Rahmatou Keïta was born in Niger and studied philosophy and linguistics in Paris. Her documentary feature, Al'lèèssi... an African Actress (2005), won the Sojourner Truth Award at Cannes. The Wedding Ring (2016) is her latest film.

From the Sahel, born in Niger, Rahmatou Keita moved to Paris after studying philosophy and linguistics. A journalist with European television stations, her career as a filmmaker began in 1993 when she directed short films "Le nerf de la douleur", "Djassaree?", "Femmes d'Afriques?") She co-founded Sonrhay Empire Productions and made her first feature film, "Al'lééssi? une actrice africaine" which won the prize for best documentary at FIFAI and at Montreal.


Author, director, journalist and writer Rahmatou KEÏTA was born in Niamey, Niger. After studying Philosophy and Linguistics in Paris, she began her career as a print media and radio journalist before joining successfully the Television. She was the first African journalist to show up on TV screens in France and also the first to receive the prestigious Golden 7 with the Assiette Anglaise team on France 2. In 1993, she devoted herself to writing and cinema. After several short films and a documentary series, she made her debut feature, "Al'lèèssi..." (2005), first film from Niger to be part of Cannes Festival official selection in 2005, wining numerous awards. "Zin'naariyâ!" (2017), her recent fictional feature, a moving ode to Sahelian beauty, was awarded at several festivals including ZIFF, KIFMC and FESPACO, to name a few. It is also the first film from Niger and the only one from West Africa nominated for the 2019 Oscars in the Best Foreign Language Film category.
In 2019, she is Member of the Feature film jury at 26th FESPACO, Ouaga, Burkina Faso.

Filmography:
2016 - The Wedding Ring (96 mins). 1st feature drama
2014 - L'Alliance - Zin'Naariya (11 mins). 1st short drama
2005 -... Al'lèèssi, une actrice africaine (Doc)
1999-2003 - J'ai fait un rêve, doc (52'), color
1999 - Le Nerf de la douleur, doc (26'), color
Les États généraux de la psychanalyse, doc (12'), color
Une journée à l'école Gustave Doré, doc, color

Source : Catalogue FESPACO 2019
Updated on 19 March 2019, by Thierno I. Dia