About the film

Only about a fifth of Guinea's 10 million people have access to electricity and even those that do experience frequent power cuts. If electricity in Conakry, its capital, is erratic, it is virtually non-existent in rural areas. 80 percent of the population has no electricity at all. With few families able to afford generators, children have discovered G'bessia International Airport, petrol stations and parks in wealthier areas of the city as unlikely places to study at night. They are among the only places in the capital where they will always find light. Some live close by, others have to walk for over an hour, to get one of the few places illuminated enough to study their papers. Yet, even in the middle of the night and despite studying hard, there is a sense of camaraderie and good humor, and the students are full of hope, desperate to improve their own situation and that of their country.

Black Out tells the story of these children's inspiring desire for education in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Through the kids' stories, it will build up a vivid picture of a society and people precariously balanced: after decades of turmoil, Alpha Conde became Guinea's first democratically elected President on November 16th 2010. He has pledged to make raising the living standards for the average Guinean a top priority.

Wybrane festiwale i nagrody / Selected festivals and awards: 2012 – MFF Amsterdam / IDFA

Attend the meeting with dancer Andy Camara following the sreening of the film “Black Out”. Warsaw, Sunday, May 19, Kinoteka.