Month: October 2021

Burkinabè feature film in competition “Les Trois Lascars” by Boubakar Diallo was presented last Monday at Ciné Burkina. This film tackles one of the topical themes of household lives in Africa, adultery and the lives of “Tchiza” mistresses.

The film tells the story of three friends who organized an indecent trip out of Ouagadougou without their wives knowing, pretending that they taking a flight to Abidjan for a mission. Yet, they were going out with their “Tchiza” at a stone throw from Ouagadougou. But the plane they were supposed to board in crashed in Abidjan. Total confusion ! How to go back home ? This film with actors and actresses from Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso including Issaka OUEDRAOGO, Kady TOURE, Mahoula KANE, Eve Sandrine GUEHI, OYOU, MATIKARA, shows to what extent unity and experience sharing can generate more than convincing results.

LECHAT !

The ACP-EU Culture program is an initiative of the ACP States Group Secretariat funded by the European Union. This program aims at stimulating the cultural sector in order to contribute to the social and economic development of ACP countries. With a budget of euro 40 million for the period from 2018 to 2021, it mainly funds companies promoting cultural and technological innovation with focus on the youth.

The ACP-UE Culture program organizes many activities at FESPACO PRO mainly round tables, panels on many aspects relating to funding mechanisms for cinema in Africa or building capacities on entrepreneurship for women directors in ACP countries. For this first conference, the European Union focused on the general funding of culture. Antonio CAMCHO (Team Leader for UE Burkina Good Governance), de Gian Giuseppe Simeone (Team Leader of the ACP-UE Culture Technical Assistance Unit), Palméro Pilar (Head of UE Burkina Cooperation), and Ousmane Boundaoné (FILM Director LAB) presented the modalities funding and supporting projects. Film and cultural professional paid great attention to this conference.

LECHAT !

More than CFA 96,000,000 including CFA 43,000,000 in contribution, for winners

The official Special Prizes list was presented to media people and movie industry professionals at a meeting on Monday 18 October 2021. Special Prizes Commission President Michel SABA said that these prizes aim to encourage filmmakers and support the promotion of African and Diaspora cinema. Special prizes are awarded according to FESPACO rules of procedures. There are 12 donors this year and prizes are organized into the following four categories: The first category includes Parliaments, sub-regional and international bodies, United Nations specialized agencies, NGOs and local governments. Registration fee for this category is CFA 5,000,000 per donor. The second category welcomes States or diplomatic representations accredited in Burkina Faso, with CFA 4,000,000 for registration fee. The third category is reserved for private structures, State-owned companies and so on, registering for CFA 3,000,000. The fourth category is for associations, mutual organizations, professional or faith-based organizations, paying CFA 2,000,000 as registration fee. Each special prize jury is comprised of five members, and each donor has a jury except UEMOA with three. The special prize awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on 22 October 2021 at 4 pm at Hotel Silmandé.

Parfait Fabrice SAWADOGO

The biennale of African cinema is also dedicated to kids. Besides the usual activities, kids are also involved for them to be part of the celebrations and to awaken their interest for cinema.

At the International Centre called “La Termitière” youth aged 5-30 are familiarize themselves with virtual reality techniques, filmmaking and the basics of artistic make-up. In this context, Adama OUEDRAOGO, filmmaker and creator of “Clap en Herbe” trains students in schools to ensure the future of Burkinabè Cinema. The future generation should be initiated to virtual reality, the use of digital tool for 3D filmmaking like in developed countries. Charles YARO, one of the predecessors of this innovative technique, was with the kids. At CDC La Termitière, UNICEF provides support to FESPACO with film screenings on COVID 19 preventive measures. Participants positively welcome this event of the biennale of African cinema.

Delphine BANISSI

The success of Senegalese movies lies in the human resource potential and government support through the Movie Industry Promotion Fund (FOPACI). This is what transpired from the press conference hosted by the country guest of honor of the 27th FESPACO edition. The Chief of Staff of the Minister for Culture and Communication of Senegal, Demba Faye added that “the success of Senegalese movies is linked to its resources and that Sembene Ousmane is one of the great figures who have worked for the development of African cinema. Filmmaking in Senegal began in 1955 with the short film called “Afrique sur Seine” by Paulin Soumanou Vieyra. Later on in 1966, Sembene Ousmane followed his master directing the fictional feature film called “La Noire de…”, wining “Jena Vigo Prize”. With time, other movie directors emerged like Djibril Diop, Mambety, Safi Faye, Moussa Sene Absa, Moussa Toure, Dyana Gaye, Mansour Sora Wade, Cheick Tidiane Aw, Mahama Traore, Mati Diop and others.

Boureima PASSERE

Between screening sessions, panels and musical entertainments, shopping arcades also attract a lot of people, but not that many.

Like in previous editions, FESPACO 2021 is also attended by exhibitors and restaurant owners. On the different shelves, one can find some traditional loincloth, jewellery, decorative objects, shoes and many other items. However, exhibitors are complaining about the lack of enthusiasm from people and buyers. Franck BOUDA and his friend, from Senegal, find it difficult selling out their leather products. “We are not selling, since this morning we did not sell anything, but we’re hopeful things will get better”. This hope is also shared by Noufou Traore who came from Banfora with local fabrics and other products. “Customers come in, have a look, ask for prices but don’t buy anything”, he said. On the other hand, restaurant and pub owners are good for business, especially in the evening. Between grills, fried food and drinks, everything runs smoothly and they are busy satisfying their customers. Some exhibitors at the Headquarters deplore the fact that a badge is required for accessing the site. Overall, since the opening of this year’s edition of the African Cinema Biennale, the relocated shopping arcade is not very well-attended as usual.

Delphine BANISSI

A tribute night to honour deceased filmmakers.

After the official opening of the 27th edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, and the screening of the inaugural film, filmmakers met at Ciné Burkina to pay tribute to late filmmakers since the last edition of FESPACO in 2019. “This is a tribute night organized at each FESPACO edition to remember a beautiful trajectory of African cinema, magnify those who have departed, and who committed themselves to the development of African cinema. They are some of the pioneers of the FESPACO, the film library, institutions, the visions of African cinema”, Aboubacar SANOGO, cinema lecturer a teacher of cinema and presenter of the ceremony, said.The highlights of this event were the various testimonies of collaborators of the deceased filmmakers, and a screening of documentary film “Caméra d’Afrique” by Tunisian Férid BOUGHEDIR. Made in 1983, the film gives voice to the pioneers who have worked for an African auteur cinema to emerge.

Boureima PASSERE

Born in 1958, Burkinabe Boubakar GALBANI is one of the designers of the monument standing proudly at the mythical Filmmakers’ Square which has become a true emblem of FESPACO, not to say Burkina Faso. Boubakar told us about the creation of the monument.

“The monument represents a camera with its lens pointing the sky. This is how we wanted. The monument as we see it today was built in February 1987. This model was chosen from among several proposals by the architects and sculptors of the time. They came to me so that I could design it. We were two weeks ahead of the festival. The monument was designed and developed in a metallurgical plant called ACMD at Kossodo in Ouagadougou, and then transported to the roundabout near the City Hall. Transport from Kossodo to City Hall was a real headache because at that time there was only one crane in the entire country. We called on the Gendarmerie to clear out the way for the passage of the monument. The unveiling of the monument was scheduled for the day of the festival and authorities had planned a helicopter to remove the large tarpaulin covering the structure. Unfortunately, the helicopter did not show up on that day and we had to pull this gigantic tarpaulin barehanded. The structure is 12m25 high, weights 10 tons and entirely made of metal sheet 4 with large pipes inside. The base is made of reinforced concrete. The plate with names of all the technicians who worked of the structure was set by myself bare-handed”. Boubacar GALBANI who retired to his village Garango came to introduce himself on the occasion of the 27th edition of FESPACO for us to remember the artisans of this monument. He would like to see them involved in the libation ceremony for the upcoming editions.

LECHAT !

“Cinema and technological evolution>>. This is the theme of the exhibition of cinematographic materials which started on Sunday, 2nd day of FESPACO 2021.

Highlighting the evolution of technical equipment, this is what motivated organizers the event taking place in FESPACO premises. According to the President of the Exhibition Commission of this FESPACO edition and also National Museum Director for Exhibition and Mediation, this activity consisted in exposing old filmmaking equipment, including cameras, editing and projection equipment. Since the first inventions, the technology of cinematographic equipment and content has significantly changed. And this development has led to the establishment of international standards for film production and distribution, following a process ranging from script writing, pre-production, production and post-production, all requiring specific technical equipment. This equipment is from the archives of the African Film Library of Ouagadougou.

Parfait Fabrice SAWADOGO

On Sunday 17 October 2021, the Town Hall of Ouagadougou hosted a diner cocktail given in honour of the stars of cinema. The red capet was rolled out to celebrate the men and the women who are the pride of African cinema.

It was a real parade of stars : Tailor- made suits and dresses and other « bling bling » was at the rendez-vous to make this night glamour. Armand Roland Pierre Beouinde, Mayor of the capital city, welcomed his distinguished guests. Many stars from various areas of activities walked on the red carpet. Humorists Souké and Siriki, Moussa Petit Sergent, famous designers such as Korotimi Dao, and Sebastian Bazemo, choregraphers including Irene Tassembedo, Germene Akonine and Blandine Yameogo. Musicians Didier Awadi, Tim Winsé and Smarty. Women and men from the world of culture and sports, Ildevert Medah, Alain Héma, Aristide Tarnagda, Hypolite Wangrawa, Odile Sankara, AÏ Keita, Guy Kalou, Gustave Sorgho, Moumouni Dagano, Paul Domon, Hugue Fabrice, Salfo Soré Asalfo, Etienne Minoungou, Kevin Moné, Serge Henry, Iron Biby, and Paté’O, to name a few, were all received trophees. During that night, Senegal, Country Guest of Honour of the 2021 edition, received many times. This night which highlights African talents was punctuated by musical performances.

Sada GO