{{short description|Congolese film director and writer (born 1984)}} {{Infobox person | name = Laura Kutika | image = | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = Laura Guliamo Luyeye Kutika | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1984|8|24}} | birth_place = Kinshasa | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | alma_mater = University of Kinshasa | known_for = | years_active = 2001-present | occupation = Film director, writer | notable_works = Abeti Masikini: Le Combat d'Une Femme }}
'''Laura Guliamo Luyeye Kutika''' (born 24 August 1984) is a Congolese film director and writer.
==Biography== Kutika was born in Kinshasa, Zaire.<ref name="culturecongo"/> From 2001 to 2003 she was a co-writer for the television series ''Kinshasa Hôtel''.<ref name="mediapart">{{cite web |title=[Afrique/Congo-Brazzaville/RDCongo] Film documentaire : Laura Kutika immortalise la diva Abeti Masikini |url=https://blogs.mediapart.fr/jecmaus/blog/200214/afriquecongo-brazzavillerdcongo-film-documentaire-laura-kutika-immortalise-la-diva-abeti-masikini |website=Media Part |accessdate=19 November 2020 |language=French |date=20 February 2014}}</ref> She obtained a literary baccalaureate and studied law at the University of Kinshasa. Before she completed her studies, Kutika decided to pursue her passion for writing and take a training course in television and radio scriptwriting. In 2002, she was a co-writer for a radio soap opera, ''Center Lokole de Kinshasa''.<ref name="culturecongo">{{cite web |title=Laura Kutika |url=https://culturecongo.com/laura-kutika/ |website=Culture Congo |accessdate=19 November 2020 |language=French |date=3 February 2016}}</ref> Kutika moved to France in 2003 to work on directing.<ref name="mediapart"/>
In 2009, Kutika was the assistant director of the short film ''Entre chat et chien'' by Barbara Barbet. Kutika directed the short film ''Vas-y fonce'' in May 2011. In 2012, she wrote her first novel, ''Seule, face au destin''. Kutika directed ''Moumoune et moi'' in 2013.<ref name="culturecongo"/> Her second book, ''À nos actes manqués'', was published in 2014. In 2015, she co-directed the feature-length documentary ''Abeti Masikini: Le Combat d'Une Femme'' along with Ne Kunda Nlaba. The film is a tribute to the musician Abeti Masikini and examines her life and impact.<ref name="mediapart"/> The idea for the film came after Kutika read a biography of Masikani by Berthrand Nguyen Matoko, who advised her on the making of the film.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cana |first1=Franck |title=Film documentaire : Laura Kutika immortalise la diva Abeti Masikini |url=http://pagesafrik.info/film-documentaire-laura-kutika-immortalise-diva-abeti-masikini/ |accessdate=19 November 2020 |work=Pages Afrik |date=20 February 2014 |language=French |archive-date=7 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207034513/https://pagesafrik.info/film-documentaire-laura-kutika-immortalise-diva-abeti-masikini/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> It received the prize for best documentary at the Cinema Au Feminin festival in Kinshasa.<ref>{{cite web |title=LE FILM ABETI MASIKINI: LE COMBAT D'UNE FEMME A REMPORTE LE PRIX DU MEILLEUR DOCUMENTAIRE AU CINEF 2018 |url=https://bizizimag.skyrock.com/tags/crVD6xZd4j4-Laura-Kutika.html |website=Skyrock |accessdate=19 November 2020 |language=French |date=17 July 2018 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128013231/https://bizizimag.skyrock.com/tags/crVD6xZd4j4-Laura-Kutika.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Kutika is the mother of three children. She practices taekwondo.<ref name="mediapart"/> Kutika is the president of the humanitarian association "Le nouveau rire".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taino |first1=Ferdinand |title=Film documentaire : Laura Kutika immortalise la diva Abeti Masikini |url=https://www.alwihdainfo.com/Film-documentaire-Laura-Kutika-immortalise-la-diva-Abeti-Masikini_a9967.html |website=Alwihda Info |accessdate=19 November 2020 |language=French |date=19 February 2014}}</ref>
==Filmography== *2001-2003: ''Kinshasa Hôtel'' (writer) *2009: ''Entre chat et chien'' (assistant director) *2011: ''Vas-y fonce'' (director) *2012: ''Ndouleman'' (assistant director) *2013: ''Moumoune et moi'' (director) *2015: ''Abeti Masikini: Le Combat d'Une Femme'' (writer/producer/director)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://africultures.com/personnes/?no=42001 Africultures profile] *{{IMDb name|13253922}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kutika, Laura}} Category:1984 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo film directors Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo women writers Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo screenwriters Category:People from Kinshasa Category:21st-century Democratic Republic of the Congo people Category:Female taekwondo practitioners Category:University of Kinshasa alumni Category:Democratic Republic of the Congo emigrants to France