The 2021 edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (Fespaco), Africa's leading film festival, which was scheduled to take place from February 27 to March 6, was postponed indefinitely on Friday due to the coronavirus, according to Burkinabe authorities.
The Council of Ministers "adopted the decision to postpone Fespaco to a later date," government spokesman Ousseni Tamboura said at a press briefing on Friday.
Burkina Faso, where 10,423 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic, with 120 deaths, is experiencing the same situation as the rest of Africa, with the virus spreading rapidly.
Burkina Faso, where 10,423 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed since the start of the pandemic, with 120 deaths, is experiencing a second wave that is more severe than the first, as is the rest of West Africa.
"Given the health situation, both nationally and internationally, linked to the coronavirus pandemic, it will be difficult to hold Fespaco on the scheduled date
,
"
Tamboura added.
"It will not be easy for us to decide on a (new date) because it is linked to the evolution of the health situation
,
"
said the government spokesman, who is also the minister of communication.
Fespaco, Africa's leading film festival, is held every two years in Ouagadougou. Each edition sees films of all formats compete for the supreme award, the Etalon d'Or. Since its creation in 1969, it has brought together tens of thousands of spectators and actors from the world of cinema in Ouagadougou.
This postponement was announced two days after that of the Cannes Film Festival, the world's largest film festival, which is traditionally held in May but has been postponed to July.
Source: AFP