music from the motion picture

MÅNGATA

The Road To The Moon

A Short Film written and directed by MAJA COSTA
Produced by Latte Plus Productions
Original Score by Tropical Diaspora® Records

 

Music Composed by Renato & Ronaldo Gama

with Izzy Gordon & Oksaf Mandela

presented in a real new dimension in motion picture entertainment
by Tropical Diaspora® Records

Director´s Statement

It is difficult to look away from the moon shining in the starry sky, but looking away is what we do as we turn toward the tragic reality of immigration to Europe. According to United Nations data, in the last seven years, more than 25.000 men, women, and children have died or gone missing in the Central Mediterranean.

The “Never again” sworn in front of the aligned coffins of the 368 people who lost their lives near Lampedusa on October 3, 2013, has remained only a declaration of intent.We look at the moon, but we turn away when it comes to looking at the tragedy of those who cross the Mediterranean in search of a better life.

Their basic human right to a home often goes unfulfilled and their search for a place to “feel at home” becomes an existential struggle. This is not just an African problem, or a problem of southern European countries; it is the responsibility of all of Europe.Alya comes from Africa and arrives in Europe following a dream: first a dream of her father’s and then a dream of her own. Mångata, “the road to the moon,” represents the long way to get there.

On the Moon, while communication with the base is interrupted, Alya has an encounter that helps her overcome her past trauma and make sense of her loss. Planet Earth is both Alya’s home and the starting point of Mångata, not just for her, but for all of mankind—of which Alya, with her aspiration and resilience, is a bright symbol.

Selections

  • KRAKOW INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Krakow (POLAND) – OSCAR® qualifying festival
  • INTERNATIONALES FILMFEST EMDEN NORDERNEY, Emden (GERMANY)
  • L.A. SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Los Angeles (USA) – OSCAR® qualifying festival
  • FLICKERS’ RHODE ISLAND INTL. FILM FESTIVAL, Providence (USA) – OSCAR® qualifying festival – Semi Finalist
  • CALABRIA MOVIE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Crotone (ITALY)
  • NÒT FILM FEST, Santarcangelo di Romagna (ITALY)
  • VERACRUZ ITINERANT FILM FESTIVAL, Veracruz (MEXICO)
  • BUSHO FILM FESTIVAL, Budapest (HUNGARY)
  • BAYELSA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Yenagoa (NIGERIA) – Nominated for BEST SHORT FILM and BEST LEAD ACTRESS
  • WIENWOCHE, Vienna (AUSTRIA)
  • MOSTRA DAS MINAS, Santos, SP (BRAZIL)
  • FILMFEST OSNABRÜCK, Osnabrück (GERMANY)
  • MONTECATINI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Montecatini (ITALY)
  • HAWAI’I INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Honolulu (USA) – OSCAR® qualifying festival
  • TEHRAN INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, Tehran (IRAN) – OSCAR® qualifying festival
  • TRIESTE SCIENCE + FICTION FESTIVAL, Trieste (ITALY)
  • BYRON BAY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Byron Bay (AUSTRALIA)
  • CYPRUS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL “GOLDEN APHRODITE”, Nicosia (CYPRUS)
  • CHICAGO INTERNATIONALCHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL, Chicago (USA) – OSCAR® qualifying festival
  • AFRICA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Lagos (NIGERIA)
  • BRIDGES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Corinth (GREECE)
  • CORNWALL FILM FESTIVAL, Penryn (UK)
  • AMARCORT FILM FESTIVAL, Rimini (ITALY)
  • I AM TOMORROW FILM FESTIVAL, Brussels (BELGIUM)
  • EDO STATE SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, Benin City (EDO STATE)
  • NOVELLA FILM FESTIVAL, London (UK)
  • AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL, Kabale (KENYA)
  • 3in1 FILM FEST (Almeirim, Portugal)

Awards

  • African Diaspora Cinema Fest Firenze Italy
    • Winner of BEST SHORT FILM
  • Corti in Cortile Catania Italy
    • Winner of BEST DIRECTOR & BEST SOUND TRACK
  • Orvieto Cinema Fest Orvieto Italy
    • Winner of BEST NATIONAL SHORT FILM MYMOVIES & Special Mention for Sound Track
  • Golden Bridge Istanbul FF Istanbul Turkey
    • Winner of Best SHORT FILM, Best DIRECTOR, Best LEAD ACTRESS