Tale of Baba

Runtime: 80'

Expected release: April, 2025

Production stage: In production

Budget: €590 000 (85% in place)

1st feature: Yes

Looking for: Sales Agents / Distributors, Buyers, Gap Financing

Synopsis:

Didier, a deaf farmer from birth, has just lost his eldest brother. Now alone in his isolated house in the Cantal mountains, he must find his way without his brother’s help. He must overcome his fear of the unknown and forge links with the other inhabitants of the hamlet. Tale of Baba follows Didier’s routines as he has to reinvent his language and his exchanges, turning his handicap into a strength.

Director’s profile:

Matthias Joulaud, a filmmaker with a multidisciplinary background in photography and drawing from the Beaux Arts in Paris, brings a unique perspective to his cinematic endeavors. Graduating with a Master’s degree in filmmaking from ECAl and HEAD in Lausanne-Geneva, Matthias’ work is characterized by a subtle and intimate visual style, influenced by his exploration of analog photography and color film.

His portfolio spans across documentary, fiction, and music video genres, showcasing his versatility and artistic range. Notably, his short film “Ramboy,” produced in collaboration with AKKA Films and the ECAl-HEAD Master’s program, has received recognition at various international festivals, including Visions du Réel and IDFA. With a focus on capturing the essence of human experiences, Matthias Joulaud’s work resonates with audiences, earning praise for its authenticity and emotional depth.

Co-director’s profile: 

French filmmaker and cinematographer, Lucien Roux acquired a Master’s Degree in Plastic and Visual Arts through the partnership between ESADMM (Marseille) and the Université du Québec UQAM (Montréal). With extensive skills in visual and audiovisual arts, he is currently collaborating on documentary projects alongside anthropological researchers from The National Center for Scientific Research Norbert Élias. Lucien has worked on various feature-length and short documentary film projects. He notably co-directed “Ramboy,” a short film with an exceptional journey, awarded at numerous festivals such as IDFA (best Youth Film 2022). It received the Golden Chair award at the Norwegian Short Film Festival which in turn earned it an entry for the Oscars, and was selected by the New York Times Op-Docs platform.

Producer’s profile:

Producer and director. Based in Geneva since 2011, Juliana Fanjul has a MA in arts from ECAL-HEAD. She specialised in documentary filmmaking at the International Film School in Cuba, after doing a BA in audiovisual communication in Mexico City. Her films Muchachas (Visions du Réel 2015), Radio Silence (IDFA 2019) and Je suis noires (Prix Cinéma Suisse 2023) have been screened and awarded at numerous international festivals. As a freelancer, she has produced documentaries for Radiotelevisione Svizzera (RSI) and Al Jazeera English. In 2021, she joined Akka Films to produce documentaries. She is a teacher and Head of the Documentary Department at the International Film School in Cuba.