Francesca Tilley-Gyado selected for Short Film Competition at Cannes Film Festival

We’re totally rooting for Nigerian filmmaker Francesca Tilley-Gyado whose short film “The Years The Locust Ate” has been selected for the prestigious Short Film Competition at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival.

“The Years The Locust Ate” follows a family living in exile from the Dirty War. ‘The Dirty War,’ also called ‘The Process of National Reorganization,’ was an infamous campaign waged from 1976 to 1983 by Argentina’s military dictatorship against suspected left-wing political opponents, dissidents and leftist guerillas.

Tilley-Gyado, who grew up in Lagos and moved to England at 7, has lived in 5 other countries across Europe, Africa, North and South America.

Her selection is important to all of us because it puts Nigeria not he world stage, and is a win for every Nigerian filmmaker.

Check out the synopsis for the short film.

Former revolutionary, Nikhil Alvarez and his daughter, Salome come together in their adopted home on his birthday for quiet celebration only to unlock painful memories.

Long exile from their homeland, Argentina and the forced cessation of dreams has caused lost years, regret and broken family. On this day- the two find themselves facing the stark reality of their lives.

Brought together by the forces for reconciliation, this is an exploration into separation and forgiveness of relationships with others, with ourselves and with time.