A small girl, Binta, sets out to change the life of her young cousin. First place winner of the Indie Producer short film contest.

Binta is a young African girl who serves as the narrator. She talks about her father and his'great idea'. Binta's father is a small-time, local fisherman in a peaceful village (near the town of Bignona) in Senegal. His friend who recently visited Europe describes what fishing is like there. He tells him that the Europeans can catch thousands of fish with bigger boats equipped with sonar. The man, very impressed by this, encourages the father to approach the government and request a permit for a bigger boat. Binta's father also hears from his friend how once he attains wealth he must get a permit for a weapon so he can defend his wealth. The friend also shows off his watch which has an alarm set to ring every day at noon. "What happens at noon?" asks Binta's father. "Why, the alarm rings!" his friend replies.

Binta and the Great Idea is a 2004 Spanish-Senegalese co-production short film by writer-director Javier Fesser. The film stars Zeynabou Diallo as Binta, Agnile Sambou as Binta's Father, and Aminata Sané as Soda. The film duration is approximately 31 minutes, with dialogue in Diola and French. The film is included in Oscar Nominated Short Films by Magnolia Pictures and Shorts International; the theatrical release of this collection was February 16, 2007.

This film was made in collaboration with UNICEF, to which 100% of the profits will be given.

Cast
Zeynabou Diallo - Binta
Agnile Sambou - Binta's father
Aminata Sané - Soda

Directed by Javier Fesser
Produced by Luis Manso
Written by Javier Fesser
Cinematography: Chechu Graf
Editing by Javier Fesser
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Release date: October 25, 2004
Running time: 31 minutes
Countries: Senegal / Spain
Languages: Diola / French

Keywords: Third world, Senegal, Girl, Critical pedagogy, Village, School, Sexism, Education

Director
Binta and the great idea was Director Javier Fesser's first Academy Award nominated film. Fesser earned his Mass Media Communication degree from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. In 1986 he founded the production company Linea Films. Fesser was one of the founders of the online film festival: "NOTODOFILMFEST".

Fesser's credits include:
Candida, 2006 (screenwriter)
Binta and the Great Idea, 2004 (director/ screenwriter)
La Gran Aventura de Mortadelo y Filemon, 2003 (director/ screenwriter)
El Milagro de P Tinto, 1998 (director/ screenwriter)
Aquel Ritmillo 1995 (producer/writer/director)
El Secleto de la Tlompeta 1996 (producer/writer/director)


Awards
Academy Awards: 2007 - (Nominated) Oscar; Best Short Film, Live Action
George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival: 2007 - Best of Show, Best Professional Short Narrative
Indianapolis International Film Festival: 2006 - Grand Jury Prize; Best Short Film
Alcalá de Henares Short Film Festival: 2005 - City of Alcalá Award; Best Short Film
Chicago International Children's Film Festival: 2004 - Montgomery Prize; Best Film or Video by an Emerging Director


Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binta_y_la_gran_idea