Artou

After the death of their father in Europe, a family of three sisters and three brothers fulfills the patriarch’s final wish: to be laid to rest beside his father, in eternal sleep, in his native village in Mauritania. MAIN CREATOR’S STATEMENT My discovery of virtual reality pieces at the Venice Immersive section was a turning point—one that shifted my gaze and instincts toward a new creative form, a way to express, to tell, and to share a vision. Since its very inception, cinema has never ceased to evolve, embracing new technologies while remaining true to its essence: to entertain, to move, to enlighten. The desire to createwithin this evolving landscape became undeniable for me. As an African filmmaker, I felt not only the need but the urgency to engage with medium —to open up my continent to immersive creation. Beyond Africa’s embrace of digital tools, there is a deeper necessity: to share its perspective on humanity. I once bore witness to a journey—the final journey of a friend’s father, who, on the eve his passing, wished to be buried in his native village in Mauritania. I observed, at a respectful distance, the ritual of his return. That experience was profoundly moving. In the silence imposed by death, we all embark on an immersive journey—whether consciously or not. Artou is my attempt to recount that passage, to step into it as an apprentice traveler.