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Land Rush

  • Land Rush
Type : Documentary
Original title :
Principal country concerned : Column : Cinema/tv
Year of production : 2012
Format : Mid-length
Running time : 58 (in minutes)
http://www.whypoverty.net/

For 20 years, global food prices were stabilized, and the hunger crisis seemed to be under control. But by 2008, prices had increased, populations were rising up and teh African continent had become a playground for foreign investors. Countries such as South Korea, Saudi Arabia and China bought up large areas of fertile African land to produce enough food in the near future. But whose land is it? Does it belong to the farmers or is it government property? This investigative documentary focuses on Sosumar, a huge project that has the Malian government collaborating with a large group of foreign investors. A giant sugar plantation is being planned in the Niger basin at the edge of the Sahara, and this means that a number of local farmers have to be relocated. The property developer is aware of the fact that the farmers need to be involved, because the old-style land-grab approach doesn't work anymore. The population is divided - the project will provide jobs, but people are being asked to sacrifice their traditions, and money isn't always the most important thing. "Only white people know the value of money. They're the ones who made it, and if they give us lots of money for our land, then our land is more valuable than their money."




by Hugo Berkeley, Osvalde Lewat, Mali / USA, 2012, color, HDcam, 58'

Directors
Hugo Berkeley
Osvalde Lewat

Cinematography
Crystel Fournier

Editing
Lizi Gelber

Sound
Adama Diarra
Eli Cane
Hugo Berkeley
Laurent Malan

Music
Elie Cane

Production
Eli Cane for Normal Life Pictures
Hugo Berkeley

Executive production
Don Edkins for Steps International
Mette Hoffmann Meyer for Steps International
Nick Fraser for Steps International

Co-Production
Danish Film Institute

Involved TV Channels
ARTE G.E.I.E.
BBC
DR
ZDF/Arte
NHK
NRK
SVT
VPRO
YLE

Country of Production: Mali
Country of Production: USA

Tags: Human Interest / Social Issues / Politics / Society / Nature / Environment

Contact info
World Sales: Steps International
Screening Copy: Steps International
linda@steps.co.za

Selected for
IDFA 2012
DOCS 2012
www.idfa.nl/industry/tags/project.aspx?id=D1CFC01F-0AE7-479D-A3FE-56F7E0255706

Summary for official catalogues

A critical investigative documentary focusing on the major Malian sugar plantation project Sosumar, an example of an international enterprise in which local farmers are actively involved.

Hugo Berkeley, Osvalde Lewat, Mali / USA, 2012, color, HDcam, 58'

Articles

2 files

Files

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Watch video

Land Rush-Why poverty?

(Video)

Organizations

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Partners

  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)

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