Overview
FESPACO (Festival Panafricain du Cinema et de la Television de Ouagadougou) is Africa's largest and oldest film festival. The 29th edition took place February 22 to March 1, 2025 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The 30th edition is scheduled for February 27 to March 6, 2027. The festival operates on a biennial cycle (odd-numbered years), and the next submission window opens February 24, 2026 with a deadline of September 20, 2026.
For African filmmakers and diaspora directors, FESPACO is the primary continental festival. The official competition is restricted to films directed by Africans or members of the African diaspora. The Golden Stallion of Yennenga (Etalon d'Or de Yennenga) is the top prize, carrying a cash award of 20 million CFA francs (approximately USD 33,000). The festival also operates MICA (Marche International du Cinema Africain), an industry marketplace for African film and television content.
The festival is managed by ABCA (Agence Burkinabee de la Cinematographie et de l'Audiovisuel), the Burkinabe government agency for cinema and audiovisual arts. Submissions for the 2027 edition are made through the FESPACO website at fespaco.bf.
Key Sections
Official Competition (African and Diaspora Filmmakers Only)
- Feature Fiction - narrative features, minimum 60 minutes
- Feature Documentary - nonfiction features, minimum 60 minutes
- FESPACO Shorts - short fiction and documentary films, 1-35 minutes
- Cinema Schools - fiction or documentary films from film schools, 3-15 minutes
- FESPACO Series - television series: 2 consecutive episodes of 52 minutes each, or 3 episodes of 26 minutes each, or 6 episodes of 13 minutes each
- Animation - animated films, 1-35 minutes
- Perspectives - emerging talent section
- Burkina Films - films from Burkina Faso
- Critics Week - curated by African film critics
Out-of-Competition (Open to Filmmakers Worldwide)
- Panorama - non-competitive showcase
- Focus - thematic programming
- Diversites - diversity-focused programming
- Sukabe - youth program
- FESPACO Classics - retrospective and restoration screenings
- FESPACO VR - virtual reality works
- Carte Blanche - invited curators
Past Winners
2025 (29th edition) - Golden Stallion of Yennenga (Etalon d'Or):
Katanga, la danse des scorpions, directed by Dani Kouyate (Burkina Faso). A political fable inspired by Shakespeare's Macbeth, shot in the More language and in black and white. The jury praised its "timeless and universal character" and "strong cultural grounding." This marked Burkina Faso's first Golden Stallion in 28 years (since 1997). The film also won the Public Prize with an average audience score of 9.18/10, the Sembene Ousmane Prize, the UEMOA Special Prize, and the Paulin Soumanou Vieyra African Critics' Prize.
2025 - Silver Stallion (Etalon d'Argent):
The Village Next to Paradise, directed by Mo Harawe (Somalia). A Somali-Austrian director's debut feature about a newly assembled family navigating different aspirations in a windy Somali village. The film premiered at Cannes 2024 in the Un Certain Regard section.
2025 - Bronze Stallion (Etalon de Bronze):
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, directed by Rungano Nyoni (Zambia). A surreal dark comedy about a woman who discovers her uncle's body on an empty road at night. The film premiered at Cannes 2024 in Un Certain Regard, was distributed by A24 in the US, and won Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards 2024.
2023 (28th edition) - Golden Stallion:
Ashkal, directed by Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia). Silver went to Sira by Apolline Traore (Burkina Faso), and Bronze to Shimoni by Angela Wamai (Kenya). The 2023 competition featured 15 films from 13 countries, with 8 directed by women.
2021 (27th edition) - Golden Stallion:
The Gravedigger's Wife, directed by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed (Somalia). The film premiered at Cannes 2021 in Critics' Week and was Somalia's first-ever Academy Award submission. Silver went to Freda by Gessica Geneus (Haiti), and Bronze to A Tale of Love and Desire by Leyla Bouzid (Tunisia).
2019 (26th edition) - Golden Stallion:
The Mercy of the Jungle, directed by Joel Karekezi (Rwanda). Silver went to Karma by Khaled Youssef (Egypt), and Bronze to Fatwa by Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud (Tunisia).
Notable Alumni Films and Where They Ended Up
- On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (2024), directed by Rungano Nyoni - won Bronze Stallion at FESPACO 2025. Premiered at Cannes 2024 in Un Certain Regard, distributed by A24 in the US, won Best Director and Breakthrough Performance at the British Independent Film Awards 2024. Nyoni's previous film I Am Not a Witch won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut.
- The Gravedigger's Wife (2021), directed by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed - won Golden Stallion at FESPACO 2021. Premiered at Cannes 2021 in Critics' Week, was selected as Somalia's first-ever submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Distributed by Juno Films in the US.
- Mami Wata (2023), directed by C.J. "Fiery" Obasi - competed in the FESPACO 2023 official competition. Premiered at Sundance 2023 where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Creative Vision. Distributed by Dekanalog in the US. Selected as Nigeria's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film.
- Sira (2023), directed by Apolline Traore - won Silver Stallion at FESPACO 2023. A film about women's resilience in the Sahel region during a jihadist insurgency. Traore is a Burkina Faso-based director whose previous film The Sun Girls also screened at FESPACO.
- Tilai (1990), directed by Idrissa Ouedraogo - won the Golden Stallion at FESPACO 1990. The film also won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes 1990. Ouedraogo is one of the most celebrated Burkinabe directors, and Tilai remains a landmark of African cinema.
Submission Details
FESPACO accepts submissions through its official website at fespaco.bf via the Faso Arzeka digital platform.
Eligibility requirements:
- Competition: Open only to films directed by African filmmakers or members of the African diaspora
- Out-of-competition: Open to filmmakers worldwide
- Films must not be more than 2 years old as of December 31, 2026
- Films must not have been screened at a previous FESPACO edition
- Films must not have been screened in Burkina Faso
- Screening copies must reach FESPACO no later than January 15, 2027
Registration fee: 50 EUR (approximately USD 54) per film.
Required submission materials (in French and English):
- Technical and artistic specification sheet
- Synopsis (400 characters maximum)
- Director bio-filmography (400 characters maximum)
- Two film posters (portrait and landscape, JPEG 300 dpi)
- Download and viewing link of the film in MPEG-4 (H.264) format, valid through December 31, 2026
- Director passport-size photo (JPEG 300 dpi)
- Film stills (JPEG 300 dpi, portrait and landscape)
Films in languages other than French or English must be subtitled or dubbed in French or English. Registration is limited to a maximum of 3 films per director and can be submitted by the director, producer, or distributor.
Submission timeline for 2027 (30th edition):
- Submissions open: February 24, 2026
- Submission deadline: September 20, 2026 at 23:59
- Screening copies deadline: January 15, 2027
- Festival dates: February 27 to March 6, 2027
Submission Tips Specific to This Festival
FESPACO's competition is restricted to African filmmakers and members of the African diaspora. This is the single most important eligibility factor. Non-African filmmakers can only submit to out-of-competition sections (Panorama, Focus, Diversites, Sukabe, FESPACO Classics, FESPACO VR, Carte Blanche). If you are a diaspora filmmaker, documentation of your African heritage may be required.
The Burkina Faso premiere requirement is strictly enforced. If your film has screened publicly in Burkina Faso at any festival, theatrically, or been made available online to Burkinabe audiences before FESPACO, it is ineligible. Plan your festival circuit so that FESPACO is your Burkina Faso premiere.
The biennial format means you must plan two years in advance. The 2027 edition (30th anniversary) is the next competition edition. If your film is ready in an even-numbered year (2026, 2028), it may be too old for the next FESPACO edition since films must not be more than 2 years old as of December 31 of the submission year. Time your completion and submission carefully.
The 50 EUR registration fee is modest compared to major Western festivals, but the cost of attending the festival in Ouagadougou can be significant. Direct flights to Ouagadougou are limited, and most international travelers connect through Abidjan, Accra, or Paris. Accommodation fills months in advance due to the hundreds of thousands of attendees. Book travel and lodging as early as possible if your film is selected.
French and English subtitling or dubbing is mandatory for films in other languages. This is a practical consideration for filmmakers working in Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili, or other African languages. Budget for subtitling in both French and English if you want maximum visibility at the festival.
The MICA industry marketplace runs during the festival and is the primary venue for meeting international buyers, distributors, and broadcasters interested in African content. If your film is selected, prepare a pitch and marketing materials for MICA even if your film is not in competition. MICA is where co-production deals and distribution agreements are negotiated.
Industry Reputation Notes
FESPACO is the cultural flagship of African cinema, with deeper historical roots and continental significance than any other African film festival. Founded in 1969, it has been the primary showcase for African cinema for over five decades. The Golden Stallion of Yennenga is considered the top award in African cinema.
However, FESPACO's industry infrastructure is less developed than Durban's (DIFF). The MICA marketplace is functional but smaller in scope than the Durban FilmMart, with fewer international producers and financiers in attendance. FESPACO is better for Pan-African cultural visibility and continental distribution, while DIFF is better for networking with international producers and Oscar-qualifying access.
FESPACO does not have Oscar-qualifying status. Filmmakers seeking Oscar qualification should also submit to DIFF (which qualifies for Best Documentary and Best Short Film) or other qualifying festivals. FESPACO's value lies in continental prestige, not in Academy Award pathways.
The festival has faced criticism in recent years for organizational challenges, including scheduling delays and communication issues. The 2021 edition was postponed from its usual February slot to October due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2025 edition was held under the presidency of Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso's transitional head of state, reflecting the festival's close relationship with the Burkinabe government.
Security concerns in Burkina Faso, related to jihadist insurgency in the northern and eastern regions of the country, have affected international attendance. Filmmakers should monitor travel advisories and festival communications regarding security arrangements. The festival itself takes place in Ouagadougou, which has generally been more stable than border regions, but the security situation requires attention.
The 2027 edition will be the 30th anniversary, which is expected to be a milestone edition with expanded programming and potentially higher international attention. Filmmakers with completed films should consider targeting this anniversary edition for maximum visibility.
What Filmmakers Should Know
Submission Process
Submissions for FESPACO 2027 (30th edition) open February 24, 2026 and close September 20, 2026 at 23:59. Registration is made through the FESPACO website via the Faso Arzeka digital platform.
Registration fee: 50 EUR (approximately USD 54) per film.
Required submission materials (in French and English):
- Technical and artistic specification sheet
- Synopsis (400 characters maximum)
- Director bio-filmography (400 characters maximum)
- Two film posters (portrait and landscape, JPEG 300 dpi)
- Download and viewing link of the film in MPEG-4 (H.264) format, valid through December 31, 2026
- Director passport-size photo (JPEG 300 dpi)
- Film stills (JPEG 300 dpi, portrait and landscape)
Films in languages other than French or English must be subtitled or dubbed in French or English. Registration is limited to a maximum of 3 films per director and can be submitted by the director, producer, or distributor.
Eligibility Requirements
- Competition: Open only to films directed by African filmmakers or members of the African diaspora
- Out-of-competition: Open to filmmakers worldwide
- Films must not be more than 2 years old as of December 31, 2026
- Films must not have been screened at a previous FESPACO edition
- Films must not have been screened in Burkina Faso
- Screening copies must reach FESPACO no later than January 15, 2027
Prize Money (2025 Edition)
The 2025 edition awarded the following cash prizes in the feature fiction competition:
- Etalon d'Or de Yennenga (Golden Stallion): 20 million CFA francs (approximately USD 33,000) - won by Dani Kouyate for Katanga, la danse des scorpions (Burkina Faso)
- Etalon d'Argent de Yennenga (Silver Stallion): 10 million CFA francs (approximately USD 16,500) - won by Mo Harawe for The Village Next to Paradise (Somalia)
- Etalon de Bronze de Yennenga (Bronze Stallion): 5 million CFA francs (approximately USD 8,250) - won by Rungano Nyoni for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl (Zambia)
- Public Prize (Audience Award): 3 million CFA francs - won by Katanga, la danse des scorpions
- Paul Robeson Prize (Best Diaspora Film): 2 million CFA francs - won by Malaury Eloi Paisley for L'Homme-Vertige (Guadeloupe)
- Thomas Sankara Prize (Pan-Africanism): 5 million CFA francs - won by Our land, our freedom (Kenya)
In the documentary feature competition, the Golden Stallion carried a prize of 10 million CFA francs, won by L'Homme-Vertige (Guadeloupe). Short film categories (Poulain d'Or, d'Argent, de Bronze) carried prizes of 5 million, 3 million, and 2 million CFA francs respectively.
MICA Industry Marketplace
MICA (Marche International du Cinema Africain) is the festival's industry marketplace, connecting African film and television producers with international buyers, distributors, and broadcasters. The marketplace operates during the festival and includes pitch sessions, co-production meetings, and industry panels.
Practical Considerations
Ouagadougou is a landlocked West African capital. Direct flights are limited; most international travelers connect through Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Accra (Ghana), or Paris. The festival draws hundreds of thousands of attendees, and accommodation fills months in advance. Filmmakers planning to attend should book travel and lodging as early as possible.
The biennial format means FESPACO operates on a two-year cycle. The 2027 edition (30th anniversary) is the next confirmed edition. Filmmakers targeting FESPACO should plan their production and post-production schedule around the September 2026 submission deadline.
Awards / Accreditation
- Golden Stallion of Yennenga (Etalon d'Or) - Best Feature Film, 20 million CFA francs
- Silver Stallion (Etalon d'Argent) - Second prize, 10 million CFA francs
- Bronze Stallion (Etalon de Bronze) - Third prize, 5 million CFA francs
- Best Documentary - Golden Stallion in documentary category, 10 million CFA francs
- Best Short Film - Poulain d'Or, 5 million CFA francs
- Public Prize (Audience Award) - 3 million CFA francs
- Paul Robeson Prize - Best diaspora film, 2 million CFA francs
- Thomas Sankara Prize - Pan-Africanism promotion, 5 million CFA francs
- FIPRESCI Prize - International critics' prize
- Sembene Ousmane Prize - awarded by the Ecobank Foundation
- Various thematic prizes - including human rights and pan-African unity themes
Festival History
FESPACO was founded in 1969 by a group of Burkinabe film enthusiasts who organized screenings of African films in the capital. The Burkina Faso government quickly recognized the cultural importance of the event and provided institutional support. FESPACO grew through the 1970s and 1980s as African cinema flourished under directors including Ousmane Sembene (Senegal), Djibril Diop Mambety (Senegal), and Souleymane Cisse (Mali).
The 2025 edition (29th) was held under the presidency of Captain Ibrahim Traore, Burkina Faso's transitional head of state. The Golden Stallion was awarded to Dani Kouyate for Katanga, la danse des scorpions, marking Burkina Faso's first Golden Stallion in 28 years. The film also won the Public Prize with an average audience score of 9.18/10, the Sembene Ousmane Prize, the UEMOA Special Prize, and the Paulin Soumanou Vieyra African Critics' Prize.
The 2027 edition will be the 30th anniversary. Submissions open February 24, 2026, with a final deadline of September 20, 2026.
Watch
See Also
For understanding African cinema markets, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. To calculate the financial return of festival submissions, see the Festival Entry Fee ROI Calculator.
