The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) is set to return in 2025, bringing together African filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts from across the continent and beyond.
The 29th edition of the FESPACO is scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 1, 2025, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Here are 5 things to know about FESPACO.
What is FESPACO?
FESPACO stands for Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou, which translates to the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou. It takes place every two years in Burkina Faso and was founded in 1969. The festival accepts for competition projects by African filmmakers and produced mainly in Africa.
With its stated aim being to “contribute to the expansion and development of African cinema as means of expression, education and awareness-raising“, the festival has worked to establish a thriving market for African films and industry professionals.
Since its inception, FESPACO has attracted a diverse range of attendees from across Africa and beyond, cementing its reputation as a premier event in the African film calendar.
History of the Festival
FESPACO has a rich history that spans over five decades. Founded in 1969, the festival was initially known as the Pan-African film and television festival of Ouagadougou. Over the years, it has evolved into an internationally recognized and respected event, regarded as the main event of African Cinema.
Alimata Salambere, the cultural minister of Burkina Faso from 1987 to 1991, was one of the founders of the festival. In 1972, the festival was officially renamed FESPACO, with its full title remaining as Festival pan-Africain du cinema et de la television de Ouagadougou. The festival was formally recognized as an institution by governmental decree on January 7, 1972.
Today, FESPACO is held annually in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, with its award ceremony and base of operations located in the city. The festival has gained significant international recognition, attracting donors from around the world, including Burkina Faso, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Republic of China, and organizations such as AIF (ACCT), PNUD, UNESCO, UNICEF, European Union, and Africalia.
As a result of its international recognition, FESPACO has provided a platform for African filmmakers to showcase their talents, sell their products in the international market, and promote the development of African products and technicians in the industry.
FESPACO Jury Members
The 29th Edition of the Festival is taking place from 22 February to 01 March 2025 and the jury for the film festival is usually comprised of esteemed industry professionals. Dora Bouchoucha, Pédro Soule, Françoise Elong Gomez, Gnama Baddy Degga, Kunle Afolayan, Steven Markovitz, Tiny Mungwe, and Ardiouma Soma have all appeared on a FESPACO jury.
Activities of the FESPACO
The main objectives of FESPACO is to promote African cinema, foster collaboration among African filmmakers, and showcase African films to a global audience. Since its inception, FESPACO has attracted a diverse range of attendees from across Africa and beyond, providing a unique opportunity for African filmmakers to showcase their talents, network with industry professionals, and access the international market.
The upcoming edition of FESPACO promises to be an exciting and engaging event, featuring a diverse range of films and activities that celebrate African cinema and culture. The festival will include competitions, screenings, workshops, and other events that showcase the best of African filmmaking.
According to Alex Moussa Sawadogo, General Delegate of FESPACO, this year, FESPACO received a record-breaking 1,351 film submissions from across Africa, including 81 films from Burkina Faso. The films in competition span several categories, including feature fiction, feature documentary, film school productions, animation, FESPACO Series, and FESPACO Short.
In addition to the film screenings and competitions, FESPACO will also feature a range of activities, including masterclasses, panel discussions, and workshops. These events will provide opportunities for networking, learning, and cultural exchange, and will bring together industry professionals, filmmakers, and film enthusiasts from across Africa and beyond.
FESPACO’s Award Celebration
FESPACO is renowned for its awards, which celebrate excellence in African cinema. The most coveted award is the “Étalon d’or de Yennenga” (Golden Stallion of Yennenga), named to honour Princess Yennenga, the legendary founder of the Mossi empire.
In 1972, the award was established to honour the feature film that best embodies African identity, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and diverse perspectives of the continent.
In addition to the Golden Stallion, FESPACO also presents several other special awards. The Oumarou Ganda Prize is awarded to the best first film, while the Paul Robeson Prize honours the best film by a director of the African diaspora. The latter award is named after the American actor, singer, and civil rights activist.
FESPACO has also been instrumental in promoting the African film industry. The African film industry, whose films are showcased at the FESPACO, has been referred to as “Ouagawood”. This term was first coined by a BBC journalist and the Belgian daily newspaper La Libre Belgique during FESPACO 2011. The name “Ouagawood” is a portmanteau of “Ouaga”, a diminutive form of Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, and “Hollywood”, a symbol of the global film industry.
Past winners of FESPACO awards include notable African filmmakers such as Souleymane Cissé, Mo Harawe, C. J. Obasi, Youssef Chebbi, Apolline Traoré, Angela Wamai, David Constantin, Erige Sehiri, Maryam Touzani, Ery Claver, Cyrielle Raingou, Carlos Yuri Ceunick, Amartei Armar, Amina Mamani, Beza Hailu Lemma, and others.
