Paulin Soumanou Vieyra
Beninese/Senegalese film director (1925–1987)
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Paulin Soumanou Vieyra (31 January 1925 – 4 November 1987) was a Beninese/Senegalese film director and historian. As he lived in Senegal after the age of 10, he is more associated with that nation. He is known for his 1955 film Afrique-sur-Seine, the first Francophone African film.
Paulin Soumanou Vieyra | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | 31 January 1925 |
| Died | 4 November 1987 (aged 62) |
| Citizenship | Senegalese |
| Education | Institut des hautes études cinématographiques |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Years active | 1954–82 |
| Known for | Founder of Fédération Panafricaine des Cinéastes |
| Notable work | Afrique-sur-Seine |
| Spouse | Myriam Warner |
Early life and education
Paulin Soumanou Vieyra was born on 31 January[citation needed] 1925 in Porto Novo, Dahomey.[1][2]
He was educated in Paris, France,[3] where he studied at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques.[1]
Career
In 1955 in Paris, Vieyra shot the first Francophone African film, Afrique-sur-Seine.[4]
His other important achievements for film in Africa include being one of the co-founders of the Fédération Panafricaine des Cinéastes (FEPACI) in 1969.[5]
He served as director of Actualités Sénégalaises, an important newsreel service in the two decades following Senegal’s Independence.[4]
In 1971, Vieyra was a member of the jury at the 7th Moscow International Film Festival.[6] Two years later, he was a member of the jury at the 8th Moscow International Film Festival.[7] In 1985 he was a member of the jury at the 14th Moscow International Film Festival.[8]
Death
He died in Paris on 4 November[citation needed] 1987, at the age of 62.[2] His papers have been donated by his son, Stéphane Vieyra, to Indiana University's Black Film Center and Archive.[9]
Works
Films
- 1954 : C'était il y a quatre ans
- 1955 : Afrique-sur-Seine
- 1957 : L'Afrique à Moscou
- 1958 : Le Niger aujourd’hui
- 1959 : Les présidents Senghor et Modibo Keita; Avec les Africaines à Vienne; Présence Africaine à Rome
- 1960 : Indépendance du Cameroun, Togo, Congo, Madagascar
- 1961 : Une nation est née
- 1963 : Lamb; Voyage du président Senghor en Italie; Voyage présidentiel en URSS
- 1964 : Avec l’ensemble national; Écrit du Caire; Sindiely; Voyage du président Senghor au Brésil
- 1965 : N'Diongane
- 1966 : Le Sénégal au festival national des arts nègres; Môl
- 1967 : Au marché; La bicyclette; Le gâteau; Le rendez-vous
- 1974 : Écrit de Dakar; L’art plastique
- 1976 : L'Habitat rural au Sénégal; L’Habitat urbain au Sénégal
- 1981 : Birago Diop; En résidence surveillée, L’envers du décor; Les oiseaux
- 1982 : Iba N'diaye
Books
- Le Cinéma et l'Afrique, 1969
- Sembène Ousmane cinéaste, 1972
- Le Cinéma africain des origines à 1973, 1975
- Le Cinéma au Sénégal, 1983