France / 2015 / 82mins / Animation, Historical Drama / French

12-year-old Adama lives in a remote West African village. Beyond the cliffs lies the World of Wind, where the Nassaras reign. One night his older brother, Samba, disappears. Defying the village elders, Adama decides to set off in search of him. With steadfast determination, he embarks on a quest that takes him over the seas, to the North, to the frontline of the First World War. Distinctive in technique, Adama is characterized by a mix of drawing, painting, magnetic ink, and 3D animation. This combination results in a film with undeniable emotional force. There is, in Adama, great beauty, that of a young boy refusing the despair and cynicism of a world gone mad.

Simon Rouby

Simon Rouby, born in 1980, practiced graffiti art before exploring other mediums such as sculpture and painting. He first studied filmmaking in Paris at Les Gobelins, then at Calarts in Los Angeles. His graduation films have been selected at many international festivals, including Cannes, Clermont, San Diego, Bucharest, Ottawa, and Taiwan. In 2015, he finalized Adama, his first feature film, nominated for the Césars and European Film Awards as one of the best animated films of 2015. He was a resident of the French Academy in Rome, Villa Medici, in 2016 and 2017, where he developed a practice of video installation. Learn More