Fespaco 2025

FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou) is a major film and television festival held biennially in Burkina Faso that is widely regarded as the mythical center of the PanAfrican film universe. Established in 1969, it has grown into one of Africa’s most significant cultural events, providing a platform for showcasing the best in African cinema and television. Over the decades, FESPACO has not only featured competitive screenings and awards, but also served as a hub for networking, workshops, and discussions that promote African storytelling and cultural exchange.

In February, AFMAC held its first in-person convening at FESPACO—a fitting beginning for the kickoff of this multiyear project meant to connect and strengthen the artistic community working within Africa. During the event, the Collective connected with leaders from FESPACI (The Federation of Pan African Cineastes), with whom AFMAC participants will collaborate over the course of the five workshops throughout 2025–26. Our gracious host, Aboubakar Sanago—a professor and champion of African cinema—played a key role in facilitating these meetings, allowing direct engagement with FESPACI’s leadership and AFMAC’s attendance at screenings throughout the festival.

Collective members Julie, Mehret, Jim, Zeresenay, Kodwo, and Anjali, as well as Khanyi from AFMAC’s partner Zeitz MOCAA, were all in attendance for the week of screenings, gatherings, and time well spent contemplating the meaning of making films in Africa and the legacy the Collective is building upon with the creation of new media. Attending FESPACO was also a treasured opportunity to watch some of the classic African films in the archive like Ousmane Sembene’s Camp de Thiaroye (1988) from Senegal, Sekoumar Barry’s Et Vint La Liberte (1968) from Guinea, and Flora Gomes’ Mortu Nega (1988) from Guinee Bisau. Access to archival African cinema and what is required to enhance availability of these films is part of the many challenges AFMAC will explore as we embark on this journey.