

A revolution you can dance to: how artists overthrew a dictator and kept the fire burning.
BURKINABÈ RISING: the art of resistnace in Burkina Faso showcases creative nonviolent resistance in Burkina Faso. A small, landlocked country in West Africa, Burkina Faso is home to a vibrant community of artists and engaged citizens, who provide an example of the type of political change that can be achieved when people come together. It is an inspiration, not only to the rest of Africa but also to the rest of the world. Through music, film, ecology, visual art, and architecture, the people featured in this film are carrying on the revolutionary spirit of Thomas Sankara. After assuming the presidency in 1983, Sankara was killed in a 1987 coup d'état led by his friend and close advisor Blaise Compaoré, who subsequently ruled the country as an autocrat for twenty-seven years. In October 2014, a massive popular insurrection led to his removal. Today, the spirit of resistance is mightier than ever in Burkina Faso.
Direction
Iara Lee's immersive access to underground creative circles.
Cinematography
Vibrant street art and Sankara murals come alive.

Director
Iara Lee
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Burkina Faso means 'Land of Incorruptible People'—a name Sankara gave it, replacing 'Upper Volta' in 1984.
Director Iara Lee was arrested while filming 2014 protests, footage that made the final cut.
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