Antonio Amaral

It was during my first stint in prison at the age of 18 that I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop led by a filmmaker. That experience set me on the path to writing and directing short films. The short film Yesno reflects my journey through the twists and turns of the disadvantaged Parisian suburbs. I left France for New Caledonia for a few years thanks to an opportunity to work in education. But after becoming involved with local independence movements, I lost my job and had to return to France. I directed my first and then my second feature film in 2022, “Voyages en têtes étrangères,” after becoming involved with activist groups known as “collectifs de sans papiers.” The film has screened in 28 countries, at 50 festivals, and has won 22 awards.