Ivorian actor Isaach De Bankolé has unveiled “Premier Continent,” a cultural initiative that plans to establish a pan-African theatre and film school in Côte d’Ivoire and launch an international film festival aimed at raising the global profile of African cinema.
The project was presented on Monday at the Majestic Ivoire cinema in Abidjan during a press conference attended by Thierry Frémaux, General Delegate of the Cannes Film Festival, and Françoise Remarck, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Culture and Francophonie.
The initiative aims to strengthen professional training for young African talent and expand access to careers in film and theatre, as its organisers seek to increase the international visibility of African productions.
The first component of “Premier Continent” will be a school dedicated to training actors for theatre and cinema. Based in Abidjan, the institution is intended to equip young Ivorians and other Africans with the skills needed to build careers and achieve greater professional independence.
Courses are expected to be taught in both French and English, according to the organisers, creating opportunities for collaboration among artists from different parts of the continent.
De Bankolé said he had been working on the project for nearly 40 years. He argued that Africa has a considerable pool of young talent but needs stronger professional training structures to help emerging artists develop their skills and access opportunities in the industry.
The actor also said preparations were already underway, even though the school’s physical facilities have not yet been completed. A first short film is planned for January 2027.
The project’s second component is the Premier Continent International Film Festival, whose inaugural edition is scheduled for November 2027.
The festival aims to give African films greater international exposure, encourage professional networking and contribute to the development of the continent’s film industry.
The participation of Thierry Frémaux in the project’s presentation signals support from the Cannes Film Festival. Frémaux highlighted the importance of training institutions and film festivals in developing the industry and praised the enthusiasm of Ivorian audiences for cinema.
Françoise Remarck said the Ivorian government would support the initiative by helping establish the framework and conditions needed for its implementation.
“Premier Continent” is an initiative led by De Bankolé in collaboration with Franco-Ivorian filmmaker Philippe Lacôte.
Beyond artistic training, the organisers hope the project will help strengthen Africa’s film industry by developing new talent and creating more professional opportunities.
The next steps will involve setting up the school and preparing the festival. Detailed information on the training programmes, operating arrangements and full implementation schedule has yet to be announced.
If implemented as planned, the initiative could strengthen Abidjan’s role in African cinema by bringing together professional training, film production and international industry engagement.