“It’s about taking ownership of our cinema and leaving a significant mark for future generations, by pooling our resources and efforts,” she explained in an interview with MAP on the sidelines of the 23rd edition of the Khouribga International African Film Festival, which is being held from May 6 to 13.
According to Ms. Lison Fall Johnson, the 7th art is not only a means of communication, education and awareness but also carries messages and constitutes a kind of “cultural diplomacy”.
Asked about the challenges facing the film industry in Africa, the director of ONAC-CI deplored the fact that there are not enough national cinemas on the continent, calling, in this sense, to “encourage the opening of new cinemas in our countries so that productions are seen and appreciated by the African public and that producers and directors of national films can live from their arts”.
“In Ivory Coast, we also noted that the African film industry has a production and financing problem,” she said, explaining that “to address this, the Office has signed several cooperation agreements with various countries on the continent to enable filmmakers to produce their productions.”
“South-South cooperation in the film sector is therefore very important for our continent because by pooling our efforts and actions we can produce large productions and thus expand our audience,” she stressed.
In this regard, Ms. Lison Fall Johnson highlighted the role played by African film festivals, such as FICAK, in creating cultural exchanges and partnerships between filmmakers from different countries on the continent, adding that “these festivals also allow us to question what we can do better and not just be satisfied with our achievements.”
“They are also a kind of artistic stimulation that not only allows us to mature and become aware of what we lack but also to know the cultures and traditions of each of the participating African countries in order to highlight all this cultural diversity,” she continued.
The 23rd edition of FICAK, held under the high patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, features 12 feature films made by filmmakers from 10 African countries as well as 15 short films representing 13 countries on the continent.
This great annual festival of African cinema celebrates the 7th art and pays tribute to African film productions. It also promotes the image of the Kingdom and highlights its specificities, its potential in terms of cinema and its interaction with the cinema of African countries.
It is with a program rich in colors, cultures and cinematographic productions that the FICAK will take film buffs, critics, intellectuals and the general public of the phosphate city on a unique journey to discover the cultural wealth of Africa.
2024-08-20 09:56:30