15/01/2021 - The cast of this film, which is being produced by Barney Production and co-produced by The Jokers, includes Moussa Mansaly, Mamadou Minté, Aïssa Maïga and Ophélie Bau

Actor-director Steve Achiepo (© Céline Nieszawer)

The first clapperboard is set to slam in the Paris region on 19 January for Slumlord [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], the directorial feature debut by Steve Achiepo (who turned heads as an actor in Everything Now [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), which comes on the heels of several short films, such as Le jour de ton jour, À la source and As a Team.

Among the cast we find Moussa Mansaly (popular in movies such as Step by Step [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], School Life [+see also:
trailer
interview: Zita Hanrot
film profile] and Miss [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], as well as the series Validé), Mamadou Minté (glimpsed in A Prophet [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacques Audiard
interview: Jacques Audiard and Tahar R…
film profile] and The Woman in the Fifth [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Aïssa Maïga (nominated for the César Award for Most Promising Actress in 2007 for The Court [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and giving strong performances in titles such as L’écume des jours [+see also:
trailer
making of
interview: Michel Gondry
film profile], Corniche Kennedy [+see also:
trailer
interview: Dominique Cabrera
film profile] and Il a déjà tes yeux [+see also:
trailer
film profile]), Ophélie Bau (Lumières Award for Best New Actress in 2019 and nominated the same year for the César Award for Most Promising Actress for Mektoub My Love: Canto Uno [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]; set to grace screens imminently in Rascal [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Peter Dourountzis
film profile]) and Mariama Gueye (The Climb [+see also:
trailer
film profile]). It’s also worth noting that Richard Berry (nominated for the César Award for Best Actor in 1993 and glimpsed recently in Number One [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]) will also make an appearance.

Written by Achiepo himself and Romy Coccia Di Ferro, the story (which was read out at the Premiers Plans Festival in Angers) is set in 2011. Scarred by so many years spent in prison, Djo is now a delivery driver in the town of Cergy. As the crisis erupts in Ivory Coast, he finds himself having to secretly take in some of his family members. The prospect of providing a better life for his daughter gradually causes him to get caught up in a chain of events which he will have no control over…

Produced by Saïd Hamich Benlarbi for Barney Production, Slumlord is being co-produced by France 2 Cinéma and The Jokers (which will handled the French distribution). The feature, which has been pre-purchased by Canal+, Ciné+ and France 2, also secured support from the CNC’s Images de la diversité fund as well as getting backing from the Manon Sofica. As a reminder, the project also emerged triumphant at the Emergence Cinéma and Le Groupe Ouest residencies. The six-week shoot will take place until 2 March in the Paris region, with Sébastien Goepfert (You Will Die at 20 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Amjad Abu Alala
film profile]) serving as DoP. The international sales will be overseen by Orange Studio.

As a reminder, Barney Production has Zanka Contact [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Ismaël El Iraki (singled out for the Best Actress Award in Venice’s Orizzonti last year and for a Special Mention at Cinemed in Montpellier), Return to Bollene [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by producer Saïd Hamich himself (shortlisted for the Louis-Delluc Prize for Best Debut Feature in 2018) and Much Loved [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Nabil Ayouch (2015 Directors’ Fortnight) under its belt, among other films.

(Translated from French)