Senegal’s President Macky Sall has commended film director Alain Gomis for winning the Golden Stallion of Yennega.

It is the top award at Fespaco – Africa’s biggest film festival which wrapped up over the weekend in Burkina Faso’ capital, Ouagadougou.

Gomis won  the trophy and a cash prize of 20,000,000 CFA ($32,000; £26,000) for his film Felicite, about a Congolese nightclub singer’s struggle to care for her son following a motorcycle accident.

The Senegalese news agency APS quotes the president as saying:

“That prestigious distinction rewarding you for your film Felicite follows the one that was awarded to you in 2013 at the same festival. I salute your exceptional pedigree and congratulate you warmly.”

 The Senegalese film director took the Golden Stallion four years ago for the film Tey.


He is the second person to be double winner of the prestigious prize after Malian filmmaker Souleymane Cisse.

Twenty films were up for the Golden Stallion during the seven-day festival.

source:starrfmonline.com