Philippe Lacôte plans new feature film ‘7 Gold Thieves’ With Newly Launched Paradise City
Following NIGHT OF THE KINGS (Shortlisted for the 2021 Academy Award for Best International Film), Ivory Coast director Philippe Lacôte is developing his new feature film, 7 GOLD THIEVES (LES 7 VOLEURS D’OR), with his producing and co-writing partner Delphine Jaquet.
The story is based on a real belief. In West Africa and in the imagination of the Malinké, gold has an ambivalent social function, conferring prestige and honor. However, he who steals gold places a curse on his family line for 7 generations. 7 GOLD THIEVES (LES 7 VOLEURS D'OR) follows a man's quest to break his family free from this ancient curse. Weaving together the stories of his forbearers over centuries, the film will crisscross between Western Africa and the United States.
Anticipating a 2024 shoot, the film is currently in development and will be introduced to potential partners in Cannes.
Banshee Films and Wassakara Productions are producing, in association with the newly launched Paradise City, founded by Emilie Georges and Naima Abed. Philippe Lacôte is represented by CAA.
"The film will follow Alboury, a young Sufi with a bewitching voice, in a seek to free himself from the curse of the gold thieves... His quest will take him from New York to West Africa, to the Kingdom of the Monkey Queen, where the curse was uttered. This epic story will cross several eras, in particular that of the beginnings of Islam in black Africa." explains Lacôte.
"After NIGHT OF THE KINGS, this new multi-layered story embraces topics such as the African diaspora and an immersion in a Sufi community in Harlem. Our goal is to explore very local and specific imaginaries, and give them a universal dimension.” said Jaquet.
"Ever since our successful collaboration on NIGHT OF THE KINGS, we've been impressed by the amazing creative duo that Delphine Jaquet and Phillipe Lacôte have created. They're truly masters in the art of storytelling, with a wonderfully generous and unique sensibility. We're thrilled at the perspective of diving with them in the rich tapestry of Africa's tales and History and of bringing this unique story to international audiences." said Georges.