The Serpent in Bonanjo

Max Mbakop, born in Ndoungué, Cameroon, is the son of a teacher. He traveled to many cities due to his father’s various jobs. This itinerancy was the catalyst for his exposure to diverse cultures, awakening in him a desire to perceive the world and humanity from a different perspective. Today, Max is a Cameroonian filmmaker and visual artist based in Douala. He is the founder of the theater company Cie Horiz’art and Kam’Art Corp, an audiovisual company. Max first trained in theater and scenography with Kouam Tawa, Martin Ambarra, and Were Were Liking. Later, he met the late Goddy Leye, who helped him participate in a video art workshop at Art Bakery. This led him to the world of cinema, where he also trained with director Vincent Ndoumbe. He has exhibited at festivals and galleries.

Lilia Kilburn is born in Boston, she is an artist and doctoral candidate in anthropology and critical media practices at Harvard, where she is also a fellow at the Film Study Center. Working since 2012 between Cameroon and the United States, she collaborates on works that explore the complex links between the two regions. She regularly teaches filmmaking courses and this year contributed to the public programming of the Harvard Film Archive and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston.