A documentary about the struggle for affordable housing has won the prestigious President Thomas Sankara Award.

The South African documentary Mother City was honoured in the 2025 edition of the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso - Africa’s largest and most influential film festival.

FESPACO showcases over 200 films from across Africa and the African diaspora, bringing together the continent’s most visionary filmmakers. “To be recognised with this award in such a dynamic and historic space is an immense honour,” said Mother City producer Kethiwe Ngcobo. “The legacy of Thomas Sankara’s commitment to justice, and resistance resonates deeply with the themes of Mother City, making this recognition particularly meaningful.”

The President Thomas Sankara Award recognises films that embody the ideals of Pan-Africanism, resistance, and social justice.

Mother City director, Miki Redelinghuys reflects on her experience at the festival: “I have always wanted to attend FESPACO, but being there exceeded my expectations. The vibrancy, warmth and deep love and passion for cinema that I experienced in Burkina Faso has inspired me. It was a privilege to be amongst some of the legends of African cinema. To be awarded the President Thomas Sankara award was the best I could have imagined for our film. This award is a homage to the activists featured in Mother City, their work and the pursuit of a more equal and just society.”

Beyond the awards, the Mother City team was part of key conversations at FESPACO. They participated in the Doc Days session hosted by docA and Real Reel Impact (RRI), both of which have provided vital impact support to the Mother City impact campaign.

"It's meaningful to receive support from organisations from the continent and build networks of mutual support," said Redelinghuys. The festival also saw strong participation from South African documentary filmmakers, with key initiatives such as the Lab of Labs by the Durban FilmMart (DFM), Climate Story Lab and the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival.

Mother City will run at the Joburg Film Festival from 11 to 15 March. The screening is on Saturday 15 March at 1pm SAST, at the NuMetro 3, Hyde Park. Tickets are available at Webtickets.

Weekend Argus