In the year 2093, a filmmaker named Kuve arrives in the fictional African nation of Umata, where generative AI has been used to digitally resurrect the continent’s ancient kingdoms. There, he meets Princess Mumbi, a magnetic young woman torn between royal duty and her dream of becoming an actress. As their encounter unfolds, Kuve is drawn into a layered triangle of memory, mythology, and authorship—one that quietly interrogates the role of technology in shaping historical narratives. What does it mean to revive the past with tools that never knew it?
Directed by Swiss-Kenyan filmmaker Damien Hauser, Memory of Princess Mumbi is a daringly self-reflexive debut that blends mockumentary, romantic drama, and political satire into a low-budget speculative fable. Entirely self-produced and built with digital worldbuilding tools, the film is less interested in prediction than in provocation. At its heart is a question that lingers long after the credits: Can storytelling remain sovereign in an age of artificial memory, or has the archive already been rewritten?
Presented by
Community Partner
Shandra Apondi, Ibraham Joseph, Samson Waithaka, Michael Garama, Damien Hauser, Newton Ronnoh
Kenya/Switzerland
2025
English
At International Village
At Fifth Avenue
Book Tickets
Credits & Director
Producer
Damien Hauser
Screenwriter
Damien Hauser
Cinematography
Damien Hauser
Editor
Damien Hauser
Production Design
Damien Hauser
Original Music
Damien Hauser
Damien Hauser
Filmography: Blind Love (2021); Theo: Eine Konversation Mit Der Ehrlichkeit (2022); After the Long Rains (2024)
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
The Second Ascent: An Ultra Trail Running Story + Gary Robbins Q&A
After losing its globally recognized ultra trail running race in Whistler, race director Gary Robbins and his tight-knit team scramble to build a new 100km event in Valemount, a small mountain village betting its future on outdoor recreation.
Ryan Oliver Plays John Coltrane + Chasing Trane Documentary
To celebrate the centenary of the great John Coltrane, we're hosting a live performance by saxophonist Ryan Oliver and his quartet, followed by a screening of the definitive documentary, Chasing Trane (99 min).
American Doctor
One of the most powerful documentaries of the year, this puts us smack in the open wound that is Gaza, filtered through the eyes of three American surgeons (of Palestinian, Jewish and Zoroastrian backgrounds) compelled to do their utmost to alleviate harm.