Burkina faso: The Burkinabe Agency for Cinematography and Audiovisual (ABCA) has announced the availability of 15,000 digitized titles of old films, offering these to the media as local content for broadcast. This announcement was made during a meeting held on February 10, 2026, with press bosses to discuss opportunities for television stations to enrich their programming with culturally significant material.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the initiative by ABCA aims to facilitate the acquisition of broadcasting rights from producers while promoting cultural sovereignty. During the event, a restored and digitized 20-minute documentary film by Rasmane Ouedraogo, made in 1983 and titled "A People Standing Tall," was screened. The documentary, focusing on Thomas Sankara, holds historical significance as it coincided with the political changes following Sankara's fall.

ABCA's Director General, Moussa Alex Sawadogo, highlighted the importance of empowering media to embrace national content from African directors and producers. He emphasized the role of media in valuing cultural identity and encouraged television executives to engage in co-productions with producers. This collaboration aims to increase the broadcast of national and African content, reinforcing the cultural identity of Burkina Faso.

Moussa Alex Sawadogo also mentioned that ABCA's efforts extend beyond facilitating broadcasting rights for digitized films. The agency will negotiate rights for films in production, supported by funding from the Faso Film Fonds (FFF). The overarching goal is to populate screens with local and African creations, reflecting the cultural identity and sovereignty of the region.

Aubin Guebre, the news director of BF1 television, acknowledged the challenges Burkinabe media outlets face in acquiring broadcasting rights for local films. He noted that ABCA's initiative is beneficial as it addresses the demand for African content among viewers and enhances the accessibility of such content for national screens.