FESPACO
Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou
The world’s leading African film festival. For more than 55 years, Ouagadougou has celebrated the excellence of African and diaspora cinema, bringing together filmmakers, producers and audiences from around the world.
More than 55 years serving African cinema
Founded in 1969 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, FESPACO has become the leading gathering for African and diaspora cinema. What began as an outdoor screening of eight films has grown into the continent’s largest film festival.
Held every two years, usually in February, the festival brings together thousands of professionals, film lovers and media representatives from around the world for official competitions, parallel sections, workshops and professional meetings.
FESPACO celebrates the continent’s creativity, talent and cultural diversity by honouring works that tell Africa’s stories and realities with authenticity and excellence.
Next edition
Feb. 2027
Venue
Ouagadougou
Top award
Golden Stallion
FESPACO headquarters, Ouagadougou
FESPACO 2025 in pictures
Ouagadougou came alive from 22 February to 1 March 2025 for the festival’s 29th edition.
Captain Ibrahim Traoré presents the Golden Stallion of Yennenga to the 2025 laureate
“Country in the spotlight” area
Festival market street
Filmmakers’ roundabout — an emblematic FESPACO landmark
Festival sections
FESPACO offers a varied programme organised by genre and format across dedicated venues in Ouagadougou.
Official Competition
African feature films (fiction and documentary) competing for the Stallion of Yennenga.
FESPACO Shorts
Competition dedicated to African and diaspora short films.
FESPACO Classics
A retrospective of masterpieces from Africa’s cinematic heritage.
Panorama section
An international out-of-competition selection broadening horizons.
Perspectives section
A showcase for first and second films by emerging African filmmakers.
Animation section
African animation films — fiction and documentary — in competition.
FESPACO VR
Immersive virtual reality experiences opening a window onto the cinema of tomorrow.
Critics’ Week
An independent critical look at new works from African cinema.
Sukabè / Film school films
A section dedicated to films from cinema schools and emerging talent.
Awards and juries
Two award categories: official awards granted by the jury and special awards presented by partner institutions.
Golden Stallion of Yennenga
The festival’s highest honour, awarded to the best African feature-length fiction or documentary film.
Silver Stallion of Yennenga
Second prize for feature fiction and documentary films in the official competition.
Bronze Stallion of Yennenga
Third prize for feature fiction and documentary films in the official competition.
Golden Foal of Yennenga
Top prize for short films, celebrating the next generation of African cinema.
Silver Foal of Yennenga
Second prize in the official short-film competition.
Special awards
Granted by partner institutions to films in the official selection.
“Katanga, la danse des scorpions”
by Dani Kouyaté
Golden Stallion of Yennenga at FESPACO’s 29th edition, held in Ouagadougou from 22 February to 1 March 2025.
Landmark editions
The 29 completed editions and their Golden Stallion of Yennenga winners, the festival’s highest prize, created in 1972.
Golden Stallion: “The Mercy of the Jungle” by Joël Karekezi (Rwanda).
Golden Stallion: “The Gravedigger’s Wife” by Khadar Ayderus Ahmed (Somalia).
Golden Stallion: “Ashkal” by Youssef Chebbi (Tunisia).
Golden Stallion: “Katanga, la danse des scorpions” by Dani Kouyaté (Burkina Faso).
FESPACO 2027
For its 30th edition, scheduled from 27 February to 6 March 2027 in Ouagadougou, FESPACO has assembled a selection committee of recognised African and international film professionals.
Selection committee — countries represented
Dates
27 Feb.–6 Mar.
Venue
Ouagadougou
Edition
30th anniversary
FESPACO Pro
Beyond screenings, FESPACO is a key platform for the development of Africa’s film industry.
MICA
African Film Market
A place for professional meetings, sales, co-productions and exchanges between distributors, producers and broadcasters.
Yennenga Academy
Training workshops
Intensive training for young African filmmakers: screenwriting, directing and production.
Yennenga Coproduction
Project development
A support programme for African film projects in development, facilitating international co-productions.
Yennenga Postproduction
Post-production funding
Financial and technical support for African films in post-production: editing, colour grading and sound.
Our partners
Media partners
Follow FESPACO
Stay informed about festival news, calls for films and announcements.
Phone
+226 25 30 83 70