Fatshimetrie, September 24, 2024 – The Congolese film scene has just been offered an unprecedented opportunity with the launch of the first Francophone and African film festival ‘Fiesta-karibu’, in Lubumbashi, in the South-East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Initiated by the ASBL ‘Soleil Levant’, based in Belgium, this event aims to highlight the talents of Congolese and African filmmakers, often unknown both nationally and internationally.
Aime Kalenga, representative of ‘Soleil Levant’, stressed the importance of supporting these talented artists and promoting their development on a global scale. Unlike traditional competitions, this festival does not seek to distribute awards, but rather to build bridges between local artists and their foreign counterparts, thus promoting creative and cultural exchanges.
Congolese youth are at the heart of this initiative, which aims to promote cultural activities and highlight the richness of Congolese culture through cinema. By focusing on the screening of local films in various environments, both urban and peri-urban, as well as on debates and critiques led by experts in the artistic field, this festival aims to promote the dynamism of the Congolese film scene.
Organized in collaboration with the Centre Wallonie Bruxelles, the ‘Fiesta-karibu’ festival will last a week and will offer a platform for exchange and enriching cinematographic discoveries. This event promises to be a real springboard for local filmmakers, offering them the opportunity to make their voices and artistic vision heard on the international scene.
Ultimately, the ‘Fiesta-karibu’ film festival stands out as an unmissable event to celebrate the diversity and creativity of Congolese and African cinema, while promoting intercultural exchanges and opening up new perspectives for the influence of these promising talents. Through this bold initiative, ‘Soleil Levant’ and the Centre Wallonie Bruxelles are actively contributing to the growth and recognition of the Congolese film scene, thus placing Lubumbashi on the map of unmissable events for fans of the seventh art.