OMAR SAMBASEKOU, Burkina Faso, 2024
SYNOPSIS
In a world in distress, governed by the law of the streets where sex, alcohol, drugs, and money reign. Lala, an orphan who lost her mother and grew up without knowing her father, moves from orphanage to foster home, only to be consumed by the harsh realities of life. Life is the street, and the street has its rules. Joy, her friend, eventually introduces her to prostitution. Lala keeps her natural charisma and sharp intelligence, which push her to save a young girl, Kassy, from the streets, intending to teach her social values far removed from depravity. Kassy, protected and sent to school by a prostitute, is unfortunately raped by her teacher, with anger this tragedy causes her to fall into prostitution. Lala tries to bring her back to a better life, but it is too late…
BIOFILMOGRAPHY
Omar Sambasekou is an American filmmaker and producer of Burkinabè origin, born on August 22, 1980, in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso. Although initially trained in accounting, his passion for music and cinema led him to enter the audiovisual production industry in 2004. He gained extensive experience working on various film sets in Africa and the United States, earning certifications as a screenwriter, director, and producer. His artistic vision, shaped by international collaborations, is reflected in his commitment to addressing societal issues through cinema.
In 2012, he directed his first feature film, The Bloody Voice, followed by several shorts and feature films, including Inclusion (2013), On ira tous au paradis (2014), and Djikofe – À la vie, à la mort (2015), the latter being exclusively broadcast on TV5 Monde. His work explores a wide range of themes, such as social inclusion, children’s rights, and brain drain, as seen in Overseas Paweogo (2019). In 2024, he directed Lala, a film on societal fractures selected for FESPACO 2025, and he is currently preparing the television series Sabaab, scheduled for filming in 2025. Through his career, Omar Sambasekou has established himself as a committed voice in international cinema, blending African influences with Hollywood experiences.