Abou Sangaré is the story of a transformative destiny, that of a young mechanic who became a rising star of French cinema. Born in 2001 in Sinko, Guinea, he grew up in a modest environment where dreams often seem out of reach. During his adolescence, his mother’s illness led him to make a radical decision: to leave his country in search of a better future. From Guinea to Algeria, then to Europe, he arrived in France in 2017, alone and undocumented, at just 16 years old.
In Amiens, he found refuge in associations that allowed him to continue his studies. He obtained a professional baccalaureate in road transport vehicle maintenance, followed by a BTS, while fighting for his regularization. But doors remained closed: three rejections, an obligation to leave the territory. It was only in January 2025, after a fourth request, that he finally obtained a residence permit.
The turning point of his life came in 2023, when, almost by accident, he tried out for a casting. Director Boris Lojkine saw in him the perfect embodiment of his character in L’Histoire de Souleymane. The role, deeply inspired by his own life, became a revelation. Premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the « Un Certain Regard » section, the film moved critics and earned him several distinctions.
Thank you for your integration within humanity
But it was in 2025, when he stepped onto the stage at the César Awards to receive the Best Male Revelation award, that Abou Sangaré truly touched the hearts of the public. His speech, full of emotion, resonated like a cry from the heart. « Since I crossed the Mediterranean Sea, up until April 2023, I have known everything: misery, all that is misery, all that is human, both the good and the bad. (…) Thanks to L’Histoire de Souleymane, thanks to my team, thanks to our distributors, I have found my place in this world. Thank you for your integration within humanity. »
Today, Abou Sangaré is a celebrated actor, a symbol of resilience and perseverance. Yet, despite the spotlight, he keeps his feet on the ground. Mechanics remain his first love, and he envisions a future where cinema and craftsmanship coexist. Whether holding a wrench or a script in his hands, the story always seems to have a touch of authenticity.
