27th edition of the biennial Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO), the largest African film festival in the world took place from 16 to 23 October 2021 in Burkina Faso
"The Gravedigger’s Wife" premiered in #Cannes Critics’ Week in July and has been selected as Somalia’s first-ever Oscar submission for the 2022 Academy Awards.
The filmmaking was delayed as Khadar Ahmed wrote the story 10 years ago, but wanted to direct it himself and so took time to learn how to direct movies.
Newton Aduaka is the only Nigerian filmmaker who has won the grand prize, the Golden Stallion of Yennenga for his 2007 film,"Ezra’" on the civil war in Sierra Leone.
The US$36,000 Golden Stallion of Yennenga prize is named after the legendary warrior Princess Yennenga, who is called the mother of the Mossi people of Burkina Faso.
The first Nigerian to win a prize at FESPACO, is Clarion Chukwurah, the Best Actress prize in 1985 for her role in Dr. Ola Balogun’s film, "Owo L’agba" (Money Power).
The List of the Winners
– Golden Stallion of Yennenga: “The gravedigger’s wife” by Ahmed Khadar (Somalia)
– Silver Stallion: “Freda” from Gessica Geneus (Haiti)
– Bronze Stallion: “A story of love and desire” by Leyla Bouzid (Tunisia)
– Best Actor Award: Alassane Sy for “Baamum Nafi” (Senegal)
– Best Actress Award: Zainab Jah for “Farewell Amor” by Ekwa Msangi (Tanzania)
– Best decor: “La Nuit des Rois” (Night Of The Kings) by Philippe Lacote (Ivory Coast)
– Best Editing: “Souad” by Amin Ayten (Egypt)
– Prize for the screenplay: “Nameless” Mutiganda Wa Nkunda (Rwanda)
– Image prize: “This is not a burial, it is a resurrection” by Jeremiah Lemohang Mosese (Lesotho)
– Sound Award: “Freda” by Gessica Geneus (Haiti)
– Best Music: “The Gravedigger’s Wife” by Ahmed Khadar (Somalia)
– Gold standard documentary feature film: “Garderie Nocturne” by Moumouni Sanou (Burkina Faso)
– Silver standard documentary feature film: “Marcher sur l’eau” by Aissa Maiga (Senegal-Mali)
– Bronze standard documentary feature film: “Makongo” by Elvis Sabin Ngaibino (Central African Republic)
– Poulain d’or short film: “Serbi” (Les Tissus blancs) by Moly Kane (Senegal)
– Silver foal fiction short film: “Amani” by Alliah Fafin (Rwanda)
– Short film fiction bronze foal: “Zalissa” by Carine Bado (Burkina Faso)
– Poulain d’Or documentary short film: “Ethereality” by Kantarama Gahigiri (Rwanda)
– Silver foal short film: “I bit my tongue” by Nina Khada (Algeria)
– Bronze foal short film: “Nuit Debout” by Nelson Makengo (DRCongo)
SPECIAL MENTIONS
– Special mention to “Tabaski” by Laurence Attali (Senegal)
– Special mention from the jury: “La traversée” by Irène Tassembedo (Burkina Faso)
OUTLOOK SECTION
– Paul Robson Prize: “Traverser” by Joël Akafou (Ivory Coast)
– Oumarou Ganda Prize: “Tug of War” Amil Shivji (Tanzania)
BURKINA FASO SECTION
– Best Burkinabè film: “In the footsteps of a migrant” by Delphine Yerbanga
– Best Burkinabè hope: “After your revolt, your vote” by Kiswendsida Parfait Kaboré
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