Experiencing Interruptions?

RETURNEE

At 36, a French-based businesswoman returns to Benin after a personal tragedy forces her to leave everything behind. Back in her homeland, she finds herself twisted between modern life and ancestral traditions...confronting grievance, identity, and the weight of expectations.
RETURNEE is a poetic and intimate journey about resilience and the rediscovery of one’s roots — a story of departure, return, and the fragile hope of inner healing.

  • PRISCA OGOUMA
    Director
  • PRISCA OGOUMA
    Writer
  • PRISCA OGOUMA
    Producer
  • Prisca OGOUMA
    Key Cast
    "Faty"
  • Evenagleine D'ALMEIDA
    Key Cast
    "Lydie"
  • Lucienne ALYKO
    Key Cast
    "Mum"
  • Marcel PADEY
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Cosmas D'ALMEIDA
    Key Cast
    "Max"
  • Samir BATOKO
    Key Cast
    "Alex"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    RETURNEE
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    20 minutes 8 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 2, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    Benin
  • Language:
    French
  • Shooting Format:
    Black magic 4K 4096 x 2160, 5:1
  • Aspect Ratio:
    17:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Hollywood Discovery Awards - 2025
    Los Angeles
    Nominée
  • Durham Region International Black & Diversity Film Festival - 2025

    Canada
    Best actress
  • Cal Film Festival - Fall 2025
    Los Angeles
    Nominée
  • RED MOVIE AWARDS
    REIMS
    Honorable Mention / Best supportive actress
  • Cannes Lumière shorts festival
    Cannes
    Best French short
  • Dublin international film festival
    Dublin
    Best First Time Filmmaker
  • The Black Film Summit
    Yorkville,
    United States
    February 28, 2026
    Official selection
  • Barcelona Indie Awards
    Barcelona
    Nominee Best Actress
  • International Black & Diversity Film Festival
    Ajax, Toronto
    Canada
    Official selection
Director Biography - PRISCA OGOUMA

Prisca Ogouma is a Beninese filmmaker who has lived in France for the past decade. Drawing inspiration from her personal journey between two cultures, she creates intimate yet universal stories exploring exile, identity, and resilience. Her debut short film, RETURNEE (2025), is both a family tribute and a reflection on the African diaspora.

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