FESPACO

When: Held every odd-numbered year in Feb - Mar, usually spanning late February into early March.

Where: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, with screenings and events across city cinemas, cultural centres and open-air screens.

Cost: Public screenings are often inexpensive or free; accreditation and industry passes carry fees - check the official programme and book early.

Don’t miss: The Etalon d’or de Yennenga award ceremony, filmmaker Q&A sessions, African premieres and the bustling industry market.

Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso hosts FESPACO, the Pan-African Film and Television Festival founded in 1969 that showcases feature films, shorts and documentaries from across Africa and its diaspora. The festival’s top prize, the Etalon d’or de Yennenga, is one of the continent’s most prestigious film awards.

During the festival the city fills with simultaneous film programmes, panel discussions, masterclasses and networking events for producers and distributors; screenings take place in cinemas, cultural centres and occasional outdoor venues, creating an intense, convivial atmosphere of discovery and debate.

Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso stages FESPACO biennially in February - March of odd-numbered years (see festival calendar for exact dates). The event typically lasts about a week to ten days, opening with a gala night and closing with the Etalon d’or awards and final screenings.

Key activity ramps up after the opening day: mid-festival is busiest with industry meetings and premieres, while the final days are prize-focused and draw the largest public audiences.

Ouagadougou is served by Ouagadougou International Airport (OUA); taxis and airport shuttles connect the airport to the city centre. Festival venues are concentrated in central districts, so stay in the city centre if you want to walk between screenings; arrive several days early to collect accreditation and to avoid last-minute accommodation shortages.

• In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, French is the working language at the festival - bring a phrasebook or have a translator app for Q&A and industry sessions.
• Book accommodation and festival accreditation months in advance; good rooms in the city centre sell out quickly during FESPACO.
• Carry West African CFA francs (XOF); many smaller cinemas and market stalls accept cash only and card machines can be unreliable.
• Check health and entry requirements well before travel - confirm current rules and have proof of routine vaccinations; yellow fever vaccination is commonly required for travel to Burkina Faso.
• Dress in light layers for hot, dry days and cooler evenings; comfortable shoes are useful for moving between venues across the city.
• Keep valuables secure in crowded venues, use official taxis after dark and allow extra time between screenings during peak festival days.