Good expectations from FESTICAB activities

Thanks to BRARUDI sponsorship (15th April 2014) to the International Film and Audiovisual Festival of Burundi (FESTICAB) for a period of three years FESTICAB participants and organizers are optimistic.-By Lorraine Josiane Manishatse

(in the middle) FESTICAB Chairman, Ngabo Léonce thanking the BRARUDI Managing Director for the sponsorship.©Iwacu

It is the first time that FESTICAB gets a contract for a period of three years. A large step has been reached as it is the first official sponsorship received. “We are certainly sure that we will have the good preparation and functioning of FESTICAB during these three years. It is also a great honor and credibility to get support from a giant Corporate like BRARUDI,” praises Landry Mugisha, the Spokesperson of FESTICAB. It is worth mentioning that FESTICAB is a cultural and cinematic event organized every year. Its main objective is to promote and disseminate images made by Burundian filmmakers in particular and foreigners at national and international level. Mugisha indicates that some challenges related to financial problems will be solved during this 6th edition of FESTICAP. There was a problem of communication between participants and organizers because of the lack of enough means. “Preparations will be in time and participants will get sufficient time to submit their cinema films,” he points out. Moreover, many movie professionals, directors and producers will be invited, and may finance some of Burundian films with better scenario after their own assessment. The jury will be composed of talented people from different countries, something which is a good opportunity for Burundian filmmakers to have contacts with important persons. “The more we get sufficient means, the more we get many foreign visitors. Burundians films will be known all over the world. FESTICAB is an opening to the world,” explains Mugisha.

Filmmakers are no longer pessimistic

For Olivier Iturerere, ITULIVE Bros. Pictures Director and Producer, the sponsorship offered to FESTICAB is an encouragement act for Burundian filmmakers. “Now, we are stable, we are sure that FESTICAB activities will be functioning without any challenge,” he mentions. According to him, filmmakers participating in FESTICAB activities will benefit from the fund through suitable and effective training from professional guests. “Normally, after FESTICAB, there is mobile cinema presentation organized in the countryside so that Burundians know them. If there were a lack of financial means, those mobile cinemas would not be presented. Thanks to that sponsorship, there is nothing to fear during these three years,” says Iturerere. He deplores that entrepreneurs and investors working in Burundi have not yet understood the importance of culture. They should fund FESTICAB as it is a manifestation that boosts the Burundian culture. “It is the first time that FESTICAB gets a contract of a so long period.” He invites Burundians, especially entrepreneurs and investors to support more Burundian cultural activities because it is through culture that Burundi should be well known in the world. He also asks Burundi Government to increase the budget for culture promotion.