The national organizing committee of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) hosted a press conference on February 22, 2023 at the central town hall of Ouagadougou. Objective: to take stock of the preparations 72 hours from the start of the festival.
Placed under the presidency of the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim TRAORE, this 28th edition is being held from February 25 to March 04, 2023 around the theme: ”African cinema and culture of peace”. Mali is the guest country of honour.
The president of the national organizing committee Fidel TAMINI in his introductory statement paid tribute to the FDS before underlining the current difficult context in which this edition is held. For him, the holding of such an event in such circumstances is the translation of the resilience shown by the country of honest men since the beginning of the crisis.
As far as the practical organization is concerned, the national organizing committee certifies that it is hard at work to ensure that this FESPACO is a resounding success. “The work to embellish the Ouaga 2000 Sports Palace, which is to house the opening ceremony, is in progress. (…) The stands for the exhibition space at Place de la Nation have been ready since yesterday and we are installing electricity. The stands at the official camp supposed to house the maquis-restaurant are in the process of being finalized. The FESPACO headquarters, which welcomes film professionals, is 90% ready. The various delegations have confirmed their attendance and the air tickets and hotel room reservations are effective. The musical artists who are to animate the sets have already been selected and the badges have been made available,” testifies Fidel TAMINI.
In figures, it’s 160 films already received out of the 170 to be screened, 12 screening spaces, more than 10,000 festival-goers expected, 10 financial partners with a stock market of 30,000 to 40,000 euros ready to meet project leaders, festival programmers high level expected, 100 million CFA francs invested by the partner Canal +, a record rate of accreditation attribution; proof of the trust that festival-goers place in the authorities to ensure the security of the festival.
The national organizing committee has told the media that all security arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth running of the festival. He urges festival-goers to comply with strict compliance with the safety instructions issued.
“we have no doubt that the debates that the screenings will give rise to will help us find solutions to the crisis we are going through” faith of Mr. TAMINI who invites the public to attend the cinemas and conference rooms in order to add earth to earth.
It should be noted that through the concept “FESPACO outside the walls” whose activities were launched on Saturday February 18 in Kaya, an opportunity is given to the inhabitants of cities with strong security challenges such as Kaya, Ouahigouya, Dédougou, and certain peripheral districts of the city of Ouagadougou to experience FESPACO at the same time through painting workshops, virtual reality, masterclasses, debates/panels and film screenings.
Idrissa ZIDA (Stagiaire)
