FESPACO began in 1969 when a small group of film lovers in Ouagadougou organised screenings of African films in local cinemas. Over the decades it grew into an enormous event. Today, hundreds of films from dozens of African countries are shown, and filmmakers compete for the top prize — a golden statue called the Étalon de Yennenga (the Golden Stallion of Yennenga).
The Étalon de Yennenga is named after Princess Yennenga, a legendary figure from Burkina Faso's history and the national symbol of the country. The golden statue of a horse and rider is one of the most celebrated prizes in African cinema. Winning it is considered a huge honour.
During FESPACO, Ouagadougou transforms. Streets are decorated, outdoor screens are set up in parks and open spaces, and cinemas run non-stop day and night. People queue for hours to see films from Ethiopia, Senegal, Cameroon, Nigeria, Egypt and many other countries — films that tell stories of African life, history and imagination.
FESPACO is important because it gives African filmmakers a platform to share their stories with the world, told in their own words and from their own perspectives. Many of Africa's most celebrated directors first found a wide audience at FESPACO. The festival shows that Burkina Faso, a small landlocked country, is at the heart of the continent's creative life.