Africa’s biggest and most respected film festival - the biannual FESPACO recently took place in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou. Films from across the continent were screened and there was strong competition for the festival’s top prize- the coveted Golden Stallion of Yennenga. Burkina Faso has been dealing with a decade long insurgency and around 40% of the country is no longer controlled by the government. Jihadist attacks continue to increase with dozens of civilians and soldiers killed every week. Millions of people have been forced to flee their homes.

Africa Daily’s Akwasi Sarpong spoke to award winning Burkinabe film director Apolline Traore about why she believes cinema can bring hope to her country.