„Finally somebody gives another point of view to a topic that had been so much in the news like immigration to Europe. The curiosity of Melanie and her very personal storytelling made it a very remarkable film.“
Raul Nino Zambrano, International Documentary Festival Amsterdam 2017
Synopsis
Frustrated by a corrupt system, Yves leaves his home in Cameroon to try his fortune in Europe. But to get there is more difficult than expected. Yves has been on the road for eight years – and is close to failing. Back home are the people who mean the most to him: his sister Annie, who has been holding the family together since Yves left, his little brother, waiting for Yves to take him to Europe, and his father, who expects him to lead the family to a better life. A film about family, the dream of Europe and the impossibility of giving up.
A documentary by Melanie Gärtner
© 2017 m-eilenweit & stoked film, 79 min
distributed by JIP film & verleih
Screenings
18. of january 2019, 19h, Premiere, Evangelische Akademie, Frankfurt, reception and discussion. Presenter: Dr. Margrit Frölich (director of studies on film, economy and transatlantic dialogue), Melanie Gärtner (director), Prof. Dr. Mamadou Diawara (Goethe Universität Frankfurt), Andreas Lipsch (Intercultural agent of EKHN, head of Pro Asyl). Tickets here
20. of january 2019, 14h, Mal Seh’n Kino, Frankfurt, Q+A with director Melanie Gärtner. In cooperation with medico international.
21. of january 2019, 19h, Metropolis Kino, Hamburg, Q+A with director Melanie Gärtner. In cooperation with EZEF.
23. of january 2019, 19h, Filmhaus Nürnberg, Q+A with director Melanie Gärtner. In cooperation with EZEF. From 24.01. scheduled at Filmhaus Nürnberg.
30. of january 2019, 19h, Monopol Kino, Munich, Q+A with director Melanie Gärtner. In cooperation with EZEF.
2. of february 2019, 18h Kino im Deutschen Filmmuseum, Frankfurt, Q+A with director Melanie Gärtner. In cooperation with Africa Alive Filmfestival.
17. of february 2017, 18h Kino im Waldhorn, Rottenburg, Q+A with director Melanie Gärtner. In cooperation with EZEF and Verein Miteinander Leben.
Director
Melanie Gärtner studied anthropology, literature an journalism in Frankfurt am Main and Berlin. Since 2010 she acts under the label of m-eilenweit as freelance filmmaker and author. One of her main topics is migration, especially from Africa.
Her first work, the documentary “The Land in Between”, has been honoured several times. In addition tot he film she released the book “Grenzen am Horizont”, reports about the protagonists’ backstories of her film. “Yves’ Promise” is her first full-length documentary.
Credits
written and directed
Melanie Gärtner
director of cinematography
Pola Sell, Melanie Gärtner
sound
Roger Mboupda, Romeo Zaf
editing
Christine Niehoff, Mirja Gerle
music
Ludwig Kuckartz
improvisation
Siriki Coulibaly
translation
Serge Alain Nanfang Ouanko
producers
Sebastian Popp, Robert Malzahn
service production Cameroon
Eloi Bela Ndzana
production assistent
Romeo Zaf
color grading
Tilman Friz
re-recording mixer
Bernhard Leimbrock
sound editor
Max Wanko, Bernhard Leimbrock
funding
HessenFilm und Medien, Brot für die Welt
