Abderrahmane Sissako ( born 13 October 1961 ) is a Mauritanian film director and producer . Sissako is , along with Ousmane Sembène , Souleymane Cissé , Idrissa Ouedraogo and Djibril Diop Mambety , one of the few filmmakers from Africa to reach a measure of international influence . His film '' Waiting for Happiness '' ( '' Heremakono '' ) was screened at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival official selection under Un Certain Regard , winning the FIPRESCI Prize . His 2007 film '' Bamako '' received much attention . Sissako 's themes include globalisation , exile and the displacement of people . His 2014 film '' Timbuktu '' was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or in the main competition section at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
2014 Cannes Film Festival
2014 Cannes Film Festival
Abderrahmane Sissako