Karine Barclais, founder of Pavillon Afriques, is calling for a larger African presence at the Cannes Film Festival through an expanded pavilion in the International Village. She emphasizes the importance of filmmakers submitting their work to the festival. "If each African country submits five films annually, we will eventually see a breakthrough," Barclais said.
Pavillon Afriques, covering 100 square meters in the International Village, represents ten Sub-Saharan African countries, including key regional funds like the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission from South Africa. "My goal is to have the same countries participate every year," Barclais stated. "Obtaining a pavilion is tough due to limited space; a country must decide not to return."
After Saudi Arabia vacated its space, Pavillon Afriques made its debut in 2019, costing $90,000 for the spot within a $500,000 total budget. Initially funded by private sources, the pavilion this year is supported by RedTV, a Nigeria-based broadcaster. Barclais encourages African filmmakers and executives to attend Cannes, boosting the visibility of Sub-Saharan Africa's film industry. "I want African professionals to take charge, invest in the pavilion, and bring their local media."
Highlighted Program Events
Highlights included a presentation by Séraphine Angoula on women in the film industry on May 16th, followed by a panel discussion featuring prominent industry women such as Mathy Mendy and Binetou Faye. On May 17th, there was a screening of "Spawns" by Tamieka Briscoe from the USA, with a Q&A session featuring the director and actress Mariann Aalda.
