Cinema of Madagascar

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Former cinemas in Antananarivo

The Cinema of Madagascar refers to the film industry in Madagascar.

The most notable director is Raymond Rajaonarivelo, director of movies such as Quand Les Etoiles Rencontrent La Mer (When the Stars Meet the Sea) and Tabataba (The Spreading of Rumors).[1]

The oldest cinematographic production entirely produced in Madagascar by a Malagasy is a 22 minutes black and white movie entitled Rasalama Martiora (Rasalama, the Martyr). Directed in 1937 by the deacon Philippe Raberojo, it marked the centenary of the death of the Protestant martyr Rafaravavy Rasalama. Philippe Raberojo was the president of an association of French citizens of Malagasy origin, where he had access to a 9,5mm camera. Thus he was able to realise his film. The complete version is lost.[2]

In the following years Madagascar was crisis-shaken by several political overthrows. In 1960 Madagascar regained its independence, but still suffers from political instability. This complicated post-colonial period not only led to the closure or transformation of the country's cinemas into places of religious worship. Also almost the whole film industry was razed to the ground. Till today still there is no public cinema in Madagascar.

The film industry started to recover slowly around the year 2006 also due to the founding of Rencontres du Film Court Madagascar (RFC). Till today the RFC is Madagascar's only Film Festival.

Most Malagasy productions receive no public funding; nevertheless, around 60 short films and 1 or 2 feature films are made each year.[2]

In the Malagasy language, the word “cinema” is translated “Sarimihetsika” which literally means “moving image”.[2]

Films[]

Year Title Director Genre Notes
1973 Benoît Ramampy Short drama Won best short film (FESPACO, 1973)
1974 Drama Won Jean Soutter Award (Festival de Dinard, France, 1974)
1980
1984 Benoît Ramampy Drama
1987 [Eternal Blessing] Ignace Solo Randrasana Drama Depicts the 1947 Malagasy Uprising
1989 [The Price of Peace] and Benoît Ramampy Short drama Shown at the African Film Festival in Montreal in 1988
1991 Don Bluth Family
1996 [When the Stars Meet the Sea] Raymond Rajaonarivelo Drama Depicts the Malagasy liberation struggle, won best film at the Istanbul Film Festival (1998)
2001 Makibefo Alexander Abela Drama Based on William Shakespeare's Macbeth
2004 Souli Alexander Abela Drama Based on William Shakespeare's Othello
2004 Sur les murs de la ville Short animation the first Malagasy animation short film in official competition at Annecy International Animated Film Festival 2004
2005 Marie-Clémence Paes and Raymond Rajaonarivelo Documentary Traces the history of Mahaleo, Madagascar's most popular band, won Best documentary (Regards sur le cinema du Sud, Rouen, 2006), won Public Award and second place (Festival du film insulaire de Groix, 2005)
2006 Short animation Won Best Film at the Rencontres du Film Court Madagascar 2006
2007 Raketa mena Documentary Won an award at the Ciné Sud de Cozès
2007 Short Won Best Film at the Rencontres du Film Court Madagascar 2007
2010 Varavarankely Short Won the Best Animation Film at [[Rencontres du Film Court in 2010
2011 and
2012 Road-movie Won Diaspora Award (Hollywood Black Film Festival 2013, USA), won Audience Award (Festival Cine Africano Cordoba 2013, Spain), won Youth Jury Award (Cinémas d'Afrique 2013, France), won Africa Connexion Award (Vues d'Afrique film Festival 2014, Canada), won Best feature film and best actress (Iarivo film festival 2014, Madagascar), Jury special mention (Kouribga 2013, Morocco)
2012 Short Won second place (Fespaco, Ouagadougou 2013)
2013 Short Won second prize (Carthage, Tunisia 2014), won second place (Fespaco, Ouagadougou 2015)
2015 Road-movie Official Selection at the Festival International du Film Panafricain de Cannes in 2015
2014 Lova Nantenaina Documentaire Prix Fétnèt Ocean Indien (Fifai, La Réunion), Grand prix Eden domcumentaire (Lumières d'Afrique, Besançon), Mention spéciale du Jury documentaire (Festival Quintessence, Bénin)
2014 Odyaina Laza Documentary Shows the relationship between music and mental illness, through the work of some malagasy music therapist.
2015 Fasa Laza Short We observe Fasa as she is coping with the loss of her father.
2019 Fahavalo, Madagascar 1947 Marie-Clémence Andriamonta-Paes Documentary Doc of the World Award (Montreal World Film Festival), Special Mention (Carthage Film Festival).
Fara Raymond Rajaonarivelo Not yet released

References[]

  1. ^ Heale, Jay; Latif, Zawiah Abdul (2008). Madagascar. Marshall Cavendish. p. 111. ISBN 978-0-7614-3036-0.
  2. ^ a b c Kolosary Cinéma Malagasy – Madagascar en 11 Films. Madagascar: Institut Français, Ile de France. 2016.
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