Bagassi Koura

Catalog

Films Available for Licensing

Hearst Prize UNAFF Best Short Film Available Now

The Stinking Ship

Le Bateau qui pue — Version française disponible

In August 2006, a tanker crept into the port of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire under cover of night and quietly unloaded over 500 tons of toxic waste. Within days, 15 people were dead, 23 hospitalized, and 40,000 had sought medical treatment.

Drawing on archival footage, confidential documents, and firsthand testimony, the film is a gripping investigation into corporate impunity — and the price paid by those who can least afford it. The story of Trafigura, one of the world's largest oil trading companies, and nearly 200,000 victims still seeking justice.

Runtime: 26 minutes
Year: 2010
Languages: English · French
Genre: Investigative Documentary
Production: UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Rights Status: All Rights Available

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Filmmaker

Bagassi Koura is an award-winning journalist and Supervisory International Broadcaster at the Voice of America. With a career spanning three continents, he has reported for some of the world's most respected news organizations — bringing African stories to global audiences with rigour and depth.

A graduate of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and a former Heinz-Kühn-Stiftung Fellow, Koura brings academic excellence and on-the-ground reporting experience to every project.

His debut documentary, The Stinking Ship, won the Margaret and William Hearst Documentary Prize and Best Short Film at the United Nations Association Film Festival — establishing him as a distinctive voice in investigative documentary filmmaking.

His films are available in English and French, giving distributors rare dual-market access to both Anglophone and Francophone African audiences globally.

Rights & Distribution

Available for Worldwide Licensing

The Stinking Ship is available for licensing across multiple rights categories and territories. The film's bilingual versions offer rare simultaneous access to Anglophone and Francophone markets across Africa, Europe, and North America.

Streaming Rights

SVOD · AVOD · TVOD. Available for Netflix, MUBI, Al Jazeera+, Arte.tv, Criterion, Kanopy, and all major streaming platforms.

Broadcast Rights

Linear television rights available for Al Jazeera English, Arte, BBC World, TV5 Monde, RFI, Canal+ Africa, and all international broadcasters.

Educational Rights

Institutional licensing for universities, NGOs, schools, and international organizations. Special rates available for non-commercial educational use.

Theatrical Rights

Festival distribution and theatrical screening rights. Films have been screened internationally and are available for festival circuit licensing.

Co-Production

Open to co-production partnerships and series development deals. New investigative documentary projects in development — contact for slate details.

Languages Available

English
French
Subtitles available on request

Target Platforms

Netflix Africa & International
Al Jazeera Investigations / Al Jazeera+
Arte (France/Germany)
MUBI
BBC Africa / BBC World
TV5 Monde · Canal+ Africa · RFI
POV / PBS · Frontline

Acquisitions

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