The 28th edition of the largest African film festival ended Saturday, on the triumph of the film of the young Tunisian director Youssef Chebbi.
The Tunisian director Youssef Chebbi triumphed this Saturday, March 4, in Ouagadougou, winning the Golden Stallion, the grand prize of Fespaco, the largest film festival in Africa. Ashkal, the film of the young director born in Tunis in 1984 was awarded unanimously. The president of the jury, the Tunisian Dora Bouchoucha praised a work of “extreme rigor” and “out of the ordinary”.
The hour of glory for Tunisia
While hundreds of sub-Saharan Africans are fleeing the country due to attacks and hostile demonstrations, Tunisia is experiencing its finest hour in the spotlight of African cinema. The exfiltration of foreign African nationals follows a violent charge by President Kaïs Saïed against illegal migrants.
Selected for the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival in France, Ashkal also won the Golden Antigone, the highest award at the Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival in 2022.
Women on the podium
Two women were also rewarded, the Burkinabe Apolline Traoré for Sira, who received the Silver Stallion, and the Kenyan Angela Wamai for Shimoni, awarded the Bronze Stallion. A great first, because since its creation in 1969, no woman has won the supreme award of this great African film festival. 170 works were competing in various categories for this edition on the theme “African cinema and culture of peace”.
The award for male and female interpretation goes to all actors and actresses of Under the figs, the Tunisian director Erige Sehiri. The prize for best scenario was awarded to Blue Caftan, the Moroccan Maryam Touzani.
The next edition of Fespaco is scheduled in 2025, from February 22 to March 1.
Complete list of winners of the 28th edition of Fespaco
FICTION FEATURE FILM
– Golden Stallion of Yennenga: “Ashkal” by Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia)
– Silver Stallion: “Sira”, by Apolline Traoré (Burkina Faso)
– Bronze Stallion: “Shimoni” by Angela Wamai (Kenya)
– Best Performance by an actor: the whole cast of “Sous les figues” by Erige Sehiri (Tunisia)
– Best Actress: All the actresses of “Sous les figues” by Erige Sehiri (Tunisia)
– Best set design: “Mami Wata” by Fiery Obasi (Nigeria)
– Best editing: “Abu Saddam” by Nadine Khan (Egypt)
– Best Screenplay: “Le Bleu du caftan” by Maryam Touzani (Morocco)
– Image Award: “Mami Wata” by Fiery Obasi (Nigeria)
– Sound Award: “Ashkal” by Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia)
– Best Music: “Our Lady of the Chinese Shop” by Ery Claver (Angola)
– Special Mention of the Jury: “Regarde les étoiles” by David Constantin (Mauritius)
FICTION SHORT FILM
– Golden Foal Short Fiction: “Will my parents come to see me” by Mo Harawe (Somalia)
– Silver foal short fiction : ” A doll ” by Andriaminosa Hary and Joel Rakotovelo (Madagascar)
– Bronze foal short fiction: “Tsutsue” by Amartei Armar (Ghana)
DOCUMENTARIES
– Golden Stallion feature documentary: “Omi Nobu/L’Homme nouveau” by Carlos Yuri Ceuninck (Cape Verde)
– Silver Stallion feature documentary: “Nous, étudiants” by Rafiki Fariala (Central African Republic)
– Bronze Stallion feature-length documentary: “Guardian of the Worlds” by Leïla Chaïbi (Algeria)
– Golden Foal short documentary: “Angle mort” by Lofti Achour (Tunisia)
– Silver foal short documentary: “Katanga nation” by Beza Hailu Lemma (Ethiopia)
– Bronze Foal short documentary: “Kelasi” by Fransix Tenda Lomba (DRC)
– Special Mention of the Jury: “L’Envoyée de Dieu” by Amina Mamani (Niger) and “Cuba en Afrique” by Negash Abdurahman (Ethiopia)
PERSPECTIVES SECTION
– Paul Robeson Award to the feature documentary “The Spectre of Boko Haram” by Cyrielle Raingou (Cameroon)
BURKINA FASO SECTION
– Best Burkinabe film: “Laabli l’insaisissable” by Luc Youlouka Damiba.
– Best Burkinabe hopeful: “Le Botaniste” by Floriane Zoundi
M&B
