‘Black People Don’t Get Depressed’ in Cannes Docs Spotlighted Projects

Sara Black and white

Film director Sara Chitambo is a member of IAWRT South Africa chapter

The film ‘Black People Don’t Get Depressed’ directed by Sara Chitambo and produced by Cati Weinek is one of 16 Spotlighted Projects in Cannes Docs of the Marché du Film (Cannes Film Market).

 

This selection of projects in development was featured in online Co-Pro Speed Meetings on July 8.

 

The film is about a filmmaker despairing for mental peace goes through the unavoidable journey of facing her depression. She speaks to others about their mental health as Africans and undergoes practices that mark the ending of suffering. The characters in 3 countries have the commonality of difficult experiences, but also the desire to overcome. Images of transcendence are woven with poetry to build a rich observational film.

 

It has a running time of 80 minutes and is expected to be released in 2022.

 

Chitambo is a filmmaker and communication strategist. She holds a Master’s Degree in Documentary Film Production from Sussex University and has wide range of experience in television and film production.

 

The presentation of Chitambo’s film is one of four films curated by the International Emerging Film Talent Association to be part of Spotlighted Projects

 

The creators of Spotlighted Projects will meet with potential funders, co-producers, festival programmers and other key industry professionals to help make their work become a reality.

 

This year’s Marché du Film (Cannes Film Market) as well as Cannes Docs (online) runs from July 6 to 15. These are concurrent with the Cannes Film Festival (which ends on July 17).