The Franco-Senegalese actor has created a film production company to contribute to the development of cinema on the continent.
Omar Sy wants to contribute more to the development of cinema in Senegal. The Franco-Senegalese actor and producer spoke on Tuesday 14 May of his plans to produce African stories in his home country through his company, Carroussel Studios. He made the announcement at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which opened on the same day in France.
“Producing films in Senegal is not an obligation for me, but it’s something I’ve wanted to do for years. I work there with young directors. I’ve always been interested in African cinema, it’s simply part of my culture, I grew up with it,” the famous actor told RFI on the sidelines of this major international film festival, which is organised every year.
As a member of the festival’s jury, he also agreed to speak at a press conference about his career as a producer.
France’s favourite actor has set up his own company, Carroussel Studios, to support African film production from Senegal.
It is a project close to the heart of the star of “Tirailleurs,” a film which was due for release in January 2023 and shot largely in the Pulaar language, one of Senegal’s main languages. He says he is ‘happy’ that African films are coming to Cannes.
“I’m interested in stories from the African continent because they fit the stories I want to tell. It just so happens that things are happening there. You can see this interest in my filmography. You can also see it in my short career,” said Sy, who is increasingly demonstrating his attachment to his homeland and its Fulani culture.
ODL/ac/lb/as/APA