Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (French pronunciation: [ma.ama sale aʁun]; Arabic: محمد الصالح هارون) is a Chadian film director based in France. He is regarded as the first Chadian filmmaker to direct a feature-length film, and he typically serves as both writer and director on his projects. Most of his films are set in and filmed in Chad.
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Early life and education
Mahamat-Saleh Haroun was born in Abéché, Chad.
He left the country during the Chad civil war, and has lived in France since 1982.
Haroun studied film at the Conservatoire libre du cinéma français in Paris. He later went to study journalism at Bordeaux I.U.T. (Technical Institute), and then worked for several years as a journalist in France.
Filmmaking career
Haroun directed his first short film, Tan Koul in 1991, and became widely known after his second film, Maral Tanié (25 minutes), directed in 1994. This film tells the story of seventeen-year-old Halimé, whose family forces her to marry a man in his fifties. Halimé refuses to consummate the marriage.
In 1999, Haroun released his first feature film Bye Bye Africa, which he wrote, directed, and starred in. The film, a docudrama, tells the story of a film director from Chad who returns to his home country. It received a jury mention at the Venice Film Festival. Bye Bye Africa is the first feature film from Chad.
In 2001, he directed a short film Letter from New York City, which won the Prize for the best video at the 11th African Film Festival in Milan, Italy.
In 2002, he wrote and directed his second feature film, Abouna, which won the Best Cinematography award at FESPACO in 2003. Set in the capital of Chad, N'Djamena, Abouna is the story of two young brothers who wake up one morning and realise that their father has left the family, and decide to search for their father in the city.
Haroun then shot a documentary, Kalala, the intimate portrait of Hissein Djibrine (nicknamed Kalala), a close friend of Haroun who died in 2003 of AIDS. Hissein Djibrine produced the filmmaker's first two feature films, and Haroun was deeply touched by his death and wanted to honor his memory.
In 2006, Haroun directed Dry Season (Daratt), the story of young Akim, who at the age of 16, left his village in Chad for the capital, N'Djamena, to avenge his father. He quickly finds the murderer, a former war criminal, and gets hired as an apprentice in his bakery. Daratt won the Bronze Stallion of Yennenga, as well as the best cinematography award at FESPACO in 2007.
In 2008, he directed Sex, Okra and Salted Butter> (Sexe, gombo et beurre salé). This comedy follows the lives of a family of Chadian immigrants in Bordeaux, France. Hortense cheats on her much older husband, her husband also strays, and their son goes to great lengths to conceal his sexuality from his parents. Meanwhile, the two younger sons are looking for guidance outside the family.
Recognition and other activities
In 2011, Haroun was a member of the jury for the main competition chaired by Robert De Niro at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. In 2012, he was selected as a president of the 28th International Love Film Festival at Mons.
Haroun's first novel, Djibril ou les Ombres portées, was published in 2017 by Gallimard.
From 5 February 2017 to 8 February 2018, Haroun was Minister of Tourism, Culture and Crafts of Chad.
In December 2023, alongside 50 other filmmakers, Haroun signed an open letter published in Libération demanding a ceasefire and an end to the killing of civilians amid the 2023 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, and for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza to be established for humanitarian aid, and the release of hostages.
Awards
1999: Best first film award at the Venice Film Festival for Bye Bye Africa
2006: Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival for Daratt
2007: Bronze Stallion of Yennenga and Best Photo Award at FESPACO 2007 for Daratt
2010: Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2010 for A Screaming Man
2010: Robert-Bresson Prize at the Venice Film Festival (awarded by the Catholic Church) for A Screaming Man.
Filmography
Shorts
Maral Tanie (1994)
Goi-Goi (1995)
B 400 (1997)
Letter from New York City (2001)
Documentaries
Bord' Africa (1995)
Sotigui Kouyate, a modern griot (1997)
Kalala (2005)
Hissane Habré: A Chadian Tragedy (2016)