, a medium which aims at creating impactful screenplays and films. She is also a stage and film actress, whose passion is rooted in utilizing art as a platform to effect change within her community. She doubles as the lead character in this production.

Pa Manjai Sey - Sound Designer

Pa Manjai Sey is a musician, composer, graphic designer and broadcast manager. He is also the founder of Image n Sound, and has composed music for numerous artistes in The Gambia. He created the score and foley for Darkness Under The Sun (2012). In his work, he is particular about capturing and conveying the very essence of the story and characters’ emotions.

Muhammed Hakeem Mahoney - Producer | Writer

Muhammed Hakeem Mahoney is an actor, producer and writer. He started acting at the age of 6 and was part of many film productions in The Gambia. In 2005, he wrote his first script for Calabash, which he also produced with his friend Ousman Jarju. Since then Muhammed had joined the British Army, which he left 4 years ago to study Drama at Loughborough University in the UK. He finished his Bachelor's successfully and is now studying for his masters in Creative Writing. In Darkness Under The Sun Muhammed acted as one of the lead characters (2012).

Marie Hellweg - Post-Production Manager

Marie Hellweg is a marketing and events manager, who recently joined RebelVZN as producer and post production manager. Originally from Germany, she started her career organising cultural events, such as concerts, readings and screenings, whilst also being in charge of PR. In the last couple of years she extended her knowledge as a marketer, focusing on improving the customer journey and SEO performances.

MAIN CAST

Mariama Colley

Mariama Colley is a radio personality, gender rights activist, stage and film actress, whose passion is rooted in utilizing art as a platform to effect change within her community. In 2013, she was nominated for the African Oscars Award. She is also the founder of Studio 411 Production, a medium which aims at creating impactful screenplays and films.

Sheikh Tijan Sonko

Sheikh Tijan Sonko began his journey as a screen actor in 1998, and his work has been recognised through various awards including Best Male Supporting Actor in The Gambia (2012); Best Documentary Film (2016).; and a distinguished Certificate of Achievement by the Chapel Recording Company (USA). He is also a trained filmmaker following completion of the Motion Pictures Arts Certificate (MPAC) programme, and is the Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild- Gambia.

Jainaba T. Sarr

Jainaba T. Sarr is a development worker, a Human Resources and Professional Development Specialist, a freelance writer of folktales and the environment, and an advocate for cultural preservation in The Gambia. Jai studied Political Science and African Cultural Area Studies during her undergraduate years at theCollege of Wooster, Ohio. She initiated and manages the SLA Cultural Choir. Jainaba makes her debut as a screen actor in MÉBÉT.

Rohey Camara

Rohey Camara is an actress and singer, and has starred in productions like The Hidden Fantasy; Love Confusion; Twisted Mind; and The Mirror Boy. She was the winner of the Best Female Supporting Actress Award in 2016, and was also nominated for the award of Best Actress in 2018.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

To start the important conversation about how a society needs to treat their children, MÉBÉT is being delivered where it is needed most: in the communities and spaces where child marriage continues to exist. With dialogue in Wolof, and reflecting the Senegambian culture, the aim is to show the MÉBÉT film in schools, villages and towns in The Gambia and Senegal for a start, and extending to other countries that may be struggling with the issue of child marriage.

Through community outreach, the film is already being screened in schools and communities, followed by discussions about the subject matter with members of the community. In December 2019, RebelVZN was supported by UNFPA The Gambia to screen the film in five schools in The Gambia.

After two years of concept development, production and post-production work, MÉBÉT was premiered in The Gambia on 17th January 2020, in a sold-out event at the Ebunjan Theatre.

FILM FESTIVALS

In 2020, MÉBÉT began its global film festival rounds, and has been an official selection in the festivals listed below.

1. African Women Arts & Film Festival 2020 - Dar es Salam, Tanzania - April 2020
2. 10th Annual Charlotte Black Film Festival 2020 - Charlotte, North Carolina, USA - June 2020
3. Arts X SDGs Online Festival - August 2020
4. Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival 2020 - Atlanta, USA - September 2020
5. Social Justice Film Festival - Seattle, USA - October 2020
6. Silicon Valley African Film Festival - California, USA - October 2020
7. US Hollywood Intl Golden Film Award - USA - December 2020
8. African Movie Academy Awards - Lagos, Nigeria - December 2020
9. 19th Women of African Descent Film Festival - New York, USA - December 2020
10. Short To The Point ISSF Awards - Bucharest, Romania - December 2020

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

1. Winner - Best International Film - 10th Annual Charlotte Black Film Festival - June 2020
2. Nominee - Best in Social Conscience - US Hollywood Int'l Golden Film Award - December 2020
3. Winner - Outstanding Up and Comer Actress (Mariama Colley) - US Hollywood Int'l Golden Film Award - December 2020
4. Winner - Audience Choice Award - Women of African Descent Film Festival - December 2020