In a career spanning for more than 20 years and faced with a lot of challenges, Fanta Regina Nacro, is one of only a handful of female African film makers.
FANTA REGINA NACRO was born on the 4th of September 1962 and grew up in the rural part of Burkina Faso. She is the first woman in this country to direct a feature film and she is also a founding member of the African Guide of directors and producers (Guilde Africaine des Realisateurs et Producteurs).
While growing up, Fanta Regina Nacro had the intention of becoming a midwife. But the intention changed as she was brought up around story telling which made her change her mind about midwifing and instead got interested in film making. With the new desire of being part of the film industry, she then enrolled into the Institut d’Education.
Cinematographique de Ouagadougou (INAFEC), a film school in Burkina Faso, where she received her first degree in Audio visual science and technics in 1986. She equally earned a master’s degree in Film and Audio Visual Studies at the University of Paris equally known as the Sorbonne.
FANTA REGINA NACRO’s Career.
In a collaboration during her studies at INAFEC, her film department partnered with the Howard University’s film department led by Professor Abiyi Ford. She considered this collective project to be her first cinematographic experience. Allowing her to define her role in the profession as she was able to meet Zeinabu Davis a film maker.
It is during her education, that she was able to learn many different courses on filmmaking. which included cinematography and editing, which laid a great foundation for her in the film industry. Before being able to produce her own film, Nacro worked as a television announcer and also in editing and continuity. After this different roles, she then started working as a director during which she produced her first film in 1991, titled ‘Un Certain Matin’. In 1993, she founded her own production company known as “Les Films du Défi”, having as mission creating, producing, distributing films, supporting new filmmakers and raising awareness of African films.
Nacro, in 1999 collaborated with Jean Marie Teno and Balufu Bakupa-Kanyinda and created the African Guide of Directors and Producers (Guide Africaine des Realisateurs et Producteurs), with the aim of expanding the work of African Film makers. It should be noted that this inniciative has worked to bring more attention to African Cinema.
Her films
FANTA REGINA NACRO is popularly known for producing short films around Europe, North America and Africa. In 1991, she produced her first film entitled Un Certain Matin which is 15 minutes long, she then produced her second movie in 1993 titled L’Ecole au Coeur de la Vie which is a 13 minutes film. In 1995, she produced a 32 minutes film titled Puk Nini which means “Open Your Eyes”. This film talks about adultery from both the male and the female point of view, this film has three main characters Isa, Salif and Astou.
In 1998, she got inspired to direct a 23 minutes short film titled, Le Truck de Konaté. This movie brings out the various myths behind the use of condom, sexuality, AIDS, polygamy and change in a Burkinabe Village. In 2001, she produced an award winning movie titled Bintou. Her 31 minutes movie has won over twenty prices in international festivals and equally won the FESPACO prize for best short film in 2001.
Furthermore, Nacro has produced over 15 films but the last of them was produced in 2004. It is a 100 minutes film titled Night of Truth. This last movie is considered to be her first full length movie. It should be noted that, Nacro often takes humorous perspectives on the traditions of her country and the complexity of the relation between tradition and modernity. She also turns her focus on sexuality, gender relations and modernity.
Fanta Regina Nacro has torn down barriers throughout her career and according to her, improving the reach of African Cinema will be a continual goal among African directors. Also, improving the audience number is very important to grow the African film industry.
Bio Express: Awards.
Nacro received the Tanit d’Or for short film Un Certain Matin at Carthage In 1992.
In 1992, Nacro received the Licorne d’Or for short film Un Certain Matin at Amiens. 1993, Nacro received the first price for Air Afrique for short film Un Certain matin at Milan.
In 1997, she received nomination for Puk Nini at FESPACO.
By NJILAH Betty.
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