International sensation and César nominated actress Aïssa Maïga will join a Pan-African cast in the epic Nigerian Civil War film ‘A Forgotten Place’ written and directed by the award-winning African filmmaker Odera Ozoka. The Senegal born, France raised West African actress will take on the lead female role. The film is a historical fiction odyssey story about the struggles to survive and find family amidst a war torn country and is scheduled to begin production in 2017 on location in Nigeria and across Africa. ‘A Forgotten Place’ was the recipient of the Project Act Nollywood grant and is working in collaboration with companies across the continent, in Europe, and in the United States. The production is breaking Nollywood norms with an international cast, and Aïssa Maïga’s attachment follows the news of her fellow French actress Roxane Mesquida’s announcement last week.
Aïssa’s involvement in ‘A Forgotten Place’ comes after a slew of diverse roles in 2016 including the French comedies ‘Bienvenue à Marly-Gomont’ (The African Doctor) and “Il a déjà tes yeux (He Already Has Your Eyes) , Dominque Cabrera’s adaptation ‘Corniche Kennedy’, and the South African Afro-futuristic feature ‘Comotose’ due to release in early 2017. ‘A Forgotten Place’ will be a heavy, dramatic role for the malleable actress. Aïssa is in conversation with Ozoka and producer Ashley Ellis about the preparations for the role. The production will feature the best of African talent and Aïssa is no exception.
Since her film debut in Denis Amart’s ‘Saraka Bô’, Aïssa has worked with many internationally renowned directors, including Michel Gondry (Mood Indigo), Michael Haneke (Code Unknown and Caché) and perhaps most notably, Abderrahmane Sissako, for whom she played Melé, a disillusioned bar singer, in the celebrated film ‘Bamako’. Aïssa was nominated for a Best Actress César for her performance and captured audiences’ hearts when she sang Christie Azuma’s “Naam” though she did not know the language. ‘A Forgotten Place’ will demonstrate a new side of the hugely talented actress.