The members of the African Federation of Film Critics (FACC) met on Saturday, May 19, 2007 here in Cannes and pledged to work together for the promotion of the art of film critique and closer relations among members.

In a meeting held at the Nigerian Pavilion 111 at the Riveria, and attended by members from France, Nigeria and Tunisia, the group observed the low level of participation in the activities of FIPRESCI International by West African countries, especially the English speaking nations.

It was resolved that efforts must be redoubled, using Nigeria as the coordinating centre, to energise participation and networking by film critics to not only promote their art but also the films of the concerned countries.

The Vice President of FIPRESCI for Africa, Hassouna Mansouri, who is due to step down at the General Assembly slated for first week of July in Rome, emphasised the need for African film critics to take opportunities such as jury membership, training, contribution to Africine and other web sites, and so on.

The Moderator of The African Film Forum, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye, while commending the Embassy of the France in Nigeria for its past assistance to the Nigerian Association of Film Critics, through training workshops, expressed the hope that such support would continue and be expanded to include more countries in West Africa.

It would be recalled that The Embassy of France in Lagos, during the tenure of Pierre Barrot, sponsored two film critics'workshops in Lagos and Ghana.

Tunde OLADUNJOYE
Cannes, France