Ouagadougou: The general management of the Burkinabe Agency for Cinematography and Audiovisual (ABCA) announced Thursday the establishment of the “FASO FILMS FONDS” fund, a new initiative to finance cinematographic and audiovisual projects in Burkina Faso.

According to Burkina Information Agency, during a press luncheon, the executive management of ABCA emphasized its strategic priorities, development prospects, and visual identity. This initiative is designed to highlight ABCA’s actions and the major missions it intends to implement to enhance the competitiveness of Burkinabe cinema on an international level.

A significant innovation is the creation of a department dedicated to the financing of cinematographic projects. This department will focus on developing mechanisms for financing and monitoring film projects in Burkina Faso, utilizing the ‘FASO FILMS FONDS’ fund.

Brigitte Balaam/Tiendrebeogo, head of the film project financing department, stated the challenge is to work towards making the fund autonomous by developing a sustainable economic model. A call for projects will be initiated in the coming weeks, inviting those with ready projects to apply for state funding.

The event also served to introduce ABCA, its organizational structure, missions, and future perspectives to the media and the Burkinabe public. Technical departments such as ISIS-SE, FESPACO, and the African Cinematheque of Ouagadougou, alongside the Department of Regulation and Control of Cinematographic Activity and the Department of Financing of Cinematographic Projects, will bear the responsibility of promoting Burkinabe culture internationally through cinema.

In a move to reform the cinema and audiovisual sector, the Burkinabe State plans to merge several key entities, including FESPACO, ISIS-SE, and ST-CNCA, by 2024 to create ABCA, a public establishment of a scientific, cultural, and technical nature. This restructuring aims to professionalize and invigorate the cinema industry, contributing to the socio-economic development and international influence of Burkina Faso.