The “Ecrire à Bangui” (translated to “Writing in Bangui”) workshop is a new initiative for emerging filmmakers from the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and the Central African Republic.
Launched by the association Lê Ti Beäfrica, it aims to support the rise of African filmmaking in the region by providing foundational skills in screenwriting, especially for novice filmmakers.
According to Pascale Appora Gnekindy, Director and Programme Manager for Lê Ti Beäfrica, the workshop is crucial for anyone looking to enter the film industry, emphasising the importance of scriptwriting as the first step in the filmmaking process.
“Writing in Bangui means giving the basics of film writing to all those who would like to get into cinema. We are well aware that to make a film, you must first think about it and write it. And once we’ve written it, that’s now where we can know what we want to do and then, afterwards, bring it to the screens. And so this phase is really essential. Through this workshop, we want something lasting and which supports the authors with a view to promoting them inside and outside the continent”, said Gnekindy.
The workshop is designed for eligible filmmakers over 19 years old who are proficient in French. The requirements for registration and participation include a cover letter, a detailed bio, a film idea of three pages maximum, a certificate of nationality, and photos of the candidate.
The workshop will be held in two phases in Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic: a writing phase from July 5 to July 20, followed by a post-production phase from July 29 to August 3. Concerning the programme, Lê Ti Beäfrica requires candidates outside the Central African Republic to ensure their availability and participation during this period.
The initial rigorous workshop, lasting about a month, will ensure that participants leave with at least a short film script created in pairs. Afterwards, Lê Ti Beäfrica will offer year-long support to help participants further develop their scripts, providing them with a tangible project that can open career opportunities.
Lê Ti Beäfrica, meaning “the eyes of the Central African Republic,” is an association focused on supporting young people in cinema and culture to elevate Central African and broader African cinema.
Applications will close on March 30. To learn more, click here: