Skip to content

Fespaco: Africa's largest film festival turns 50

AFP Performers arrive to the entrance of the venue where the opening ceremony of the FESPACO Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou is about to start, on February 23, 2019.AFP
Fespaco was founded in 1969

Some 100,000 people are expected to attend 450 screenings over the next week at the Fespaco film festival in Burkina Faso.

Security is tight following a wave of attacks by Islamist militants in the country.

Since Fespaco began 50 years ago, no woman has ever won the top prize, the Golden Stallion of Yennenga.

One of the favourites this year is Rafiki by Kenya's Wanuri Kahiu, about a lesbian affair.

It was temporarily banned in her home country but was shown at the Cannes film festival in France.

Another leading contender for the prize to be announced on Saturday is Desrances, a film by Burkina Faso director Apolline Traore about the post-election violence in Ivory Coast in 2010-11.

BBC Statue of the Golden Stallion of YennengaBBC
No woman has ever won the Golden Stallion of Yennenga (centre)
AFP People drive past a bronze statue of Sembene Ousmane in street of Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou on February 22, 2019, on the eve of the opening of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO)AFP
This statue is of famous Senegalese director Sembene Ousmane, a former winner of the Golden Stallion of Yennenga...
AFP A horseman prepares to parade for the opening ceremony of the FESPACO The Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, on February 23, 2019AFP
The prize is named after a mythical 12th-Century warrior princess who founded the Mossi empire. This rider was preparing to take part in the opening ceremony
AFP People hold portraits of African film Directors on the place des Cineastes in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, during the FESPACO, the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, on Febuary 24, 2019.AFP
This tribute to African film directors was held in Ouagadougou's Place des Cineastes (Film Directors' Square)

The BBC's Victoria Uwonkunda in the capital Ouagadougou says that, for film-lovers, the challenge may be to make it to all viewings as there are at least 60 films showing, from 08:00 until late in the evening.

Some venues are showing more than one festival film at the same time.

There are screenings at nine venues across Ouagadougou and also in the country's other major cities, Bobo Dioulasso and Ouahigouya.

"Film makers of Africa, we love you," said Yacouba Traore, the festival's chief organiser, at the opening ceremony in the capital's municipal stadium on Saturday night.

AFP Burkina Faso's President Roch Marc Christian Kabore arrives for the opening ceremony of the FESPACO Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso, on February 23, 2019AFP
Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Christian Kabore led the opening ceremony...
AFP Ivory Coast's music band Magic System performs on stage during the opening ceremony of the FESPACO Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso, on February 23, 2019AFP
While top Ivory Coast band Magic System entertained the crowds...
AFP Rwanda"s artists perform on stage during the opening ceremony of the FESPACO Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, in Burkina Faso, on February 23, 2019.AFP
As did these dancers from Rwanda

Fespaco, the acronym in French of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, is held every two years.

More than 2,000 security personnel have been deployed to guarantee the safety of guests and cinema goers, reports the AFP news agency.

About 80 people have been killed in the past three months in attacks by Islamist militants, which have also forced schools to close in several regions.

All pictures subject to copyright