4th edition of "DEENTAL at CANNES” : six producers from ACP countries invited to Cannes

Lei González is an Afro-Caribbean producer and writer driven by the pursuit of intimate, courageous, and evocative storytelling about identity, sexuality and human rights. She majored in communication in the Dominican Republic and later pursued a master’s degree in film and TV production in Spain. She produced “Fronterizas,” a finalist in the Sundance Short Film Competition (2014). “I Said I Would Never Talk About Politics” was an official selection in the Zinebi selection (2015) at the San Sebastián Film Festival (2015) and was preselected for the Goya Awards (2016) as the best animated short film. Alumna of Eurodoc (2022), CNC DEENTAL (2022), and EFM Toolbox Program (2023). She has also participated in the UNESCO Transcultura program and Australab – Tres Puertos and is an active Member of CAFTPRO and Casa Abierta. Lei is also a Line Producer and Production Manager and in 2021, she founded her own production house, Media Jíbara.

Doreen R. Kilimbe, a dynamic Creative Producer and Screenwriter based in Tanzania, whose profound impact spans the vibrant landscapes of the Tanzanian & Kenyan film industries. With a wealth of experience, Doreen has become a linchpin in the creation of compelling stories that resonate with audiences across borders. Doreen's journey in the film industry has been marked by multifaceted contributions to notable projects, including her pivotal role as a scriptwriter for acclaimed works like Cheza and Eastzuu. Her prowess extends beyond the pen, where she has served as a Line Producer for projects of considerable significance, such as Tathimini Ya Burudanii and the enlightening Life happens with Bahati Joyce. In her latest project, The Midnight Bride, Doreen assumed the roles of Producer & Scriptwriter. The project garnered acclaim at the SOTAMBE Zambia International Film Festival 2023, earning an Inwit Movie Fans Award for Best Feature Film (Southern Africa), and was honored with the Best International Award at the 13th Edition of the Kalasha Film and TV Awards in 2024.
Doreen's commitment goes beyond the screen; it is rooted in a passion for telling African stories that educate, motivate, and inspire. With every project, she takes audiences on a journey that not only entertains but also enriches the cultural tapestry of the continent. As a visionary storyteller, Doreen continues to shape the narrative landscape, bringing forth stories that reflect the depth, diversity, and resilience of African communities. Her dedication to the craft makes her a standout figure in weaving tales that transcend borders and leave an enduring impact on the hearts and minds of audiences.

Petrus van Staden is a South African filmmaker based between New York City and South Africa. In 2019 he co-founded Vanishing Elephant with Tebogo Malebogo driven by a desire to find a way to tell meaningful stories. Their shorts have screened at Locarno, SXSW, JCC, New Directors New Films, and New York Film Festival and have won multiple awards, being distributed to spaces such as Mubi, Topic, Canal + Poland and WatchArgo. He has worked between South Africa, Tanzania and the USA - producing independent work as well as an episode for Netflix's African Folktales Reimagined Anthology series.He is passionate about diversity, collaboration, finding ways to tell and uplift marginalised stories, and exploring how to tell those stories authentically and just. Apart from the selections mentioned above, he has been part of productions selected for Sundance, IFFR, Oberhausen, and Durban and work supported by the SFFILM Rainin grant, the Atlas Workshops and the Red Sea Souk. 

After working for 5 years in the United States as a building engineer, Nameïta Toure began her career in the audiovisual and film industry in 2016 on the set of the Top Radio series as a production manager. Nameïta is motivated by her desire to present the beauty and complexity of African stories on screen, with a penchant for the female condition. Now at the head of TSK Studios, she works with a range of creative people to develop their ideas, structure their projects and bring them from script to screen. Among other projects, she worked on WOZO by Thibaut Monnier, a feature film co-produced with TV5 Monde that explores ethical issues in international aid mechanisms and the abuses of organisations in this field. In 2022, she produced Je reste photographe, a documentary by Ananias Leki Dago in co-production with RTI. The film, which won Best Feature Documentary at NISA, is a cross-portrait of Paul Kodjo, one of the most influential photographers in post-colonial Côte d'Ivoire, and the director, Ananias Léki Dago, an esteemed contemporary Ivorian photographer.

Dylan Habil is a Kenyan filmmaker, documentary photographer, cultural historian and a media strategist. He cuts his teeth on telling authentic and compelling stories. Having a visual style that is bold and gritty. Dylan’s resume includes his work as the Audio and Visual content producer for Ol Pejeta conservancy, a role that sees him document the conservancy’s conservation strides for online awareness and fundraising efforts. Dylan Habil is an African Conservation Voices - Media Lab fellow with Jackson Wild and African Wildlife Foundation, Emerging Artists fellow with Africa No Filter, finalist and grantee for My Story My Lens by Docubox and the Scottish Documentary Institute, a Sundance Ignite X Adobe fellow with the Sundance Institute, Great Lakes Creative Producers Lab 2023 alumni, Vital Impacts Environmental Photography mentee, shortlisted for Top 35 under 35 Kenya media category 2021 by The Youth Agenda in conjunction with the Ministry of ICT, Innovations and Youth affairs, and 2023 Keep Walking Africa Top 30 by Johnnie Walker™ and Trace.
Dylan has collaborated with some notable names in wildlife and natural history world (Ami Vitale, Flora and Fauna International, Helping Rhinos, WildAid, the DODO, African Wildlife Foundation, Well Aware) just to name a few. Dylan has been fortunate to be part of the team documenting the efforts to save the Northern White rhinos from extinction by the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), Dvůr Králové Zoo, BioRescue and Kenya Wildlife Services. These documentations have been featured in media outlets such as Reuters, Al Jazeera English, FRANCE 24 English, VOA News and Kenyan media houses.

Passionate about the 7^th art since a young age, he immersed himself in his passion in 2017 by creating his own production company, Gikas Film, and venturing into film and television series production as a self-taught artist. His journey in the film industry has been enriched by several training courses and workshops:

• In 2017, he participated in the From Idea to Film workshops as part of the Kinshasa International Film Festival in Kinshasa.
• In 2020, he underwent production training at LAFAAAC, a digital training platform offering professional content in cultural professions.
• Most recently, from 2023 to 2024, he joined the Impala Program, an impactful initiative established by Doc Monde and Les Ateliers Varan in collaboration with ARDC in Cameroon. This experience enabled him to develop his skills in international documentary production and co-production.