OUAGADOUGOU, April 21, 2013 - The World Bank once again showed its support for film-making by participating for the second time in the Ouagadougou Pan African Film Festival (FESPACO) and awarding the “prix de l’espoir” to the young Burkinese-Guinean film producer, Abraham Fofana, for his documentary “Le bois de la survie.”
This prize of US$6,000 dollars (CFAF 3 million), first awarded in 2011, is given to the film that best highlights development work in the area of economic diversification. “Le bois de la survie,” a 52-minute documentary, winner of the 2013 festival, portrays women who collect wood (fuel wood being their sole means of survival) and risk their lives to feed their families and educate their children. Abraham Fofana said that receiving this award “is something unexpected, but it greatly inspires me to pursue my career, which is in its early stages.”
Launched in 1969 by film enthusiasts, attendance of FESPACO has become a must for film lovers from all over Africa and even beyond. The 2013 festival, which took place during the last week of February, was held under the theme “African cinema and public policies in Africa.” This year, the “étalon d’or de Yennenga,” the grand prize of the festival and the most coveted trophy, was awarded to the film “Tey,” produced by French-Senegalese film-maker, Alain Gomis. Decorators and music composers were also recognized.
Cinema, an ally of economic development
“The World Bank’s “prix de l’espoir” serves as evidence that the creative industries are areas of economic activity that help create employment, generate income, and also contribute to countries’ economic growth. Moreover, they are powerful awareness-raising vehicles for several priority areas on our institution’s agenda such as economic diversification, good governance, gender, and the environment” said Mercy M. Tembon, the World Bank’s Country Manager for Burkina Faso.
Professor Dramane Konaté, Honorary Secretary General of Francophony in Burkina Faso and Chairman of the prix de l’espoir committee, is happy to see the World Bank’s participation for the second time in the biggest film festival in Africa. “In my capacity as Chairman of the committee, I must say that we feel that the World Bank is making a difference by introducing this prize, which not only provides a boost to the film sector as a creative industry, but also sends a message of hope through the involvement of women, as seen in “Le bois de la survie,” produced by the young Burkinese-Guinean film-maker," he stated.
