2G (2023)

DESCRIPTION

Agadez, 2021. Following the ban of unlawful migrants transportation by the Niger government, four former smugglers struggle to make a living. Facing the lack of perspectives, Ibrahim, Abdelsalam, Daouda and El Bak embark on a journey through the Sahara to join dozens of gold diggers lost in the middle of the desert. Between hopes and disillusions, these men fight to survive in an increasingly hostile and unstable environment.

News & reviews

News: EXCLUSIVE: Trailer and poster for IDFA Frontlight title 2G, Cineuropa

News: Interview with Karim Sayad for Variety: “The shooting in the desert was a big adventure because we had no water, no electricity, no network, nothing at all. We were also escorted because it is a rather dangerous zone. The technical team was composed of four persons including me, but we had 32 soldiers accompanying us, plus a team of 10 people who were our fixers.”

IDFA Frontlight interview: 2G by Karim Sayad, Business Doc Europe

“The director underlines that he was determined to imbue his film with a ‘western’ aesthetic. The film is shot in widescreen to emphasise the horizontal vastness of the sands. What’s more, his characters “are modern cowboys. They hustle in the desert and instead of riding horses they drive a Toyota Hilux or ride motor bikes,” he stresses. “I tried to look at them through this lens.” Sayad also ends the film with a nod to Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti westerns on the soundtrack.”

Review: “The film looks splendid” Modern Times Review

DIRECTED BY
Karim Sayad, Switzerland, Lebanon, 77´
Broadcasters
RTS (CH), 2M (Morocco)
Festivals
IDFA 2023 Frontlight, Solothurn Filmtage, AlFilm Berlin, Ecofalante, Sicili Ambiente FF, Beyond Borders Greece, 5 Lakes FF, Latino Arabic FF Buenos Aires, Protesta Spain, CROCEVIA DI SGUARDI Torino
Awards
Sole Luna Doc - Best directing & Best photography, Sicili Ambiente FF - Best Documentary
DIRECTOR BIO

Karim Sayad was born in Lausanne in 1984 to an Algerian father and a Swiss mother. After completing a MA in International Relations, he decided to become a documentary filmmaker. His first short, Babor Casanova, premiered in Locarno in 2016 and it won at DocLisboa, Festival Dei Popoli and in Clermont-Ferrand. Of Sheep and Men, his first feature documentary, premiered at TIFF in 2017. My English Cousin is his second feature documentary (distributed by Filmotor) and it premiered in TIF and after was presented at numerous festivals.