details
- Dates: February 26 - March 5, 2011
- Website: www.fespaco-bf.net/
Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO)
The largest film festival in Africa, FESPACO takes place every two years in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. Since its inception in 1969, the festival's goal has been to "contribute to the expansion and development of African cinema as means of expression, education and awareness-raising." It is the largest cultural event on the African continent and focuses primarily, though not exclusively on African film and filmmakers.Because of its elaborate opening and closing ceremonies and prominence for the African film industry, FESPACO has been dubbed "Africa's Oscars." Though historically the festival has been plagued by organizational problems (missing prints, filmmakers stranded at airports), it is undeniably at the heart of the African film industry. FESPACO's main functions include serving as a market for African international film and television market; promoting African cinema and culture through the festival and its publications; screening African films in rural areas in partnership with NGOs, schools, and other institutions; and promoting African cinema in international festivals and film series.
