Jolie Murenzi, a Rwandan art director with Rwanda Art Initiative, is appearing on the panel of judges at the 23rd edition of the Pan-African Film & TV Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO). “I am excited to be part of the judges that will select the best film and art pieces at this festival. This is a special moment for me and the film industry in Rwanda because it shows that our efforts are recognised by Africa” Murenzi said before she flew to Burkina Faso on Friday evening. 101 total titles (shorts, features, documentaries, TV serials, and more) will be screened at the festival.The twenty third edition of the Pan-African Film & TV Festival of Ouagadougou that started on Saturday, will run through March 2, 2013, under the theme “African Cinema and Public Policy in Africa.”FESPACO is the largest African film festival, held biennially in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The festival is the biggest regular cultural event on the African continent and it mostly focuses on the African film and African filmmakers. The festival, created in 1969, starts two weeks after the last Saturday of February with the opening night in the Stade du 4-Août, the national stadium. The festival is for African film industry professionals offering them the chance to establish working relationships, exchange ideas and to promote their work. FESPACO’s stated aim is to “contribute to the expansion and development of African cinema as a means of expression, education and awareness-raising”.
