EABW REPORTER

BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI - From 23 till 30 April 2010, Burundi will pulsate at the hour of African cinema. In effect, the second edition of the International Festival of Cinema and Broadcasting of Burundi (FESTICAB) will receive competitive films from a dozen African countries and an overview of works from Africa and Europe. In addition, this year the festival expands its territory with screenings in eight theaters in Burundi: Bujumbura the capital and also in three other cities of the country, Gitega, Ngozi and Ruyigi.

Besides the innovation of opening up to international participation, the event will be enhanced by the presence of the famous Franco-Senegalese actress Fatou N' Diaye, Patron of the festival. A revelation in the TV film "Fatou the Malian," she has since starred in a dozen films on television and in movies like the unforgettable 2006 film "One Sunday in Kigali" by Canadian director Robert Favreau. The film also starred Léonce NGABO, actor, film director, producer and the current Burundian president of FESTICAB 2010.

We also note the presence of representatives of partner festivals like the Panafrican Film Festival and Ouagadougou Television (FESPACO / Burkina Faso), the International Film Festival of Love of Mons (FIFA Mons / Belgium), Kenya International Film Festival (KIFF) and the Amiens International Film Festival.

Two international juries composed of film professionals, directors, producers, actors and critics will have the difficult task of deciding between 35 long and short fiction films, documentaries and television series. The non-competitive category with a score of films from Africa and Europe will complement the festival programme.

In between screenings, meetings between professionals will be organized. There will be lively workshops on aspects of film, the challenges of audiovisual production and the economic opportunities in the development of the film industry and its related events.

The Burundian Association of image makers and sound (ABCIS), initiator of the event, aim to, through the opening of the festival to international participation, allow young Burundian directors to discover the quality of African cinema. At the same time, training activities are planned to better equip potentially promising artists.

This colourful event is certainly the work of an association but could not have been possible without the support of the Burundi Ministry of Culture and the support of bilateral co-operation organisations like the French co-operation, international media like CFI and various local and private international sponsors.