Gender equality in cinema: UNESCO gives the floor to women film directors during the 28th edition of FESPACO

Gender equality in cinema: UNESCO gives the floor to women film directors during the 28th edition of FESPACO

With more than 170 film screenings, 20,000 guests and eight days of celebrations devoted to African cinema between 25 February and 4 March, the 28^th edition of FESPACO gave the continent's latest creations centre stage. UNESCO in partnership with the Japanese Embassy in Burkina Faso joined this major event to promote the work of promising young African women directors who recently took part in the UNESCO-Nara film residency in Japan.

Behind the camera, Mayowa Bakare (Nigeria), Okuhle Dyosopu (South Africa), Awa Gueye (Senegal), Joan Kiragu (Kenya), Uren Makut (Nigeria), Lydia Matata (Kenya), Fama Reyane Sow (Senegal), Delphine Yerbanga (Burkina Faso) and Floriane Zoundi (Burkina Faso) explored the city of Nara and their interaction with Japanese culture. This resulted in nine short films that intertwined the filmmakers' life experiences with their discovery of Japan. The inhabitants of Nara are also put in the spotlight, whether a retired painter, a geisha, a businesswoman, a herbalist, a monk or an interpreter; such diverse encounters brought the audience out of their daily lives and fostered a rich dialogue between cultures.

This dialogue continued after the films' screening, during which the directors present - Awa Gueye, Fama Reyane Sow, Delphine Yerbanga and Floriane Zoundi - spoke about their experiences, the opportunities offered by the residency and their passion for cinema with its power to bridge borders, cultures, and generations.

The festival was also an opportunity for UNESCO and FESPACO to further their years-long mission to highlight the talent of women creators and cultural professionals. On Thursday, 2 March, the presentation of the UNESCO global report Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity - Addressing culture as a global public good gathered 100 people. It was also an occasion to discuss recent developments in gender equality and to explore the opportunities and challenges for cultural policies more broadly.

During a panel discussion moderated by Claire Diao, the floor was given to women filmmakers to discuss the theme: "Between progress and challenges: putting gender equality at the core of the African film industry". Their contributions underlined the real obstacles that exist, from unequal employment opportunities to the daily challenges of collaborating on film sets. But the discussions also provided an insight into the progress made in the industry.

FESPACO's 28^th edition stands out for the visibility it gave to women, from the legendary figure of "Sarraouinia", the warrior queen chosen as the symbol of FESPACO 2023, to the president of the jury, the Tunisian film producer Dora Bouchoucha. But above all, it was the young women's talent which was honoured. To name a few, Floriane Zoundi who attended the UNESCO-Nara programme was awarded the title of the most promising Burkinabe film director, and Apolline Traoré, whose film "Sira" sold out and won the Silver Stallion. The continents young women directors are full of promise!