African film festival seeks to push women into the limelight

Thirty films from 20 countries only, produced by African women were screened in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, during the fourth edition of the Festival of African Women in Film.

The event also known as JCFA aims to celebrate and highlight films made by women. The event held biennially is Africa’s biggest film festival, and seeks to increase women participation in African cinema by giving them a platform, and allowing them to tell their own stories.

'African Women In Film': Festival held in Burkina Faso highlights films made by womenhttps://t.co/7jmRHiq05J pic.twitter.com/1uF6TKg2Vp

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The initiative is difficult, but not impossible, the organizers say.

Habibu Zoungrana, a film make says: “Generally we don’t have acting schools, so events such as these are an opportunity and will encourage women who continuously fight to get their films made, as well as actresses.”

The JCFA, which is an initiative of the Pan African Film Festival and Ouagadougou Televesion, FESPACO, has seen few films and documentary entries by women filmmakers at past editions.

“My wish is for FESPACO and these events focusing on African female filmmakers to continue to flourish and I hope that more women will participate in these events, whether they are filmmakers, technicians, actresses and all those who work behind the scenes on movies,” Habibu says.

The four day event also offered film screenings, lectures and workshops for everyone from producers and directors to actors and film enthusiasts.

FESPACO is due to hold its 25th edition in 2017