EXCLUSIVE: Monument Releasing has acquired U.S., Canada, UK and Australia/New Zealand rights to Damien Hauser’s ground-breaking Africa sci-fi Memory Of Princess Mumbi.
The film made history last year as the first Kenyan picture to debut in the independent Venice parallel section, before going on to make its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Blending documentary, improvised drama and AI-generated landscapes, the film is billed as a new genre of African sci-fi.
Set in 2093, the film follows young filmmaker Kuve (Abraham Joseph) who travels to the remote village of Umata to document the aftermath of a devastating war that outlawed post-2040s technology and brought ancient kingdoms back to life.
There he meets Mumbi (Shandra Apondi), a local filmmaker who challenges him to make his film without relying on AI, using only his hands, eyes and heart. As Kuve searches for his own voice in this unplugged world he slowly begins to understand that even in a broken world there is beauty to be found in the small human moments we so often overlook.
“There is so little truly original cinema in the world at the moment and when you have the privilege of seeing such a smart and innovative film, it feels like an obligation to support and nurture it. Damien has made a gem that audiences will fall in love with now in cinemas and for years to come as they discover it on various digital platforms,” said Monument Releasing President Ryan Kampe,
The film was produced by Kaleem Aftab, Shandra Apondi and Hauser.
“We live in a time that often feels defined by conflict and bad news. With Memory of Princess Mumbi, I wanted to tell a story that celebrates beauty, joy, and human connection. I’m incredibly grateful to Monument Releasing for believing in the film, and I hope audiences leave it with a renewed appreciation for the small moments that make life meaningful,” said Hauser.
The deal was negotiated by Kampe at Monument Releasing and Alexandre Moreau of Paris-based Paradise City Sales.
New York-based distribution company Monument Releasing is specialized in the release of classic festival, foreign language, and American independent films. It is the sister company of the worldwide sales company Visit Films and the incubator Pretty_Ideas.
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