The Invisible City [Kakuma]
Short film Completed 2016
Director
Lieven Corthouts
Producer
Emmy Oost
Doc Society helped with
Production
The Kakuma refugee camp, built in the middle of the Turkana desert in Kenya, is the fastest growing city in the region. Many of its new arrivals are children sent out of conflict zones by their parents. Against all odds, these children grab every opportunity to rebuild their lives. While waiting for her mother to return from South Sudan, eight-year-old Nyakong starts school. Slowly, she creates a new home in the camp. At the age of 17, teenagers like Claude and Khadijo consequently compete for international scholarships, get jobs and even build their own houses. Can Kakuma really offer a future? Or is it just a waiting room, where the only option is to plan your journey to Europe?
Crew
Lieven Corthouts
Director
Born in Belgium, raised in a suburb of Brussels. He followed his love for flamenco and moved to Andalucia. He lived and played chess in Allepo, Syria.
Then he went to a small village in Ethiopia were he made My Future. Prize best debut at Miradasdoc, Special mention film festival D’Abruzzen,
Official selection New York independent film festival (screenings in New York and Los Angeles), Edinburgh film festival, Huesca film festival, Trois continentes, Docville, Begrade film festival, Planeta Doc, ...
Screened in several schools and cities in Belgium, The Netherlands and Ethiopia.
Finished his second film, Little Heaven. The script was selected for Doc Station at the Berlinale.
Little Heaven had his world premiere at IDFA 2011, other festivals: Miradasdoc (best documentary) Festroia (best documantary) Annuu Ru Aborro (audience award), Docville (special mention), Movies that Matter, Human rights watch FF UK, Open Doek, Planeta doc, Human rights watch FF New York, Addis Ababa international film festival, Seoul international film festival, Move it!, Enfances dans le monde, ...
Docville and Flanders doc selected Little Heaven for several screenings in art house theatres in Belgium.
In Ethiopia, Little Heaven was screened in the cities of Addis Ababa, Mekelle, Bahir Dar. Little Heaven will thanks to Britdoc travel in Ethiopia and this with and educational and discussing program in 30 small villages and schools in Ethiopia.
Little Heaven had and will have screenings in several schools in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Lievens films were broadcasted by ARTE, VRT, RAI, TV3, CANVAS, TV5, ZDF, Lichtpunt, RSI, Israeli Channel, TVI24
About the production Company
Off World is an independent production company based in Brussels, capital of Flanders, Belgium and Europe. Off World’s main goal is to produce international author documentaries. Over the last few years, the company has built up a large portfolio and a solid reputation as delegate producer and co-producer of many creative and original documentaries. Off World’s trademark is a contemporary and wayward look on the world, which springs from the passion and talent of the documentary authors.
