The 2025 edition of FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinéma et de la Télévision de Ouagadougou), February 22 to March 1, could be its most pivotal yet; certainly of the 21st century.
Festival organizers have announced that Souleymane Cissé (Mali) will serve as jury president, with Judy Kibinge (Kenya) heading the documentary jury.
New initiatives include a public prize, a critics’ week, and an exhibition of inspiring cinema personalities.
Chad will be the country of honor, and the festival’s market, MICA (Marché International du Cinéma et de la Télévision Africains), will run concurrently with screenings.
For insight into FESPACO’s evolution and challenges in a changing African and international cinema landscape, I spoke with Dr. Boukary Sawadogo, Associate Professor of Cinema Studies and Black Studies at The City College of New York (CCNY) and the CUNY Graduate Center.
Dr. Sawadogo is an African film scholar and author of books on the subject. He has also written extensively on FESPACO, past, present, and future.
We discussed FESPACO’s political and security contexts, reforms, international engagement, the festival’s local and continental significance, and its future direction as a premier platform for African cinema.
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