Rwandan film wins at Africa film fest | Inquirer Entertainment

Rwandan film picks up top honors at Africa film festival

/ 03:48 PM March 04, 2019

Rwandan director Joel Karekezi’s “The Mercy of the Jungle” on Saturday scooped best film at Africa’s top film festival, following a fierce debate about gender equality and sexual aggression in the continent’s movie industry.

The film was among 20 vying for the top Golden Stallion of Yennenga award at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco).

A road movie focusing on the wars in Democratic Republic of Congo through the eyes of two soldiers lost in the jungle, it also picked up the best actor award for Belgian Marc Zinga.

Article continues after this advertisement
fespaco

Rwanda’s film director Joel Karekezi, winner of the 26th Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) for “The Mercy of the Jungle” poses with the Yennenga Stallion trophy at the Sports Palace in Ouagadougou on March 2, 2019. Image: ISSOUF SANOGO / AFP

Egyptian director Khaled Youssef won second prize for his drama “Karma”, while third prize went to Tunisia’s Ben Hohmound for “Fatwa” about a father who discovers that his dead son had been a jihadist.

FEATURED STORIES

In the half century since it was established, Fespaco has never awarded its top prize to a female director, a fact that faced uncomfortable scrutiny during the week-long event.

Only four of the films in competition at the festival were directed by women.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Where are the women?” asked South African actress Xolile Tshabalala, who starred in “Miraculous Weapons” made by Cameroonian director Jean-Pierre Bekolo.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Can it be that in 50 years, there hasn’t been a single woman capable of telling a great story to win the Fespaco?”

Article continues after this advertisement

Burkinabe director Apolline Traore whose film “Desrances” won a special prize on Friday said recognition had to be on merit, not a token gesture in the fight against discrimination.

But she added: “Of course there’s a problem” in gender equality for directors.

Article continues after this advertisement

“There’s no equality for the craft of a woman director, not just in Africa, but in the world,” she said.

Encouraged by the #MeToo movement, some took the opportunity to use the festival to also highlight alleged sexual abuse within the African film industry.

“It’s time to speak out,” said French actress Nadege Beausson-Diagne, who told AFP that she was setting up the movement called #Memepaspeur (“Not even scared”) to help women speak out in Africa.

Violence “is everywhere — against actresses but also directors, scriptwriters and technicians, who live with harassment, sexual aggression and rape,” she said, adding that she had twice been assaulted during film shoots in Africa.

An online petition was launched urging Fespaco to exclude a TV series from the competition after an actress accused its director of assault. The director, reached by AFP, refused to comment. NVG

RELATED STORIES:

Anger over gender inequality, harassment mark Africa’s top film festival

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

From savior to mafia-fighter: Girl power comes to Berlin film festival

TAGS: #MeToo, Africa, Fespaco, Gender Equality

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.