Ivorian actor Isaach de Bankolé and Franco-Ivorian filmmaker Philippe Lacôte have announced "Premier Continent," a new cinema initiative in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, comprising a pan-African theatre and film school and an international film festival. Developed with the patronage of the Festival de Cannes, the project will be formally launched from 25–27 October 2026, with the festival’s inaugural edition planned for late November or early December 2027.
The proposed school, to be located in Abidjan’s Riviera Golf district, will specialize in professional training for stage and screen actors, offering courses, masterclasses and connections to producers, broadcasters and financing institutions across Africa and Europe. The initiative will also encourage co-productions between countries of the Global South. The accompanying Festival du Premier Continent will provide an international platform for filmmakers and include outdoor public screenings across Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s principal commercial and audiovisual production centre.
Cannes general delegate Thierry Frémaux will participate in the launch on 26 October, delivering a masterclass moderated by Lacôte and presenting Romanian director Cristian Mungiu’s 2026 Palme d’Or winner "Fjord" at Pathé Cap Sud. De Bankolé, whose credits include "Casino Royale" and "Black Panther," served on the Cannes competition jury in May 2026. Lacôte directed "Run" (2014) and "Night of the Kings" (2020).
The project is being developed in partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Culture and Francophonie, with additional institutional partners expected to be announced. Financing details, the school’s opening date and its operational timetable have not yet been disclosed.