The partnership brings together two strong and recognized players in their field: the production company CINEKAP, founded and directed by Oumar SALL, and LAFAAAC, a young French start-up that has been training young creatives and entrepreneurs in cultural professions for five years.
The aim of this partnership, supported by the French Development Agency (AFD) in conjunction with the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, is to strengthen the skills of future Senegalese producers and creatives throughout the country and beyond in the sub-region. It uses innovative methods, combining distance learning via a mobile app (LAFAAAC) with in-person support over several months (Up Court Métrage, CINEKAP's training branch), with the production of short films as the common thread running through the support program.
Revamping training for careers in film and TV production
The partnership will capitalize on existing training programs and LAFAAAC's expertise to modernize and renew training methods, making them more inclusive, particularly with regard to female talent, and less concentrated in Dakar. New training content, focusing on the profession and skills of audiovisual producers—a key link in the industry's value chain—will be developed, offered, and widely distributed throughout the country. This will enable the sourcing and identification of talented individuals with diverse profiles, who will then be able to enroll in Up Court Métrage's intensive training programs.
As part of the "Up Court Regional Hubs" program, CINEKAP is already working to promote and identify talent outside Dakar, partnering with regional cultural centers and local associations (Pôle Sud in Casamance and Kolda; Pôle Nord and Centre in Thiès, Kaolack, and Tambacounda, etc.). This work will gain momentum with the help of modern tools such as smartphones, which are now widely used. The use of digital technology and hybrid training is therefore a way to move faster while remaining accessible to all.
Contribute to structuring the audiovisual production industry in Senegal and beyond
The ultimate goal of this program is to help further structure Senegal's audiovisual and film industry, which requires both artistic and entrepreneurial skills. This program is part of a broader and more comprehensive support system provided by the French authorities to the Senegalese audiovisual industry, for example in the fields of screenwriting and directing (Kourtrajmé Dakar school), post-production (Yennenga Center), and events and festivals that promote young Senegalese and African creativity (Dakar Court, Dakar Séries, etc.). It also helps to boost the momentum of professionalization and job and value creation in the country, which has some of the best skills on the continent in the cultural sectors.
This project will be launched at the Canal Olympia in Dakar on Friday, June 16, 2023, in the morning.
François Catala, Co-founder of LAFAAAC
"We have wanted to collaborate with CINEKAP for a long time, and we thank AFD for making this project possible. It contributes to achieving LAFAAAC's raison d'être: making the best training in creative industries more accessible to young creatives and entrepreneurs on the continent, in order to create jobs and strengthen cultural and social ties on the continent. We would like to thank Oumar Sall and AFD for their trust!"
Oumar Sall, Founder and CEO of CINEKAP
"We are delighted to be part of this alliance, which will have a more than positive impact on the Senegalese talent we are already training, as well as on all creative professionals in the country.
Continuing our work to develop training programs, particularly in production-related professions, makes us proud and happy, especially since we share a desire to support talented individuals in building the future of the sector.
Mihoub Mezouaghi, Director of Senegal for the French Development Agency: "This project extends and amplifies the support that AFD already provides in Senegal to young talent and professionals in the film and audiovisual industries. This sector is one of the most dynamic on the continent and is both a source of employment and a vehicle for social cohesion, which are at the heart of the Agency's mandate."