In the fall of 2016, I met, Jean-Marie on a train heading North from Grand Central Station NYC. Jean-Marie was on his way to teach and I was on my way to work with the Gateless writing coach Suzanne Kingsbury. Jean-Marie and I immediately hit it off--given that I love everything Africa and he's from Cameroon and given that I love living in Paris, which he at the time, did—we've kept our friendship going. Since our first meeting Jean-Marie has been chosen by the Academy of Oscars and has also launched a school in Cameroon for young filmmakers. December 2022, Jean-Marie joined our ally advisory board.
—I. Murphy Lewis
Here's more details on this amazing soul:
Jean-Marie Teno has been producing and directing films for over thirty-five years for international television broadcast and theatrical release. His films are noted for their original approach to issues of race, cultural identity, African history and contemporary politics. Teno’s films have been honored at festivals worldwide: Berlin, Toronto, Yamagata, Cinéma du Réel, Visions du Réel, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Liepzig, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, to name a few. Many of his films have been broadcast in Europe and featured in festivals across the United States. Teno served on the jury of Idfa, Sundance Film Festival, Yamagata, Hot Docs and many more.
Teno has been a guest of the Flaherty Seminar, an artist in residence at the Pacific Film Archive of the University of California, Berkeley, at Calarts, Los Angeles, a Copeland Fellow in Amherst College, and has lectured at numerous universities. In 2015, he was a visiting Artist at Wellesley College MA. In 2017 he was invited to join the Oscar Academy. In 2017 Teno started a yearly training documentary program in Cameroon ‘Patrimoine-Heritage’, on the topic of Heritage. 11 short films were produced. More infos on the site patrimoines-heritage.tv. His films include: Alex’s Wedding (2002) The Colonial Misunderstanding (2005), Sacred Places (2009) Leaf in the Wind (2013) Chosen (2018).
For more information on Teno’s films, please visit Jean-Marie Teno / On Demand pages and raphiavod.tv.
