A Black Fairytale

In “A Black Fairytale,” we follow Princess for one day through time and space, where they witness Black existence and save knowledge from being lost. On their journey, they encounter three figures, each sharing a glimpse of their story, all making different notions of Black resistance visible. All encounters are materialized in a small object that Princess archives and cares for with their community.
Through the glitching of the storyline, along with footage shot by the three directors in West Africa, another layer is added to the film: a commentary, a positioning, and a disclosure of desires and questions. It’s the story of a journey that blurs the lines between West Africa and Austria, challenging our perception of Black, queer bodies in fairytale worlds.

Collectively written and directed by:
Kim Sanou, Mariama Sow, Isabelle Edi

Camera: Diara Sow
Editing: İpek Hamzaoğlu
Sound Design: Mbatjiua Hambira
Colour Grading: Deniz Örs
Graphic Design: EYEOFBRC
Hair and Make-up: Céline Mbwisi
Make-up Princess: Jeanne Pascale Andela
Costume and Set Design: Mariama Sow, Isabelle Edi
Additional Camera Footage: Kim Sanou, Isabelle Edi, Mariama Sow
Outside Eye Text: Duygu Ağal
Catering and Cake Design: Ihunanya Egbonu
Production Supervision: Kim Sanou
Equipment: Banana Rental

Princess: Jeanne Pascale Andela
Keepers of Knowledge: Henrie DennisJames HabinezaIris Omari Ansong
Witch: Kensise Anders
Fairy: Mzamo Nondlwana
Unknown Character: Enesi M.
Narration Voice: Sissi Reich
Other Voices: Isabelle Edi, Mariama Sow, Kim Sanou

Our gratitude to: all those who were part of the Black Fairytale actions in the summer of 2023. To Henrie Dennis, Janine Jembere, mirabella paidamwoyo* dziruni and Mzamo Nondlwana who guided these magical Black spaces. And to everyone who was present, collectively we took things apart and spinned them newly together.

And to those in Abidjan, Yamoussoukrou, Dakar, Vienna and Bamako who told us their favourite stories and tales, your trust means a lot to us.

You supported us along the way, with your hands, your advice, by sharing your resources and by asking the right questions. We couldn’t have done this without you: Lua Mauff, Tubi Malcharzik, Natalia Philomena Jobe, Sheri Avraham, Gabi Moncayo-Asan, Dila Kaplan, Nanna Kaiser, Raquel Kishori Dukpa, Janine Jembere, Cristobal Adam, Hannes Boeck, Sunanda Mesquita, Mona Rizaj, Lydia Nsiah, Flora Löffelmann, Nick Prokesch, Milou Gabriel, Susanna Delali Nuwordu, Abiona Esther Ojo, Tikam Sall, Hervé Edi Monsoh, Ulli Sanou, Kenneth Constance Loe.

To the Black radical thinkers who created worlds we could weave into our imagination, and words we could cite:
Lola Olufemi: Experiments in Imagining Otherwise (2021)
Audre Lorde: The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism (1981)
Octavia Butler: Parable Series (1993-1998)

We are in awe