Projects in development
Chapa 100
Synopsis
In the bustling streets of Maputo, 80-year-old flower vendor Sitóe moves through traffic, offering brief moments of beauty. One morning, he meets Valentina, a vegetable seller in her 70s and, with a single flower, their quiet love story begins. Together, they dream of a small piece of land where flowers and vegetables can grow side by side. Fate intervenes on the day they go to the bank to request a loan. A thief steals Valentina’s rented wig, and Sitóe runs after him, only to be struck by a chapa that doesn’t stop. His spirit merges with the bus, becoming part of the city’s pulse. Now, as the chapa, Sitóe carries passengers through Maputo’s noise and tenderness, holding their hopes and sorrows. Where metal once groaned, flowers bloom. Where exhaustion lingers, dignity remains. Sitóe’s love lives on, not in words but in motion.
Better Audiovisual (Mozambique)
Sousa Domingos
Tubafilms (South Africa)
Khalid Shamis
Luminalia (Italy)
Tommaso Priante
Director’s statement
I grew up in Maputo, surrounded by chapas, the rhythm of the city, and the resilience of its people. This story comes from observing those who are often overlooked—the elderly vendors who wake up before sunrise to earn a living, the passengers who squeeze into overcrowded buses with quiet endurance, the fleeting exchanges of humanity that happen at a red light. Sitóe is a man who lives with an open heart. He doesn’t sell flowers just to survive; he believes in their power to mark the most important moments in life. He reminds us that even in struggle, we must still make space for beauty. I want this film to be a love letter to those who keep our cities alive. To the people who carry the weight of daily existence, yet still find time to dream.
Biographies
Ique Langa is a Mozambican filmmaker, writer, and illustrator born and raised in Maputo. His storytelling journey began at the Open Window Institute in South Africa, where he initially studied animation. He later graduated from the London Film School, where he refined his craft and deepened his commitment to telling African stories with poetic depth and universal resonance. Langa’s work explores themes of spirituality, memory, and transformation through intimate visual language and strong emotional honesty. The Prophet (2024) is his debut feature-length film; an independently produced project shot in Mozambique over several years with a passionate local team.
Sousa Domingos is a Mozambican filmmaker, photographer, and producer based in Maputo. He is the founder of Better Filmes, a production company focused on authentic storytelling rooted in Mozambican life. Over the past decade, he has produced documentaries, commercials, and campaigns for organizations such as the WWF, WaterAid, and Unicef. As producer of The Prophet (2024), Sousa brings his experience, perseverance, and creative vision to help the independent production of the film. His work has been recognized by the Centro Cultural Alemão and the Kugoma Awards.
