Black Europe Film Festival

After the Long Rains

Friday, January 31 • 5:00pm • Tickets: $10 General (+ $2 online service fee), $8 Members (no fee), $5 Students (door)

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with director Damien Hauser

ABOUT THE FILM

Minnesota Premiere. In Watamu, a coastal town in Kenya, children are expected to follow in their parents’ footsteps, but Aisha dreams of something different. She wants to go to Europe and become an actress. How to do it? Her plan is to find a job on a fishing boat so that she can sail all the way to Europe, but her mother thinks that fishing should be left to men. Aisha doesn't agree – and when she meets Hassan, a drunken fisherman who promises to teach her how to sail and fish, she seizes her opportunity.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR

Damien Hauser is a filmmaker based in Switzerland. Born in Zurich in 2001, he began producing short films by the age of seven. He later studied film at SAE and worked for a commercial production company. His greatest passion has always been fictional storytelling. After the Long Rains is his third feature film, showcasing his multifaceted talent as director, producer, editor, and sound designer.

ABOUT - BLACK EUROPE FILM FESTIVAL

The Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/St. Paul is a groundbreaking celebration of Afro-European cinema, debuting in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2, 2025. Rooted in community collaboration and anti-racist organizing, BEFF MSP brings you a dynamic lineup of documentaries, fiction films, and shorts by Europe’s most acclaimed Afro-descendant filmmakers. This festival offers a space for artists to showcase their work and foster connections across the global Black diaspora and the international film community. At its core, BEFF MSP recognizes the intertwined legacies of racism, colonialism, and displacement while celebrating the vibrancy, creativity, and resilience of Black filmmakers. These artists challenge stereotypes, redefine narratives, and envision worlds beyond the limits imposed by whiteness, amplifying an authentic vision of Black Europe and Black Europeans. The festival experience is enriched by masterclasses, filmmaker encounters, workshops, lectures, and artist residencies, creating opportunities for learning, connection, and joy. Join us to celebrate the power of storytelling and the boundless creativity of Afro-European cinema while engaging diverse audiences, communities, and youth.