The 30th edition of the Ecrans noirs film festival will feature 38 films in its official selection, announced on September 29 at the Goethe Institute in Yaoundé. The festival, which is paying tribute to its founder, Bassék ba Kobhio, received 423 film submissions from 18 countries. The selected films will compete in five categories, including long metrages, short films, series, and web series.
The selection committee, led by Patricia Moune Mbede, the general coordinator of the festival, chose the films from a diverse range of countries, including Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria, Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The festival's artistic director, Narcisse Wandji, noted that the selection process was rigorous, with many high-quality films to choose from.
In the Ecran d'or category, which features international long metrages, six films were selected, including "Angele" by Oumar Dagnon from Burkina Faso, "Mon ami" by Mohamed Zran from Tunisia, and "Calle Malaga" by Maryam Touzani from Morocco. Two more films will be added to this category later, according to Wandji. Cameroon's "Lights Out" by Enah Johnscott is also among the selected films.
The series category will feature five films, including "Pouvoirs et lois" by M'bro Lath Armand from Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon, and "Castes, les amours interdits" by Franck Vlehi from Côte d'Ivoire. The short film category will feature seven films, including "Zone grise" by Isaac Namla. Notably, no web series were selected, as most submissions had already been aired on platforms like YouTube.
The Ecrans noirs festival has become a major event in the film industry, with its 30th edition being celebrated as a milestone. Mbede emphasized that the festival's selection is a significant event that allows for better communication about the films that will be showcased. The festival will provide a platform for filmmakers to showcase their work and network with industry professionals.
The selected films will compete for various awards, including the prestigious Ecran d'or. The festival's organizers are confident that this edition will be a success, with a diverse range of films and a strong lineup of industry professionals. The festival will take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and will feature a range of activities, including film screenings, workshops, and panel discussions.
Cameroon's film industry is expected to benefit from the festival, with many local filmmakers participating in the competition. The festival's tribute to Bassék ba Kobhio, the founder of Ecrans noirs, is also expected to be a highlight of the event. Overall, the 30th edition of the Ecrans noirs film festival promises to be an exciting and memorable event.
Key points
- 38 films from 18 countries have been selected for the official competition of the 30th Ecrans noirs film festival in Cameroon.
- The festival will feature five categories, including long metrages, short films, series, and web series.
- Cameroon's film industry is expected to benefit from the festival, with many local filmmakers participating in the competition.
