The first edition of the La Semaine du Cinéma festival opened on Tuesday March 30, 2021 at the Canal Olympia cinema in Yaoundé in front of about fifty people. An event carried by the production company Undercover Brothers Entertainment.
It was with the Mbolè rhythm (new Cameroonian urban music) that the opening ceremony of the first edition of La Semaine du Cinéma began. A group of 4 young dancers and singers armed with their Njembé animated the public who came to experience the first edition of this festival dedicated to Afro-French-speaking cinemas. The Canal Olympia cinema in Yaoundé was chosen as the setting for this event supported by the Cameroonian Ministry of Arts and Culture.
Cinema is struggling to take off in Cameroon and to see this festival open today after a year of hard work is simply magnificent.
The Covid 19 pandemic will therefore not have got the better of the organizers (Undercovers Brothers Entertainment) who prepared the event for more than a year with diligent communication. The evening was marked by a word of welcome from the Cameroon director of Canal Olympia, Marie-Jeanne Nock, and by the speech and tears of the general delegate of the festival Hervé Moukoko. “It is touching to see that African cinema is recovering its letters of nobility. Cinema is struggling to take off in Cameroon and to see this festival open today after a year of hard work is simply magnificent“ he clarified. The ceremony was also marked by the presence of several singing artists such as: Blaise B, Dj Bilick and of course by the presence of many cinema personalities: Frank Thierry Lea Malle, Rodrigue Fotso, Kola Sucré, Dorly Dorcas, Aissatou Njayou, Passy Ngah.
4 films were on the program of this ceremony which marks the start of an intense week of film screenings from several countries around the world. 3 short films: The Code directed by Hervé Moukoko, Cause and Effect directed by Brussel Foncha and Spirale directed by the Beninese Céline Acho who was warmly welcomed by the public. The feature film Amour Kréyol by Thaizen Ringuet closed the ceremony.
The Festival continues throughout the week with several activities and numerous film screenings.
Lydie Pierre Nsakamo
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