Mahamat Saleh Haroun returns to Chad after his mother's death. He finds his homeland in disarray, with cinemas closed and funding for films nonexistent. Haroun, a filmmaker living in France, decides to create a film in her memory titled Bye Bye Africa. He faces skepticism from family and learns about the decline of African cinema from other directors. Despite his efforts, he ultimately leaves Chad, passing his camera to a young boy who admires his work.

Deep Dive

Why Watch

See Mahamat Saleh Haroun's unique perspective on Chadian cinema.
Meet Isabelle, a character facing stigma in her community.
Find out about the struggles of filmmaking in Chad.

Did You Know

Bye Bye Africa won the 'CinemAvvenire' Award at the 1999 Venice Film Festival.
The film received a Special Mention at the 1999 Amiens International Film Festival.
Mahamat Saleh Haroun's film was the first feature directed by a Chadian filmmaker.
The film was tied for the FIPRESCI Prize at the 2000 Kerala International Film Festival.

Perfect For

Chadian cinemaFilm industry challengesAfrican storytelling

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

Who directed Bye Bye Africa?

Bye Bye Africa was directed by Mahamat Saleh Haroun.

What awards did Bye Bye Africa win?

The film won awards at the 1999 Amiens International Film Festival, the 2000 Kerala International Film Festival, and the 1999 Venice Film Festival.

What is the main plot of Bye Bye Africa?

The plot centers on a Chadian film director who returns to Chad after his mother's death and faces challenges in making a film due to the degraded state of the country and its cinema.

Awards & Festivals

IDFA International Documentary Festival Amsterdam

2018 • Official selection

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

Play More Like This

52m

Destination Tchad

2016•52m

In Chad, ancient elephants roam the striking dunes of Kanem, while the Kapsiki villages and Waza wildlife reserves highlight the region's rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Destination Tchad

2016

51m

Mauritania : Destiny of the Sands

2018•51m

In Mauritania, three young men-Mahmoud, Taleb, and Boubacar-navigate their nomadic lifestyles across diverse landscapes, from the Atlantic coast to the Adrar plateau.

Mauritania : Destiny of the Sands

2018

1h26m

From Nigeria to Morocco - In search of a better life in Europe

2023•1h26m

Ike Nnaebue, a Nollywood director, retraces his perilous migration route from Nigeria to Europe, highlighting the challenges faced by young Africans seeking better lives.

From Nigeria to Morocco - In search of a better life in Europe

2023

58m

Mali: Autopsy of a Failure

2023•58m

The Malian crisis reveals failures of the state and the international community in Mali.

Mali: Autopsy of a Failure

2023

26m

Cinema as resistance - filmmakers who want to change the world

2019•26m

Five filmmakers from Mozambique, Brazil, and the US confront issues like war trauma, environmental destruction, and systemic racism through their films.

Cinema as resistance - filmmakers who want to change the world

2019

1h9m

Fatherland (Controversial Coming Of Age Documentary)

2018•1h9m

In the South African bush, a group of Afrikaner boys undergoes military training at a camp that challenges their identity in the context of a changing nation.

Fatherland (Controversial Coming Of Age Documentary)

2018

1h2m

Cry, My Beloved Country

2024•1h2m

After 30 years abroad, a South African emigrant returns to her homeland, confronting the lasting scars of apartheid and the current state of the nation.

Cry, My Beloved Country

2024

32m

Mapping Survival

2024•32m

Over 3.5 million internally displaced people in Chad face violence and food insecurity as climate change threatens their survival and resources.

Mapping Survival

2024

57m

Arabic Secret | Documentary | Full Movie

2026•57m

A man seeks to connect with his father for the first time, grappling with the absence of support and shared experiences throughout his life.

Arabic Secret | Documentary | Full Movie

2026

Explore Bye Bye Africa

People Awards Deep Dive FAQ Stream

Browse more like this

58m

Mali: Autopsy of a Failure

2023•58m

The Malian crisis reveals failures of the state and the international community in Mali.

Mali: Autopsy of a Failure

2023

No digital watch option in your country

1h23m

Bye Bye Tiberias

2024•1h23m•★7.7TMDB

Thirty years after leaving her Palestinian village, Hiam Abbass returns with her daughter to confront the choices that shaped their family.

Bye Bye Tiberias

2024

55m

That's My Face

2001•55m•★10.0TMDB

Three generations of an African American family reflect on their cultural heritage and ancestral roots through silent Super 8 film in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil.

That's My Face

2001

1h35m

Mariner of the Mountains

2023•1h35m•★6.8TMDB

Karim Aïnouz reflects on his family's history and Algeria's cultural heritage while traversing the Mediterranean, intertwining personal narratives with national identity.

Mariner of the Mountains

2023

1h16m

Mother, I Am Suffocating. This Is My Last Film About You.

2019•1h16m•★6.3TMDB

A woman carries a wooden cross on her back as she walks through the streets of Lesotho, reflecting on her connection to her mother and homeland.

Mother, I Am Suffocating. This Is My Last Film About You.

2019

1h15m

A Trip to the Country

2000•1h15m•★7.0TMDB

Jean-Marie Teno returns to Cameroon, examining the effects of colonialism and globalization on Yaoundé and Mbieng, including corruption and cultural shifts.

A Trip to the Country

2000

1h42m

Chantier A

2013•1h42m•★8.0TMDB

A decade after leaving Algeria, Karim returns to confront memories of the civil war and the destruction of his childhood home.

Chantier A

2013

2h3m

Motherland

2010•2h3m•★8.0TMDB

African history spans from Ancient Egypt to modern times, featuring key figures like Jacob Zuma and significant events like colonialism and independence movements.

Motherland

2010

41m

My African Diary

1999•41m•★9.0TMDB

Two young boys, Hjalmar and Simon, navigate life in South Africa shortly after the end of apartheid, experiencing a country in transition.

My African Diary

1999

1h30m

A Way Home

2020•1h30m•★8.0TMDB

Aïcha, a single mother, navigated life in Belgium after moving from Tangiers, while her daughter documents her struggle with Alzheimer's in a care home.

A Way Home

2020