Manouchka Kelly Labouba

{{short description|Gabonese filmmaker and scholar}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = Prof. | name = Manouchka Kelly Labouba مانوشكا كيلي لابوبا | other_names = Manouch, KLM | image = | height = 5 ft. 5 in. | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1957|07|15}}{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}} | birth_name = Manouchka Kelly Labouba | birth_place = Gabon | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates =  | alma_mater = University of California, Santa Barbara Bordeaux Montaigne University University of Southern California | years_active = 2004–present | political_party = | spouse = | children = | awards = | father = | mother = | relatives = | signature = | website = | footnotes = | occupation = Director, producer, screen writer }}

'''Manouchka Kelly Labouba''' (Arabic: مانوشكا كيلي لابوبا), is a Gabonese director, screenwriter, and producer of short films <ref>{{cite web | url=https://mubi.com/cast/manouchka-kelly-labouba| title=Manouchka Kelly Labouba: Director, Screenwriter | publisher=MUBI | accessdate=8 October 2020}}</ref> including the critically acclaimed ''Marty et la tendre dame'', ''Le guichet automatique'' and ''Le divorce''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.filmaffinity.com/co/search.php?stype=director&sn&stext=Manouchka%20Kelly%20Labouba| title=Búsqueda de "Manouchka Kelly Labouba" | publisher=Film Affinity | accessdate=8 October 2020}}</ref> With the release of ''Le divorce'' in 2008 she became the youngest director in the history Gabon, and the first Gabonese woman to direct a fiction film in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USC Cinematic Arts {{!}} School of Cinematic Arts Directory Profile |url=https://cinema.usc.edu/directories/profile.cfm?id=32918 |access-date=2024-07-07 |website=cinema.usc.edu}}</ref> She is also an academic, cinematographer, editor and camera operator.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://zdcusc.org/people/phd-students-old/manouchka-kelly-labouba/| title=Manouchka Kelly Labouba: bio | publisher=zdcusc | accessdate=8 October 2020}}</ref>

==Academic career== In 2005, she studied Film & Media Studies at University of California, Santa Barbara. Then, in 2007, he obtained Master de Recherche, Arts from Bordeaux Montaigne University. Later he graduated with a M.A. Critical Studies and then Ph.D. Cinema and Media Studies from University of Southern California to obtain and also graduated with a Certificate in the Business of Entertainment.<ref name= Manouchka>{{cite web | url=https://usc.academia.edu/ManouchkaKellyLabouba/CurriculumVitae| title=Manouchka Kelly Labouba CV | publisher=Academia | accessdate=8 October 2020}}</ref>

==Cinema career== In 2004, she made the short ''Bouchées d'Amours''. It was officially selected at the 2004 Chartres National Student Film Festival. In 2008, she made her debut cinema production ''Le divorce'', which was critically acclaimed at several international film festivals. This 40 minute short was included in official selection at the 2008 Carthage Film Festival, official selection at the 2009 Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), official selection at the 2009 Écrans Noirs Festival, official selection at the 2010 Ouagadougou African Women Film Festival. It was also selected out of competition at the 2010 Abidjan International Short Film Festival (FFAA) and 2012 World Music & Independent Film Festival. She also won the award for the Best Directorial Debut at 2009 Eacrans Noirs Festival.<ref name= Manouchka />

In 2010, she directed four short films: ''Bébé Portable'', ''Combien Ca Coute?'', ''Enfant De Ta Mére'', and ''Le Menteur & Le Voleur'' where the later included in official selection at the 2010 Écrans Noirs Festival. She also worked as the first assistant director in three shorts: ''La Particuliére'', ''Les Bonnes Maniéres'', and ''La Guerre des Ordures''. In 2011 she directed the short ''Le guichet automatique'' which was included in official selection at the 2011 Écrans Noirs Festival.<ref name= Manouchka />

Apart from direction, she worked as the writer for many short films including: ''From D.W.G. to D.W.Jr: The Black ManÕs Burden'' (2006) and ''Michel Ndaot: Entre Ombres et Lumiéres'' (2008).<ref name= Manouchka />

==Filmography==

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Year !! Film !! Role !! Genre !! Ref. |- | 2006 || ''From D.W.G. to D.W.Jr: The Black ManÕs Burden'' || writer || Short film || |- | 2008 || ''Michel Ndaot: Entre Ombres et Lumiéres'' || writer || Short film || |- | 2008 || ''Le divorce'' (The divorce) || Director, writer || Short film || <ref>{{cite web | url=https://mubi.com/films/le-divorce-2008| title=Le Divorce | publisher=MUBI | accessdate=8 October 2020}}</ref> |- | 2010 || ''Le Menteur & Le Voleur'' (The Liar & The Thief) || director, writer, producer || Short film || |- | 2012 || ''Dans la fraternité'' (In Brotherhood) || assistant camera, camera operator, dolly grip || Short film || |- | 2011 || ''Mon père africain'' (My African Father) || director, writer, producer || Short film || |- | 2011 || ''Le guichet automatique'' (The ATM) || Director, writer, cinematographer, editor || Short film || |- | 2013 || ''Marty et la tendre dame'' (Marty and the Tender Lady) || Director, writer || Short film || |- | 2013 || ''Un échange'' (An Exchange) || dolly grip || Short film || |}

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|nm3279836}} * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X92wfy_KJzs Interview de Manouchka Kelly Labouba 1] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNPjAV3AFH8 Interview de Manouchka Kelly Labouba 2] * [https://www.semanticscholar.org/author/Manouchka-Kelly-Labouba/114595502 Manouchka Kelly Labouba publications]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly Labouba, Manouchka}} Category:Gabonese film directors Category:Living people Category:Documentary film directors Category:University of California, Santa Barbara alumni Category:Bordeaux Montaigne University alumni Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:21st-century Gabonese people Category:1957 births