Thierry Frémaux: “The Democratic Republic of the Congo has all the resources it needs to become a land of cinema.”
At the end of these discussions, Thierry Frémaux praised the scope of the initiative undertaken by Congolese professionals, as well as the vitality of Congolese cinema: “The Festival aims to present films from around the world, made by artists rooted in their local realities. We believe it is important to go out and meet them, to talk to the players in the field and to discover emerging cinematic approaches. In Kinshasa, there is a strong sense of creative vitality and a desire to tell the story of the country through film. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has all the resources it needs to become a land of cinema, thanks to the political will that supports this ambition.”
Dieudo Hamadi: “A strong signal for the recognition of Congolese cinema”
For Dieudo Hamadi, director, screenwriter, producer, and co-founder of the Okapi Films Collective, this visit marks an important step in the recognition of Congolese cinema: “The visit of the Festival de Cannes to Kinshasa is a strong signal. It gives visibility to our initiatives and reinforces our efforts to shape our cinema. Thanks to the symbolic and media reach of the festival, our voice can be heard more clearly, and our films can be distributed more widely. We hope that this collaboration will encourage the production of a growing number of films.”
The Okapi Films Collective was created during the 78th Festival de Cannes, at the Pavillon des Cinémas du Monde, around Dieudo Hamadi, then a member of the jury. Composed of women and men, established and emerging filmmakers, it was born out of a shared ambition: to lay the foundations for a dynamic and internationally recognized Congolese film industry.
A lasting dialogue between Cannes and Kinshasa
Through this visit, the Festival de Cannes reaffirms its role as a committed cultural player and its commitment to assist film professionals in developing their initiatives and showcasing their work. This dialogue between Cannes and Kinshasa marks a new stage in promoting Congolese talent on the international scene and illustrates the festival’s desire to support creativity wherever it emerges.
The festival continues to open up to the world
The Festival de Cannes will continue its commitment to bringing films from the Official Selection to audiences around the world and engaging in dialogue with film industry professionals during the traditional “Festival de Cannes Film Week / Semana de Cine,” to be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from November 24 to 30, 2025. That event will present a selection of films from the last Festival to the Argentine public.
It will be followed by the 17th annual “Ventana Sur,” Latin America’s leading film and television marketplace, co-organized by the Cannes Marché du Film, which will also take place in Buenos Aires, from December 1 to 5, 2025.
Source: ameyawdebrah.com/
