2009

SPRING 2009: SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT IN YACOUBA'S STORY
Towards the end of filming we heard of a shocking development in Yacouba's story. The nearby city of Ouahigouya is embarking on a vast urban expansion scheme which threatens to engulf Yacouba's farm. In a complex system of land ownership, Yacouba's property has been divided into small plots for development. Unless he can find the money to purchase these plots, they will be sold to the highest bidder. Ironically, because of his work in improving the soil, the land is now valued at an impossibly high €100,000.

2010

SUMMER 2010: NORWICH PREMIER
Film premiers in Norwich UK, home city of producer. Sells out on first two screenings.

NOVEMBER 2010: CAPITOL HILL SCREENING
Producer Mark Dodd and Dr Chris Reij head to Capitol Hill for a screening hosted by the Sub Committee on Africa and Global Health. Attendees include representatives from USAID, The World Bank, US government policy advisors. All were moved and impressed by the film and its message.

NOVEMBER 2010: BROADCAST DEAL
Major french broadcaster France Télévisions buy a 50 minute version of the film.

DECEMBER 2010: AMSTERDAM SCREENING
Film screening at Centre for International Studies, VU University Amsterdam.

2011

JANUARY 2011: SWITZERLAND SCREENING
Screenings at internationals schools in Switzerland.

JANUARY 2011: ANOTHER CAPITOL HILL SCREENING
Repeat screening on Capitol Hill, Library of Congress.

JANUARY 2011: FESTIVAL WINNER
Special Jury Award from the International Forest Film Festival, a collaboration between the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival and the United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat. Awarded to recognize the inspiration and impact an individual can make on the world.

FEBRUARY 2011: NEW YORK SCREENING
Film screened at global launch of United Nations International Year of the Forest at UN HQ New York.

MARCH 2011: SAN FRANCISCO FESTIVAL
Film finishes in top spot in the 'buzz viewings' at San Francisco Green Film Festival.

MARCH 2011: BURKINA FASO VISIT
Mark Dodd returns to Burkina Faso to show Yacouba Sawadogo and his family the film. Also screened at the cinema in Ouahigouya, the nearest main city, and in the capitol, Ouagadougou. Yacouba mobbed by fans at end of screening:
http://www.1080films.co.uk/Yacoubamovie/video01.htm

MARCH 2011: NEW ZEALAND FILM FESTIVAL
Film makes official selection in 'Reel Earth Film Festival' in New Zealand. www.reelearth.org.nz

APRIL 2011: JAPAN WILDLIFE FILM FESTIVAL
Film chosen out of 359 films from 50 countries to be one of 30 films to be shown at the JWFF in August 2011.

APRIL 2011: FIRST NATIONAL TV BROADCAST
France 5 network broadcasts 50 minute French version. More transmissions in May.
http://documentaires.france5.fr/documentaires/lhomme-qui-arreta-le-desert

MAY 2011: FESTIVAL WINNER
Award for BEST INDEPENDENT FILM at the International Wildlife Film Festival in Montana.
http://www.wildlifefilms.org/documents/2011%20IWFF%20Award%20Winners.pdf

MAY 2011: FESTIVAL WINNER
8th International Audiovisual Festival of Biodiversity in Rome. A special award given by Biodiversity International goes to The Man Who Stopped the Desert.
http://www.carta.org/2011/05/luomo-che-piantava-gli-alberi/

MAY 2011: KOREA SCREENING
Finalist at 8th Green Film Festival in Seoul.
http://en.gffis.org/

JULY 2011: YACOUBA GUEST SPEAKER AT INTERNATIONAL FORUM
10 th -17 th July 2011 Caux , Switzerland . Luc Gnacadja, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and Clare Short, former Secretary of State for International Development in the UK, head the 4 th annual Conference for Human Security. On a full day special event, Restoring Earth's degraded land, The Man Who Stopped the Desert is screened to a large audience of conference delegates. Yacouba given standing ovation as he goes on stage after the film for Q&A session.
http://africa-regreening.blogspot.com/2011/07/advocacy-and-networking-on-regreening.html
http://www.caux.iofc.org/sites/all/files/CFHS_2011_programme_final_en_web.pdf

AUGUST 2011: FESTVAL WINNER
Film awarded 'Best Sustainability Message' at 10th Japan Wildlife Film Festival.
Judges' quote: "Today, in order to effectively solve one of the most critical issues, what we need are man's wisdom and his restless effort...The Great issues can be gradually resolved only by such modest and sustainable methods. This is an amazing film."
http://www.naturechannel.jp/EJWFF.html

AUGUST 2011: FESTIVAL FINALIST
News that the film has reached finalist stage in the Jackson Hole Wildlife FF, in October.
http://jhfestival.org/festival/filmcomp.htm

AUGUST 2011: UN KOREA
As a result of Caux conference (see above) Yacouba has been invited to United Nations COP 10 event in South Korea. 150 environment ministers will get to see the film and meet Yacouba.
http://english.unccdcop10.go.kr/sub/01_01.jsp

SEPTEMBER 2011: FESTIVAL WINNER
Montana CINE International Film Festival. Film finishes second place out of entire festival winning the Sapphire Award.
http://www.wildlifefilms.org/Documents/2011%20CINE%20Screening%20Schedule.pdf

SEPTEMBER 2011: WORLD BANK WASHINGTON DC
22nd September screening organized by TerrAfrica.org at Africa Section of World Bank.

2012

MARCH 2012: EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENT AMIDST CURRENT DROUGHT CRISIS IN SAHEL
Ashley Norton, the film's location manager and sound recordist starts project to help Yacouba teach his Zaï techniques directly to subsistence farmers in the Yatenga region.

JUNE 2012: MARK DODD AND CHRIS REIJ VISIT YACOUBA AT HIS FARM
Despite increased building work next to the forest, Yacouba remains in good spirits. The new farmer-training initiative is progressing well and Yacouba has extra support from a familiar face. For full details check out the new video update film »

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO YACOUBA'S LAND?
Read the latest update to see what's happening more »