Dahomey (film)

Dahomey
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMati Diop
Written byMati Diop
Produced by
  • Mati Diop
  • Eve Robin
  • Judith Lou Lévy
CinematographyJoséphine Drouin-Viallard
Edited byGabriel Gonzalez
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 18 February 2024 (2024-02-18) (Berlinale)
  • 11 September 2024 (2024-09-11) (France)
Running time
68 minutes
Countries
  • France
  • Senegal
  • Benin
LanguageFrench
Box office$506,090[2][3]

Dahomey is a 2024 internationally co-produced[4] documentary film directed by Mati Diop. It is a dramatised account of 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey (in modern-day Republic of Benin), which were held in a museum in France. The film explores how the artifacts were returned from France to Benin, and the reactions of Beninese people.[5]

The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival,[6] where it won the festival's top prize, the Golden Bear.[7][8] Dahomey was selected as the Senegalese entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.[9] It was released theatrically in France on 11 September 2024, by Les Films du Losange, to widespread critical acclaim.

  1. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (26 March 2024). "Mati Diop's Berlinale Golden Bear Winner 'Dahomey' Sells Nearly Worldwide for Films du Losange". Variety. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Dahomey". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Dahomey". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  4. ^ Diop, Mati (9 February 2024). "Dahomey". Cineuropa. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  5. ^ Katz, David (9 January 2024). "20 European films we're anticipating in 2024". Cineuropa. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Berlinale Documentary Award and Jury". Berlinale. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  7. ^ Roxborough, Scott (24 February 2024). "Mati Diop Doc 'Dahomey' Wins Berlin Golden Bear". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  8. ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (22 January 2024). "The Berlinale unveils its Competition and Encounters titles". Cineuropa. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. ^ Ntim, Zac (13 September 2024). "Oscars: Senegal Submits Mati Diop's Golden Bear Winner 'Dahomey' For International Feature Film Race". Deadline. Retrieved 13 September 2024.