In 1952, Ousmane Sembene, a Senegalese dockworker and fifth-grade dropout, began dreaming an impossible dream: to become the storyteller for a new Africa. This true story celebrates how the “father of African cinema,” against enormous odds, fought a monumental, 50-year battle to give Africans a voice. Sembene! was named one of the top ten films of the year by New York magazine.

About the Directors:
Samba Gadjigo (co-writer, co-director, co-producer), the director of the documentary Making of Moolaade, is the world's foremost expert on the life and work of Ousmane Sembéne and author of Sembéne's official biography. He was born and raised in Senegal and is professor of African Studies and French at Mt. Holyoke College.

Jason Silverman (co-writer, co-director, co-producer) is an award-winning film producer (Olympia, Opening Night film, SXSW; Closing Night film, Slamdance; Sundance Channel; Shameless, Best Film, Great Plains Film Festival) and longtime festival director. He has produced large-scale events for the Smithsonian, the Lensic Center for the Arts, the Tribeca Film Festival and the Lannan Foundation. He is currently Cinematheque Director at the Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, and former Artistic Director of the Taos Talking Picture Festival.