The Discoverer of the Discoverers
A family in West Africa tells the story of how their ancestor discovered the European explorers — to a European film crew. We get to see how this encounter is still remembered ritually. But do all the claims about the historic event bear a closer look? And to which degree can we trust the filmmaker’s white gaze? This short documentary explores how pride and conscience may affect collective memories.
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C. S. NicholsonDirector
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C. S. NicholsonProducer
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Genres:Non-genre specific
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Runtime:24 minutes 52 seconds
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Completion Date:September 27, 2022
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Country of Origin:Norway
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Country of Filming:Benin
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Mirage—Art of the Real Film FestivalOslo
Norway
October 14, 2022
World Premiere
Official Selection -
Minimalen Short Film FestivalTrondheim
Norway
January 11, 2023
Official Selection -
Dokfilm—The Norwegian Documentary Film FestivalVolda
Norway
May 5, 2023
Official Selection -
The Norwegian Short Film FestivalGrimstad
Norway
June 9, 2023
Dishonorable Mention -
Revelation Perth International Film FestivalPerth
Australia
July 17, 2023
International Premiere
Official Selection -
Experimental BrasilCampos dos Goytacazes
Brazil
July 16, 2023
South American Premiere
Best Experimental Documentary Finalist -
Accra Indie FilmfestAccra
Ghana
August 1, 2023
African Premiere
Official Selection -
Apricot Tree International Documentary Film FestivalDebet
Armenia
August 20, 2023
Asian Premiere
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE -
Chicago Underground Film FestivalChicago
United States
September 13, 2023
North American Premiere
Official Selection -
Black Star International Film FestivalAccra
Ghana
September 24, 2023
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY -
Nordic/DocsFredrikstad
Norway
September 29, 2023
Official Selection -
Festival international Signes du nuitParis
France
September 30, 2023
French Premiere
Official Selection -
OKO International Ethnographic Film FestivalSofia
Bulgaria
October 6, 2023
Eastern European Premiere
INTERNATIONAL SHORTS COMPETITION WINNER -
Festival Transterritorial de Cine UndergroundBuenos Aires
Argentina
October 9, 2023
South American Premiere
Official Selection -
Tacoma Film FestivalTacoma
United States
October 10, 2023
Washington State Premiere
Official Selection -
Black History Month Norway Cultural FestivalOslo
Norway
October 10, 2023
Special Screening -
Festival de Cine Independiente de SaltoSalto
Uruguay
October 12, 2023
Uruguayan Premiere
Official Selection -
Screaming Ostrich International Film FestivalNewton
United States
October 15, 2023
Massachusetts Premiere
Official Selection -
Abuja International Film FestivalAbuja
Nigeria
October 30, 2023
Nigerian Premiere
Official Selection -
Jakarta Independent Film FestivalJakarta
Indonesia
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY -
Bahia Independent Cinema FestivalSalvador
Brazil
November 4, 2023
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM -
Dharamshala International Film FestivalDharamshala
India
November 5, 2023
South Asian Premiere
Official Selection -
DjârFogo International Film FestivalChã das Caldeiras
Cape Verde
November 7, 2023
Cape Verdean Premiere
Official Selection -
Network for art filmsOslo
Norway
November 10, 2023
Special Screening -
Festival internazionale Segni della notteUrbino
Italy
November 22, 2023
Italian Premiere
Official Selection -
Fotogenia—Festival Internacional de Cinepoesía y Narrativas DivergentesMexico City
Mexico
November 23, 2023
Mexican Premiere
Official Selection -
Benin City Film FestivalBenin City
Nigeria
December 15, 2023
Official Selection -
Cittador International Film FestivalVienna
Austria
December 17, 2023
Austrian Premiere
BEST EUROPEAN SHORT -
Brussels Independent Film FestivalBrussels
Belgium
January 28, 2024
Official ’Off On’ Selection -
Budapest Independent Film FestivalBudapest
Hungary
February 9, 2024
Best Documentary Short Nominee -
FELACOS—Festival de Largos y Cortos de SantiagoSantiago
Chile
March 2, 2024
Official Selection -
Ribalta Experimental Film FestivalVignola
Italy
March 16, 2024
BEST FILM (Limina competition) -
Close:Up San Francisco Short Film FestivalSan Francisco
United States
March 28, 2024
BEST DOCUMENTARY WINNER -
CinéVesture International Film FestivalChandigarh
India
March 29, 2024
Official Selection -
Beach House African Short Film FestivalLagos
Nigeria
March 30, 2024
Official Selection
C.S. Nicholson is a British-Norwegian filmmaker based in Oslo, Norway. Aside from a BA in Philosophy & Social Anthropology, he holds a BA in Film & TV Production from the University of Westminster, and has worked as director, story producer and editor for 15 years, mainly in TV. "The Discoverer of the Discoverers" is his directorial debut in cinematic documentary.