With around twenty films and projects in selection at the 29th edition of the Pan-African Cinema and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco), scheduled from February 22 to March 1, 2025, Senegal is making a significant leap. A situation which reflects “the dynamism” of the sector, according to the director of Cinematography, Germain Coly.
The selection of around twenty Senegalese films and projects at the 29th edition of the Pan-African Cinema and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco), scheduled from February 22 to March 1, 2025, reflects the “dynamism of the Senegalese cinema ecosystem », greeted the Director of Cinematography, Germain Coly. “I would like to salute all these films and projects selected in the different categories for the next Fespaco 2025, this shows that the ecosystem of Senegalese cinema is dynamic,” he told Aps during a telephone interview. He was delighted that Senegal was present in many sections in official competition such as feature film, short films, perspectives, panorama, animation, Fespaco Sukabé, Thomas Sankara Prize and in Fespaco series. Senegal is absent in the feature-length documentary selection and in the school films.
According to the Director of Cinematography, several parameters made it possible to have this “rich and qualitative” selection, a first for Senegal which only had eight films selected at the last Fespaco 2023. Germain Coly explained that this is due “ to the quality of human resources and also to the effectiveness of the State’s film policy, with the implementation, since 2013, of the Film and Audiovisual Industry Promotion Fund (Fopica), pushing cinema professionals to realize their project. He recalled that Senegal had registered, in the different categories, 51 films including a post-production Yennenga project. Upon arrival, 26 films were selected, including seven project leaders and one director who preferred to withdraw. This is Mati Diop whose film Dahomey does not appear in the lists distributed by the Organizing Committee. According to Mr. Coly, preparations for Senegalese participation are underway. “We will prepare for Senegalese participation in better conditions. The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture will certainly make the trip. We will communicate widely here and on site about the support of the State and will support the various participants,” declared the Director of Cinematography.
Aps
