Morocco: Burkinabe cinema stood out at the 25th Khouribga International Festival of African Cinema (FICAK), with three films selected in official competition, a symbol of resilient cinematographic dynamics despite various constraints.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the fifth day of the festival saw the entry of two productions from Ouagadougou, exploring powerful themes such as the quest for self-discovery and the fight against domestic violence. Both films reflect the richness of committed cinema. Parfait Kabor©'s feature film "€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬ vos mots, mon Sme danse" is an introspective work about the quest for self-discovery; Alimata Ou©draogo's feature film "‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬¡a suffit!" powerfully denounces domestic violence; while Laurentine Bayala's short film "Patriote," screened earlier in the competition, celebrates patriotic spirit and national cohesion.
For Parfait Kabor©, the presence of three Burkinabe films in the official FICAK selection testifies to the continued vitality of the film industry in the land of upright men, highlighting the continuity of participation in this cinematographic event. Burkina Faso is the birthplace of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou, a key event for the 7th art in Africa, he told MAP, just after the screening of his film.
Despite the constraints, the determination of Burkinabe filmmakers remains unshakeable, as evidenced by the increased presence of Burkina Faso at the Khouribga festival, observed the filmmaker, who has three short films and two feature films to his credit. He also paid tribute to Morocco's hospitality and its efforts to foster exchanges between creators. For him, cinema is above all a story of encounters, and these spaces, opened by the Kingdom, play an essential role in breaking the isolation of artists and strengthening collaborations.
For her part, Alimata Ou©draogo praised the Moroccan organization of the festival and the strong involvement of the local public, reflecting the promising future of this event. Selected for the first time in Khouribga, the Burkinabe director expressed her emotion and honor, describing this participation as a dream 'come true.' Regarding the significant participation of Burkina Faso in this edition, she recalled that Ouagadougou remains the capital of African cinema and must maintain a certain dynamic of cinematographic production. Alimata Ou©draogo began her career as an actress in 2003, then began directing in 2020 and is now making her second feature film.
In the evening, the official competition screenings continued with "The Abyss" by Lahom Keumeni Manuel Donald (Cameroon) and "No Parking or Waiting" by Amro Gouda (Egypt) in the short film category, as well as "Midnight Cinema" by Mazen Lotfy (Egypt) and "Demba" by Mamadou Dia (Senegal), among the feature films.
Organized under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI, FICAK 2025 welcomes 350 filmmakers from 45 countries, in a celebration of African cinematographic creation, its emerging talents and its profound changes. Under the theme "From griot to algorithm, cinema is evolving," this edition aims to open up a fundamental reflection on the impact of AI on the professions, stories and imaginations of the 7th art across the continent.