Ousmane William Mbaye

Ousmane William Mbaye (born 1952), is a Senegalese filmmaker. Mbaye is best known as the director of the critically acclaim documentary Mère-Bi and films Doomi Ngacc, Fresque and Kemtiyu, Cheikh Anta. Apart from filmmaking, he is also an executive producer, line producer, screenwriter, foreign producer, director of photography, sound recordist, production manager, editor, and producer.

Personal life He was born in 1952 in Paris, France. His mother, Annette Mbaye d'Erneville is Senegalese woman of letters.

Career Mbaye trained at the Conservatoire Libre du Cinéma Français (Free Conservatory of French Cinema). Then he studied at the University of Paris 8 Vincennes-Saint-Denis where he started filmmaking. After the graduation, he moved to Senegal then worked as an assistant director. From 1990 to 1997, he was the coordinator and founder of the Rencontres Cinématographiques of Dakar (RECIDAK). In 2003, he made the documentary short Xalima la plume about Senegalese musician Seydina Insa Wade. The short later won the Documentary Prize at Milan Film Festival. In 2005, he directed the documentary Fer et verre, focused on Senegalese plastic artist Anta Germane Gaye. In 2008, he made the short Mère-Bi, which is based on his mother.

In 2016, he made the biographical documentary Kemtiyu, Cheikh Anta which deals with the life of Senegalese historian, doctor, and politician Cheikh Anta Diop. The film received positive reviews from critics and screened at several international film festivals. He was awarded the EU/ACP prize at Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) 2017.

Filmography Year Film Role Genre Ref. 1977 Ceddo Assistant director Short film 1979 Doomi Ngacc (The Child of Ngatch) Director Film 1981 Duunde Yakaar Director Film 1989 Dakar Clando Director Film 1990 City Life Director Documentary film 1992 Dial Diali Director Documentary short film 1992 Fresque Director Film 2002 Moi Et Mon Blanc Assistant director Film 2003 Xalima la plume Director Short film 2005 Fer et verre Director Short film 2008 Mère-Bi Director Short film 2010 L'invité Actor TV series 2012 Président Dia Director Documentary 2016 Kemtiyu, Cheikh Anta Director, writer, producer Documentary 2019 Tabaski Executive producer, production manager Short film