Dakhla: Morocco has extended a significant educational opportunity by offering 23 scholarships to the Pan-African Federation of Film and Audiovisual Schools. This initiative was unveiled during a consultation and planning meeting held in Dakhla, where the Higher Institute of Audiovisual and Cinema Professions of Morocco (ISMAC) announced the scholarships, consisting of 20 undergraduate and 3 master’s scholarships, to support member schools of the Federation, which is currently presided over by Burkina Faso.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Dr. Bangbi Francis Fr©d©ric Kabor©, president of the Federation’s executive committee, emphasized the importance of these scholarships in enhancing student mobility across Africa. He noted that the Dakhla meeting addressed the primary concern of mobility by offering these scholarships at ISMAC’s Dakhla and Rabat branches. Dr. Kabor© also highlighted that other Moroccan institutions will open their doors to students from the Federation’s member schools, reflecting the Federation’s commitment to fostering pan-African educational exchanges.
The three-day meeting not only focused on student mobility but also included discussions on teacher exchanges and collaborative film production projects, under the concept of “cross-views.” This approach aims to promote a diverse learning environment and cultural exchange among the participating institutions.
The Pan-African Federation of Film and Audiovisual Schools was established in 2023 during the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO). Its founding documents were officially adopted at the 2025 edition of FESPACO, with the leadership structure composed of Burkina Faso, C´te d’Ivoire, and Mali. The Federation’s goal is to unify African film schools to enhance education and promote cultural exchange.
Dr. Kabor© outlined the Federation’s mission to co-produce school films and improve African filmmakers’ understanding of the continent. He stressed the importance of defending black civilizations through the re-examination of African history and the creation of an African school film festival.
In a separate development, the Higher Institute of Image and Sound/Studio-School (ISIS-SE), under Dr. Kabor©’s leadership since 2021, merged with several national cinema bodies in Burkina Faso to form the Burkinabe Agency for Cinematography and Audiovisual (ABCA). Moussa Alex Sawadogo was appointed as the general director of this new agency, further strengthening Burkina Faso’s role in advancing African cinema and audiovisual arts.