The 21st Pan African Film and Television Festival dubbed "FESPACO," kicked off on Saturday on the general theme; "African Cinema, Tourism and Cultural Heritage". The festival seeks to challenge all stakeholders in the African film industry to roll up their sleeves and get more involved in the conservation and enhancement of the African culture and touristic heritage through film. The festival is also serving as a rollying platform for either renowned, beginners, or amateurs to share and compare notes and examine the future of African cinema as well as the audiovisual industrial development.

Honoring the pioneering role of its founders forty years ago, the 21st FESPACO hostes 18 films from 11 countries competing for laurels. The one week festival also features special TV Video series and sitcoms competition and focus on Afrobrasilian cinema; Ibero-American screen and film and television school films.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Filippe Savadogo, Minister in Charge of Culture, Tourism and Communication of Burkina Faso described the festival as African heritage promotional tool, which needs to be protect and nurtured. He urged stakeholders in the African film industry to take pride in the overall objective of the festival to project the African personality and the spirit of Pan Africanism and to enhance the image of the continent through the lenses of an African.

Mr. Michael Ouédraogo, the Special General Delegate called on organizers to move the festival from its present angelism to maturity state after 40 years of celebration and experiences. He said: "together we have to Endeavour to avoid showing ourselves unworthy of the founders….it is a must for us to be determined to deep down in our souls to settle down or break, while ensuring continually what our elders built for us : "The spirit of Pan Africanism must continue to burn in us, we need to project the African personality through the powerful medium of film to the outside world that rich African personality and culture."

Mr. Ouédraogo called on African film training institutions to educate their students to appreciate their rich Africa heritage. Alongside the festival is an exhibition of African traditional artifacts, arts, local Burkinabe textile and a host of activities for African film enthusiasts.

by Francis Ameyibor