The 29th edition of the prestigious Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco) commenced on Saturday, February 22nd, in Burkina Faso’s capital marking the start of a 10-day celebration of African cinema. this year’s festival carries the theme “African Cinema and Cultural Identities.”
The opening ceremony blended tradition and modernity, featuring vibrant performances by Burkinabé drummers, contemporary dance troupes, and a procession of filmmakers from across Africa. Burkina Faso’s interim President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, inaugurated the event, declaring FESPACO a “symbol of resistance and creativity” amid the nation’s struggles with regional instability.
The Republic of Chad was named the guest country of honour. Chad’s selection as the guest of honour country is noteworthy, considering that the country’s most renowned filmmaker, Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, has been sharply critical of FESPACO in the past, citing broad organisational problems.
The country, according to Chadian director and producer Issa Serge Coelo, aims to use the opportunity to establish a stronger cinematic presence. He lamented that Chad has remained on the sidelines of Africa’s film industry, stating, “We are underproducing, and the films made by young filmmakers lack quality—they are makeshift productions. What we need is real support through a funding system, a dedicated film department, and professional training programs.” The festival will introduce a cultural village called “Chad Village at FESPACO”, a dedicated space that will highlight Chad’s rich cultural diversity and its vibrant tourism heritage.
Although overshadowed by the passing of Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cissé—who was set to chair the jury for the “Feature Film” category—FESPACO 2025 is set to break records with the participation of 48 countries, compared to 35 in the previous edition. This edition will also feature 235 selected films, chosen from 1,351 submissions.
The festival will have panels and masterclasses that will include A masterclass on the business of cinema, balancing creative passion with commercial visibility. There will be the World Health Organisation (WHO) short film screenings, which will have four short films, including “The double burden of malnutrition”, “Theory versus Reality”, “Trop Plein”, and “Deep Silence.”
Other events include the Jeunesse Créative Project; the Mabele Eleki Lola project; the Yennenga Academy, which accepted applications in French or English; and the presentation of Gikas Films, a film and audio-visual production company based in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo
To kick off the event, the organisers have chosen “Black Tea”, a film directed by the renowned Abderrahmane Sissako, winner of the Yennenga Gold Stallion in 2003. Some other films in the 2025 FESPACO selection include “Tears of Hope”, A film about Gaoutam Philipe, an unfaithful husband who abandons his pregnant wife; “African Glory”, A film about the 13th-century voyage of Aboubakari II, a Malian emperor who sailed across the Atlantic.
More than just a film festival, FESPACO serves as a hub for professional exchange and training, showcasing both the resilience and cultural wealth of Burkina
Apart from Souleymane Cissé, who was selected as jury president for fiction feature films,Kenyan Judy Kibinge is jury president for documentary feature films. New features include a Public Prize and a Critics’ Week, which might be similar to what Cannes offers.
As for FESPACO itself, looking at 2025 and beyond, there are questions to be addressed, with the African filmmaking landscape increasingly in the global spotlight.
The ceremony drew A-list African cinema icons to the Ouagadougou Town Hall. Cocktail reception, artistic performances, speeches and above all the awarding of distinctions marked the event. According to promoter Georgette Paré, this fourth edition of the Celebrities Days was an opportunity for the Organizing Committee to pay tribute to women in the film industry.
Women were given special recognition at the event as the guest of honour, the special guest, and the patron were respectively Fatoumata Diawara, Hon. Aïchata Haïdara Cissé from Mali, and Alimata Salamberé, former Minister for Culture of Burkina Faso. Many guest stars including Appoline Traoré, Mouna N’Diaye, Fanta Régina Nacro, Assétou Koné and many others also attended the event.
As the curtain rose on FESPACO 2025, the message was clear: African cinema remains a dynamic force for unity, resilience, and cultural pride.