Cilia Sawadogo

Cilia Sawadogo completed a BA Major in Communication Studies, Minor in Film Animation at Concordia University in 1989. As director, writer and animator, she has received numerous awards for films she directed at the NFB or independently including L'Arbre aux esprits (2005), La ruse du lievre (2001) Christopher changes his name (1999), Le Joueur de Cora (1996), L'arrèt d'Autobus (1994), Naissance (1993) and La femme mariée à trois hommes (1993).

Christopher Changes His Name

Christopher Changes His Name by Cilia Sawadogo, National Film Board of Canada

This animated short for children tells the story of Christopher, a little boy who didn't want to be called Christopher anymore. Such a common name! When Aunty Gail from Trinidad tells him a story about a Tiger, Christopher changes his name to Tiger. But then he finds a better name. When he has trouble cashing a birthday cheque, he realizes maybe he should stick with his original name... or maybe not?

Part of the Talespinners collection, which uses vibrant animation to bring popular children’s stories from a wide range of cultural communities to the screen.

The Cora Player

Cora Player, The by Cilia Sawadogo, National Film Board of Canada

Two young Africans from different social backgrounds want to defy tradition and be free to love each other. This Burkina Faso/Canada co-production is based on Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which particularly upholds the right to love freely, blind to convention and social class. An animated film without words for twelve to seventeen yers olds.