BANEL & ADAMA

Senegal/France/Mali | 87 min | Pulaar with English subtitles | 12A

Banel and Adama are fiercely in love. The young couple live in a remote village in northern Senegal and for them, nothing else in the world exists. However, their perfect everlasting love seems on a collision course with their family’s traditions as drought strikes their community. Award-winning filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s breathtaking debut feature follows the fated lovers in their quest to carve a life for themselves beyond the expectations of others.

Director: Ramata-Toulaye Sy
Starring: Khady Mane, Mamadou Diallo

Now streaming exclusively on BFI Player with special introduction from film critic Mark Kermode.

Available to book for community screenings via Cinema For All.

For UK/Ireland theatrical bookings contact: distribution [at] weareparable.com

“★★★★ This haunting modern fable moves with poetic grace”
— Total Film
“...such is the force of Sy’s imagery that the viewer, like the villagers, falls under a superstitious spell.”
— Sight & Sound
“★★★★ Every frame of this mesmerising debut casts a spell”
— Irish Times

Festivals & Awards

Festival de Cannes 2023 Competition

Toronto Int. Film Festival 2023 Centrepiece

BFI London Film Festival 2023 Official Selection

Munich Film Festival Best Film by Emerging Director, Nominee

Chicago Int. Film Festival 2023 New Directors Competition, Nominee

Marrakech Int. Film Festival Best Directing Prize, Winner

Dublin Int. Film Festival 2024 Official Selection

Glasgow Film Festival 2024Official Selection

  • Banel uses a slingshot

  • Banel and Adama lying in a field

  • Banel in a field

  • Banel and Adama swimming in a river