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This week, the Cultural Frontline speaks to leading filmmakers from around the world about how they share the story of their country on screen.

This week, Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as President of South Africa. But amid corruption, inequality and controversy over land reform, how is the so-called Rainbow Nation being painted by the nation’s filmmakers? Lineo Sekeleoane, director and producer of Zulu Wedding and Samantha Nell, director of Miles From Nowhere, share the story of the South Africa that they show on screen.

Now the President al-Bashir is gone what will it mean for the people and the story of Sudan? Filmmaker and activist Hajooj Kuka takes us inside the ‘sit in’ at Khartoum’s ex-military headquarters and tells us why he is using his camera to document the nation’s ongoing protests.

History was made at this year’s Cannes Film Festival by the French Senegalese director Mati Diop. Her film entitled Atlantique, was the first film in the festival’s 72 year history directed by a black woman to be in competition for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or. We speak to Mati about her history making film.

Plus one of the pioneers of Hong Kong cinema, Angie Chen, on why her films tell the story of a different side of the city away from the sky scrapers and the bright lights.

Presented by Tina Daheley

Image: French director Mati Diop poses with her Grand Prize of the Festival at Cannes at the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival, 2019
Credit: EPA/IAN LANGSDON