It’s not the entire film unfortunately (the filmmaker hasn’t put it online yet), but a minute-long teaser trailer for what is a 25-minute award-winning short film titled “Hasaki Ya Suda,” which was written and directed by young French/Burkinabe filmmaker Cédric Ido – a short that helped get him into the 2011 Berlinale Talent Campus, as well as a slot in the fourth class of Focus Features’ Africa First filmmaker program.

Synopsis: It’s the year 2100. Global warming has resulted in severe aridness causing famines and conflicts. Fertile lands of the past are all set to become the battlegrounds of the future, and in this innovative, energetic film we see three swordsmen battle for their very survival.

Innovative and energetic for sure! In my conversation with him, Cédric talked about being influenced by Samurai movies of yesteryear, especially those from the master himself, Akira Kurosawa (“Seven Samurai,” “Throne of Blood,” and “Yohimbo,” to name 3); Cédric is also a superhero fanboy, and shared that he plans to make films about black people that incorporate unlikely/unexpected elements, and that are within genres that historically and still currently ignore the contributions of people of African descent.

I’m excited to see more of what Cédric does in the future, including feature film work. His Focus Features Africa First project (which he received $10,000, as is customary, to help produce) is titled “Twaaga” (in English, “Invincible”); the film will blend live action and animation in what will be a story about a young boy’s quest to become a superhero.

Can’t wait to see that when it eventually.

In the meantime, below, watch the teaser for Cédric’s last work, the samurai-influenced “Hasaku Ya Suda,” which he wrote, directed, co-stars in, and also shot: