“Atcha Atcha”, interview with director Mamadou Dia

Mamadou Dia returns to Locarno 79 with “Atcha Atcha”  out of Competition

After winning Golden Leopard for Filmmakers of the Present in 2019 with his first feature , senegalese director Mamadou Dia  returns to the 79° Locarno Film Festival  2026 with he documentary “Atcha Atcha”, screened out of competition.

“Atcha Atcha” was also developed inside Final Cut in Venice 2025, where it won the prize offered by Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

L’École des Sables in Senegal and Germaine Acogny

“Achacha Atcha” is a phrase used in local languages like Wolof  to mean “let’s go”: it serves as a symbol for movement and change. The film is set inside the École des Sables in Senegal, and follows  dancers from various African countries as they undergo an intensive three-year training program under the guidance of legendary choreographer Germaine Acogny. 

The film explores themes of cultural preservation, identity, and the risk of losing important community spaces.

“Atcha Atcha” : the production process and Final Cut in Venice

Mamadou Dia also discussed his long-term observational approach during filmmaking. He shared insights into the process of capturing the dancers’ development and the challenges faced during production, including funding and editing.  He  highlighted the collaboration with the french producer Eugénie Michel Villette (Les Films du Bilboquet) and the role of different production companies involved, as well as the support received from Venice’s Final Cut workshop inside the Venice Production Bridge.

Support to African Cinema

Finally, Mamadou Dia talked about his future projects and the potential to support cinema development in Africa.

He mentioned his ongoing work on a fiction film  set in northern Senegal, which involves police investigation and local folklore.

Mamadou Dia expressed hope to create a cinema school in Senegal or join existing initiatives to nurture local talent, acknowledging the importance of festivals like Locarno and Venice in supporting African cinema infrastructure. He concluded by emphasizing the importance of sharing African films globally and fostering networks to ensure these stories reach wider audiences, all while reflecting on the ongoing environmental and cultural challenges facing his homeland.