Experiencing Interruptions?

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.

  • C. S. Nicholson
    Director
  • C. S. Nicholson
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Non-genre specific
  • Runtime:
    24 minutes 52 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 27, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    Norway
  • Country of Filming:
    Benin
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Mirage—Art of the Real Film Festival
    Oslo
    Norway
    October 14, 2022
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Minimalen Short Film Festival
    Trondheim
    Norway
    January 11, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Dokfilm—The Norwegian Documentary Film Festival
    Volda
    Norway
    May 5, 2023
    Official Selection
  • The Norwegian Short Film Festival
    Grimstad
    Norway
    June 9, 2023
    Dishonorable Mention
  • Revelation Perth International Film Festival
    Perth
    Australia
    July 17, 2023
    International Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Experimental Brasil
    Campos dos Goytacazes
    Brazil
    July 16, 2023
    South American Premiere
    Best Experimental Documentary Finalist
  • Accra Indie Filmfest
    Accra
    Ghana
    August 1, 2023
    African Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Apricot Tree International Documentary Film Festival
    Debet
    Armenia
    August 20, 2023
    Asian Premiere
    SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
  • Chicago Underground Film Festival
    Chicago
    United States
    September 13, 2023
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Black Star International Film Festival
    Accra
    Ghana
    September 24, 2023
    BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
  • Nordic/Docs
    Fredrikstad
    Norway
    September 29, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Festival international Signes du nuit
    Paris
    France
    September 30, 2023
    French Premiere
    Official Selection
  • OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    October 6, 2023
    Eastern European Premiere
    INTERNATIONAL SHORTS COMPETITION WINNER
  • Festival Transterritorial de Cine Underground
    Buenos Aires
    Argentina
    October 9, 2023
    South American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Tacoma Film Festival
    Tacoma
    United States
    October 10, 2023
    Washington State Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Black History Month Norway Cultural Festival
    Oslo
    Norway
    October 10, 2023
    Special Screening
  • Festival de Cine Independiente de Salto
    Salto
    Uruguay
    October 12, 2023
    Uruguayan Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Screaming Ostrich International Film Festival
    Newton
    United States
    October 15, 2023
    Massachusetts Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Abuja International Film Festival
    Abuja
    Nigeria
    October 30, 2023
    Nigerian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Jakarta Independent Film Festival
    Jakarta
    Indonesia
    BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY
  • Bahia Independent Cinema Festival
    Salvador
    Brazil
    November 4, 2023
    BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
  • Dharamshala International Film Festival
    Dharamshala
    India
    November 5, 2023
    South Asian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • DjârFogo International Film Festival
    Chã das Caldeiras
    Cape Verde
    November 7, 2023
    Cape Verdean Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Network for art films
    Oslo
    Norway
    November 10, 2023
    Special Screening
  • Festival internazionale Segni della notte
    Urbino
    Italy
    November 22, 2023
    Italian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Fotogenia—Festival Internacional de Cinepoesía y Narrativas Divergentes
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    November 23, 2023
    Mexican Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Benin City Film Festival
    Benin City
    Nigeria
    December 15, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Cittador International Film Festival
    Vienna
    Austria
    December 17, 2023
    Austrian Premiere
    BEST EUROPEAN SHORT
  • Brussels Independent Film Festival
    Brussels
    Belgium
    January 28, 2024
    Official ’Off On’ Selection
  • Budapest Independent Film Festival
    Budapest
    Hungary
    February 9, 2024
    Best Documentary Short Nominee
  • FELACOS—Festival de Largos y Cortos de Santiago
    Santiago
    Chile
    March 2, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Ribalta Experimental Film Festival
    Vignola
    Italy
    March 16, 2024
    BEST FILM (Limina competition)
  • Close:Up San Francisco Short Film Festival
    San Francisco
    United States
    March 28, 2024
    BEST DOCUMENTARY WINNER
  • CinéVesture International Film Festival
    Chandigarh
    India
    March 29, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Beach House African Short Film Festival
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    March 30, 2024
    Official Selection
Director Biography - C. S. Nicholson

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.

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