On Saturday, actors, directors, and cinema enthusiasts gathered at the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé, Cameroon’s capital, to mark the closing ceremony of the annual Ecrans Noirs festival. A total of 48 films were thoughtfully selected for this 27th edition of the event, with just 11 of them contending for the festival’s coveted top honor, the Ecran d’Or.
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This year, Cameroonian filmmaker Ellie Foumbi clinched the prestigious award with her compelling film, “Mon père le diable.”
For devoted cinephiles like Coriane Sama, the festival provided a splendid week of cinematic exploration. She expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I particularly liked the feature films; I discovered many of them that were screened during the festival.”
The festival celebrated a wide spectrum of contributions, not only from filmmakers but also from actors and the rich variety of content presented. Stéphanie Tum was thrilled to receive the prize for Best Cameroonian Actress, and she rejoiced in her film’s victory as the Best Central African Film.
She commented, “We had a great week in Yaoundé, and I hope we’ll be back next year to present other works and win other prizes.”
The festivities weren’t limited to local talents, as filmmakers from various African countries also graced the event, many of them returning home with well-deserved accolades. Senegalese filmmaker Thomas Delgado was a notable victor, receiving the Grand Prize for Best Scriptwriter.
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He conveyed his gratitude, stating, “It’s truly an award in recognition of everything I’ve done and all the sacrifices I’ve made to get to this point. I’d like to say a big thank you to the festival. But this is recognition for my work as a co-writer because I worked on the script with my colleague Ousmane Mati Dudu Ndiaye.”
The festival, which took place from October 14, featured an impressive array of African films, providing a platform to showcase the continent’s cinematic talent. Yet, this year’s event held a distinct significance with a heartfelt tribute to the late Senegalese film director, producer, and writer, Sembène Ousmane, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday.
