Hope is a word
produced by Smau Media, Ginko Film
direction Maria Galliani Dyrvik
Oil spills keep devastating the niger delta. Nnimmo bassey, a poet activist, refuses to lose hope and trains a new generation of voices to fight oil extraction.
Nnimmo Bassey has spent his entire life fighting the devastating effects of oil extraction in the Niger Delta, where since the 60s oil spills and gas flaring have ravaged the environment, poisoned people’s lives and displaced entire communities. Building on a long Nigerian legacy, Nnimmo writes poetry to inspire people to fight for their rights, demanding that oil companies take responsibility. But after decades of struggle, hope is fading, and Nnimmo, approaching his 70th birthday, worries about who will continue his work.
Seeing around him an outspoken new generation that is struggling to be heard, Nnimmo invites young activists from the Niger Delta to write with him. Among them are Barinedum, a young woman whose homeland Ogoni is one of the places most affected by oil spills, and Nnimmo’s youngest son Ukpono. Through poetry, Nnimmo wants to help them find their voices and use their words as a weapon for change.
credits
Produzione / Production Smau media In collaborazione con / In collaboration with Ginko Film and Zuri24Media Con il supporto di / With support from Vestnorsk Filmsenter, Norsk Filminstitutt, Fritt ord, Fond for Lyd og Bilde & Bergesenstiftelsen Con e con poesie di / With and with poetry by Nnimmo Bassey, Barinè Dūm, Ukpono Bassey & Odudu-Abasi Asuquo Scritto e diretto da / Written and directed by Maria Galliani Dyrvik Produttrice e direttrice della fotografia / Producer and Director of Photography Anita Vedå Materiali d'archivio di / Archive Footage by Erabanabari Kobah Fotografia aggiuntiva di / Additional Photography by Allen Onyige Registrazione del suono di / Sound Recording by Anuoluwapo Oladipupo, David Rhove and Minwon Metong Montaggio di / Edited by Federico Neri Consulente per la scrittura e la drammaturgia / Writing and Dramaturgy Consultant Nuno Escudeiro Consulente al montaggio / Editing Consultant Niels Pagh Andersen Sound design di / Sound Design by Yngve Leidulv Sætre at @ Duper Post Punks Artista Foley / Foley Artist Maria Bardal Musiche di / Music by Ukpono Bassey Color grading di / Colour Grading by Christoffer Møgster Graphic design di / Graphic Design by Ariane Birkeland at @ Rebel Unit Design del poster di / Poster Design by Mypostersucks Consulente d'impatto / Impact Consultant Vivian Schröder Co-prodotto da / Co-produced by Chiara Andrich Produttore esecutivo / Executive Producer Femi Odugbemi Ufficio stampa / Publicist Mia Farrell Sviluppato presso / Developed at Nordoc, ESoDoc – European Social Documentary, IDFA Project Space
festival
Sheffield Doc Fest 2026 Durban International Film Festival 2026 Visioni dal Mondo, Milano 2026
