Since 2007 it has become known that Albinos in Tanzania, Congo and Kenya have become a commodity - human targets of a lucrative and sinister trade.

Witch doctors offer thousands of dollars for albino body parts which are believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and the ability to cure any illness. As a result, Tanzanian albinos, including children, have been murdered by gangs of men who hack off arms, legs or genitals. Some will pay from $500 to $5000 for an albino limb while the average annual income in Tanzania is $442. There is a saying in East Africa, "Albinos don't die, they just disappear". Seventy-three such documented killings have occurred in the past two years as well as hundreds of unreported attacks since 2007.

WHITE SHADOW is the story of Alias, a young albino boy on the run. After witnessing his father's murder, his mother sends him away to find refuge in the city. He's brought to the care of his uncle, Kosmos, a truck driver struggling with a few small businesses. In the city, Alias is a quick learner, selling sunglasses, DVDs and mobile phones. He is fond of his uncle's daughter, Antoinette, although his uncle disapproves. Gradually the city becomes no different than the bush and wherever Alias travels the same rules of survival apply.

a film by Noaz Deshe

CAST
Hamisi Bazili > ALIAS
James Gayo > KOSMOS
Glory Mbayuwayu > ANTOINETTE
Salum Abdallah > SALUM
Tito D. Ntanga > FATHER
Riziki Ally > MOTHER
James P. Salala > ADIN
John S. Mwakipunda > ANULLA

DIRECTOR'S NOTE
"While preparing to teach in Dar Es Salaam, I learned about the hunting of Albinos in East Africa. I decided a film must be made: a real chronicle of a young person with a price on his head. A person who has to urgently become aware of his own condition against events that can end his life. In a certain circumstance, you can witness what it feels to be a beast. to react, to be alert to your utmost ability. You must accept the solitude of your dreams as your friend and as a form of survival. The details of the plot should be only what the character is able to understand and piece together, the politics and cultural information should be delivered in a sensory form. To make the film work we needed to be small, local and quick-moving, making sure everyone was safe and brave."
Noaz Deshe


a Asmara Films, Shadoworks and Mocajo Film production

in coproduction with
Chromosom Filmproduktion, French Exit, Phantasma Films, Real2Reel

with the support of
Nipkow Programme, Goethe-Institut Tanzania, Alliance Française Dar es Salaam

Directed by Noaz Deshe

Producers
Ginevra Elkann, Noaz Deshe, Francesco Melzi d'Eril

Co-producers
Alexander Wadouh, Matthias Luthardt, Babak Jalali

Executive Producers
Ryan Gosling, Stefano Gallini-Durante

Associate Producers Matteo Ceccarini, Eva Riccobono, Luigi De Vecchi, Depart Foundation, Andreas Hommelsheim

Written by Noaz Deshe and James Masson

Directors of Photography
Armin Dierolf, Noaz Deshe

2nd camera
Nassos Chatzopoulos

Editors
Noaz Deshe, Xavier Box, Robin Hill, Nico Leunen

Music by James Masson, Noaz Deshe

Production Design
Smith Kimaro, Deepesh Shapriya

Costumes
Sandra Leutert, Caren Miesenberger

Make-up
Sandra Leutert

Sound Recording
Elie Chansa

Sound Design
Niklas Kammertöns

Supervising Sound Editing
Thomas Wallmann

Re-recording Mixer
Lars Ginzel

VFX Supervisor
Rudolf Germann

Line Producers
Vanessa Ciszewski, Francesca Zanza

Production Manager
Katja Lebedjewa

Production Coordinators
Malek Malekela, Nassos Chatzopoulos

Assistant Directors
Ilan Cohen, Smith Kimaro, Nassos Chatzopoulos

Location Manager
Hashim Y. Rubanza

Casting
Hashim Y. Rubanza, Matthias Luthardt

Translators
Elie Chansa, Aika Kirei, Smith Kimaro


PRODUCTION

ASMARA FILMS
Via Giovanni Nicotera 24
00195 Rome
Italy
Ph. +39 06 3211960
Fax +39 06 32505910
www.asmarafilms.com
info@asmarafilms.com

coproduction

CHROMOSOM FILMPRODUKTION
Chodowieckistr. 11
10405 Berlin
Germany
Ph: +49 30 8937 8081
info@chromosom-film.de
http://chromosom-film.de/

FRENCH EXIT
kontakt@french-exit.de
www.french-exit.de


DIST:
Premium Films / France / T + 33 1 42 77 06 39 / kasia.karwan@premium-films.com
www.premium-films.com /


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DE

R: Noaz Deshe
Italien / Deutschland / Tansania, 2013, Kinospielfilm, 115 Minuten,