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Twenty-Nine Films To Compete For FESPACO Yennega’s Golden Stallion
When the 28th edition of the Pan-African Film and TV Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) opens in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on February 25, twenty-nine films will be competing for the festival top prize — Yennega’s Golden Stallion. The African cinema biennial is scheduled to hold from February 25 to March 4, 2023. A total of 170 films were selected by a Pan-African selection committee out of the 1,142 submitted films, according to the general delegate of FESPACO Moussa Alex Sawadogo. The general delegate who spoke at the unveiling ceremony of the festival selection during the week also hinted that the opening film of FESPACO 2023 is ‘Bravo, Burkina’ by Burkinabe-Nigerian filmmaker Oyejide Wale. Similarly, the organising committee revealed that of the 29 films, 14 are feature-length documentaries while 15 are feature-length fiction films. The selected films competing for the golden stallion include: ‘The Planters’ Plantation”, directed by Dingha Eystein Young (Cameroon), ‘Our Father, the Devil,” Ellie Foumb (Cameroon), ‘Sira,” by Appoline Traore (Burkina Faso) and ‘Mami Wata,’ by C.J.”Fiery” Obasi (Nigeria). The committee also announced that this edition of Fespaco will be held under the theme: “African Cinema and Culture of Peace.’’ Also, the festival will see the participation of 35 countries while Côte d’Ivoire will be the country of honor. Information on the festival and selected films can be sourced at https://fespaco.org

Pan African Film Festival In Los Angeles Mourn AMAA founder Peace Anyiam-Osigwe
THE Organisers of the annual Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles (PAFF) has mourned the founder of the Africa Film Academy (AFA) and the Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) Peace Anyiam-Osigwe who passed on January 10 in Lagos. Co-founder and Festival Director of PAFF Ayoku Babu and the festival General Manager and Director of Programming Asentewa Olatunji who are both members of the AMAA Board of Jurors said they are saddened by the news of the untimely death of the AMAA founder whom they described as one of the strong pillars of the Nigerian motion picture industry. In a tribute shared on the festival website, the PAFF executives wrote: “Rest in power to Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, a Nigerian filmmaker and entertainment executive who was called the Queen of Nollywood films…We here at the Pan-African Film Festival send our deepest condolences to Peace’s family, friends and colleagues, and the world right now for this devastating loss.

Thank you for your contribution to Africa and the Diaspora. You will be truly missed.’’ The PAFF is returning with in-person films and events from February 9 through to February 20 in Los Angeles at the Cinemark Baldwin Hills and XD and Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. ‘Chevalier,’ the historical drama about the legacy and life of celebrated French Black Violinist-Composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges has been announced as the opening film of the festival that is reputed as America’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, PAFF screens more than 150 films made by and/or about people of African descent from around the world. PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in America. Also, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has designated PAFF as an official qualifying film festival for live action and animation short films. Information on PAFF can be sourced at www. PAFF.org or email info@paff.org

Coal City International Film Festival To Hold In March
THE third edition of the Enugu State domiciled Coal City International Film Festival will hold as from March 23 through to March 25 in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, Nigeria. This third edition is to be held under the theme ‘Film Meets Tech.’ Founder of the festival Uche Agbo explained that the African tech industry is fast evolving into a multi-billion dollars business, with many native founders and developers building an interesting ecosystem with lots of potentials, hence the decision of the festival team to explore the impact of technology on film. Agbo, a prolific movie producer and director also said: “It’s, therefore, an opportunity to explore the impact of Technology on Film and vice versa. More so, it’s no secret that some International streaming platforms, chiefly, Netflix and Amazon Prime with more on the way, are becoming very interested in African contents and this is impacting on the Cinema culture in Africa.

It’s imperative therefore to anticipate strong technological impact in the dynamics of Filmmaking and position actors and filmmakers to take full advantage.’’ With a line-up of programmes that include master classes, panel discussions, movie screenings, parties, city tour, palm wine and bush meat roundtable, award and fun night, the festival founder hinted that access to funding, preparing pitch decks, film business proposals, available film markets, and what to expect in most acquisition companies’ quality control are all part of the discussions that will take place in Coal City Film Festival 2023. Information on the festival and entry rules for films can be sourced at www.coalcityfilmfestival.com