(MENAFN) As the weeklong FESPACO film festival opens in Burkina Faso's capital, it offers more than just entertainment and introspection. In a country marred by political strife and Islamic extremist attacks that have killed thousands and displaced millions, FESPACO represents hope and endurance. Despite the increasing troubles faced by the country since the last edition of the biennial festival, FESPACO has never been canceled, even amid the turmoil.
For Burkinabe actress Maimouna Ndiaye, who has four submissions in this year's competition, FESPACO is the event that must not be canceled, regardless of the situation. "We only have FESPACO left to prevent us from thinking about what's going on," she said.
In recent years, Burkina Faso has experienced successive governments' failures to stop extremist violence, which triggered two military coups last year. Despite the junta leaders' promises of security, little has been delivered. Earlier this month, at least 70 soldiers were killed in two attacks in the Sahel region, sowing discord among the once-peaceful population and pitting communities and ethnicities against each other.
Despite the challenges faced by the country, more than 15,000 people, including cinema celebrities from Nigeria, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, are expected to attend FESPACO, Africa's biggest film festival, launched in 1969. This year's festival features 1,300 films from 35 African countries and the diaspora, including movies from the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Nearly half of the films in the fiction competition are directed by women, highlighting the growing representation of female filmmakers in African cinema.
In conclusion, FESPACO film festival represents hope and endurance in the face of political strife and extremist attacks in Burkina Faso. Despite the country's troubles, the festival remains an important event that brings together cinema enthusiasts and celebrates African cinema. The festival's emphasis on women filmmakers also highlights the growing representation of women in African cinema.
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