Can you tell us about your association, Wani Ayo, and its objectives?
Wani Ayo is an association created in 2021 to promote cultural works in film by creating a link between those produced by the diaspora and those produced on the continent. I wanted to give my commitments a more official framework: I didn't just want to be an actress, I also wanted to initiate projects in the field and carry out actions on the African continent, particularly in Benin.
Today, the association's three initiatives have been carried out in Benin, but our desire to work in other French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries will gradually lead us to include them in our scope of action.
Beninese cinema wants to play its part in Benin's development. That is why you organized two days of reflection on the subject. What were the main conclusions?
The Wani Ayo association did indeed organize two days of reflection to clarify and understand why the Beninese film industry is struggling to emerge. As a member of the OIF funding committee and several festival juries, I have had the opportunity to evolve in this environment and observe that Beninese productions struggle to be exported. These days of reflection were a first step in understanding Benin's issues and thinking together about solutions.
To this end, we invited associations, federations, and industry players to discuss the subject. We identified a major problem related to training, as well as a lack of funding and organization of the sector at the state level. There is a desperate need for a "code" to govern the film industry in Benin and provide a framework for the sector.
At the end of these two days, we published a report that was submitted to the Beninese authorities. Now we want to respond to the issues raised with concrete solutions. We started by organizing, with CANAL+ Benin and CANAL+ University in particular, a high-quality training session, a three-part training course with three modules: screenwriting, production, and acting. Around 20 professionals were able to take part in this training to strengthen their skills. Ultimately, we want to increase the number of these training sessions.
The film industry in Benin is struggling to generate revenue. Why do you think this is? What needs to be done?
There are a growing number of initiatives in Benin to support the local film industry. Following a cabinet meeting on November 2, the Beninese government announced its intention to create a committee to support the development of the film industry. This new entity will be responsible for promoting cinema in the country and beyond its borders, thereby contributing to the country's economic growth and international influence. Recognized experts and personalities from the world of cinema will represent this new committee, which will be responsible for promoting the development of a dynamic film industry.
I believe that things will gradually improve and the local film industry will generate revenue, but this must be accompanied by a well-defined policy, a "code" to regulate remuneration, partnership agreements, and sponsorship to boost local production.
Any other projects in the pipeline?
In addition to theater production, we are organizing a film screening in Conakry with the Institut Français. At the same time, we are working on a mini-series project based on a short film we shot during our training session. Starting in January, we will be able to put together a dossier to find sources of funding.