The Francophonie Image Fund celebrates award-winning films and promotes cinematic cooperation

The International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) is reinforcing its presence at the Cannes Film Festival by actively supporting filmmakers, producers and institutions from French-speaking countries in the Global South. Through the Francophonie Image Fund, which supports the development, production and post-production of films and series in OIF member countries with low to middle incomes, numerous cinematic talents can express themselves and share their stories with the world.

For three decades, the OIF Fund has provided support to over 1,500 films and series. This year, a record-breaking six award-winning films from the Francophonie Image Fund have been selected on the Croisette. They include Banel & Adama [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ramata-Toulaye Sy
film profile] by Ramata Toulaye-Sy (Senegal) and Four Daughters [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kaouther Ben Hania
film profile] by Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia) in the Competition, Omen [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Baloji
film profile] by Baloji (Democratic Republic of Congo) and The Hounds [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kamal Lazraq
film profile] by Kamel Lazraq (Morocco) in Un Certain Regard, Deserts [+see also:
film review
interview: Faouzi Bensaïdi
film profile] by Faouzi Bensaïdi (Morocco) and Mambar Pierrette [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rosine Mbakam
film profile] by Rosine Mbakam (Cameroon) in the Directors' Fortnight, and The Sea and its Waves [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Liana & Renaud (Lebanon) in the ACID selection.

In addition to its support for the Francophonie Image Fund, the OIF has been a fervent promoter of the Fabrique Cinéma of the Institut français since its inception. This year, the Fabrique is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and of the ten selected projects, six are led by filmmakers from OIF member countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, Senegal and Tunisia, as well as observer countries like Argentina and Costa Rica.

The OIF will also take advantage of the Cannes Film Festival to propose and participate in several meetings focusing on its priority areas for action, including financing film productions in the francophone countries of the Global South, co-production, and cooperation with African support funds. These initiatives aim to strengthen connections among francophone filmmakers and encourage fruitful collaboration for the development of cinema in the Global South.

(Translated from French)