What's Hot?
From Peace To Nollywood: Towards The Next 30...
Three Decades Of Nollywood: Scholars, Literary Enthusiasts Hail...
Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses...
Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over...
Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts...
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a...
Morocco: National Finery Museum Reopens to Critical Aclaim
Five years after, Lagos Inaugurates Randle Centre for...
The future of global music is African
The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
Culture Africana

Fespaco: Pomp and colour as Africa’s biggest film festival starts

by The Culture Newspaper October 18, 2021
by The Culture Newspaper October 18, 2021

The 27th edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) is under way in Burkina Faso’s capital.

Thousands thronged the Palais des Sports complex in the Ouaga 2000 district to witness the start of Africa’s largest film festival, which runs from 16 to 23 October.

Man with white paint on his chest which reads: FESPACO

The event was initially planned for February this year, but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fespaco, which started in 1969, is an internationally recognised festival that attracts enthusiasts from across the world to celebrate films largely produced in Africa by Africans.

Men standing with colourful body and face paint. They have the colours of the Burkina Faso flag
Image caption, Festival-goers arrived painted in the colours of the Burkinabé flag

Security was tight in and around the venue, with the army positioned strategically across Ouagadougou.

Burkina Faso has been battling an insurgency by jihadist groups in the north and eastern regions since 2015.

“It’s not the first time that the Fespaco is facing [security] difficulties… So we will implement the same strategy but this time we are also taking into account the sanitary situation,” Alex Moussa Sawadogo, the new Fespaco delegate-general, told the BBC.

“In the face of the unprecedented security crisis, we remain standing,” said the Burkinabé Culture Minister Elise Foniyama Ilboudo Thiombiano.

Burkina Faso’s President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré was also present, as was the country’s foreign minister and international ambassadors.

Burkina Faso's president standing next to a big sign which says: Fespaco 16 - 23 October 2021
Image caption, Burkina Faso’s president (pictured) kick-started the event
Burkina Faso's foreign minister greeting ambassadors. They are wearing masks, and the minister has his hand on his chest.
Image caption, Foreign Minister Alpha Barry greeted ambassadors at the Palais des Sports

Which films are competing this year?

Out of the 1,132 entries submitted across six categories, 239 films from 50 countries have been shortlisted.

Some 17 feature-length films will battle it out for the grand prize, the Golden Stallion of Yennenga, named after a beast in Burkinabé mythology.

Their directors come from Egypt, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Lesotho, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Tanzania, Tunisia and Haiti.

The grand prize winner will be selected by an international jury headed by Mauritanian filmmaker Abderrahmane Sissako, who won France’s coveted César for best film in 2015 with Timbuktu.

africasandasbiggestcolourFESPACOFestivalfilmpompstarts
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
The Culture Newspaper

previous post
With Proposed Copyright Law, Stakeholders Move Against Intellectual Property Exploitation
next post
Ofime announces new movie project, ‘Conversations in Transit’

You may also like

Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a...

February 3, 2023

Back to roots: Why African Americans are flocking...

January 19, 2023

Egypt: ‘Kira Wal Gin’ Named As Highest Grossing...

January 12, 2023

Teranga Edition: Organisers Unveil Events Programme As Eight...

January 7, 2023

These Are the African Films That Missed Out...

December 31, 2022

Senegal: Omar Sy presents new film about African...

December 31, 2022

Africa’s biggest photography library opens in Ghana

December 21, 2022

Red Sea Film Festival Chiefs Talk Taking Saudi...

December 4, 2022

Asake, the breakout pop star from Nigeria who...

November 29, 2022

Chance the Rapper And Vic Mensa Announce Free...

November 23, 2022

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • From Peace To Nollywood: Towards The Next 30 Years
  • Three Decades Of Nollywood: Scholars, Literary Enthusiasts Hail Ayorinde’s Book
  • Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses In Two Categories
  • Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over Leaked Sex Tape
  • Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts show 15th anniversary

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • From Peace To Nollywood: Towards The Next 30 Years

    February 9, 2023
  • Three Decades Of Nollywood: Scholars, Literary Enthusiasts Hail Ayorinde’s Book

    February 9, 2023
  • Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses In Two Categories

    February 6, 2023

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2019 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Zero-One

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality