Woye Apolline Traore & Ayuko Babu

Woye Apolline Traore is a Pan African film director from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.  Daughter of a United Nations representative, she studied film at Emerson College and grew to popularity in the early 2000’s.  She is a director and writer, known for Borders (2017), Kounandi (2004) and The Price of Ignorance (2000).

Ayuko Babu is an international legal, cultural and political consultant specializing in African affairs. In addition to the Pan African Film Festival, Mr. Babu currently serves as a Director on the Board of the Palais de la Culture in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Notably, he has worked as a consultant to Bishop H.H. Brookins, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Dick Griffey, President of the African Development Public Investment Corporation and SOLAR Records. In 1977, Babu was a consultant to Stevie Wonder during Mr. Wonder’s participation at FESTAC (the 2nd Festival of Pan African Arts and Culture) held in Lagos, Nigeria. At FESTAC among other activities, Babu coordinated the satellite transmission of Mr. Wonder’s GRAMMY appearance from Lagos.

He is currently working on several projects focusing on structuring and developing business, investment and cultural links between African Americans and Continental-born Africans. He is particularly aware of the need for institutional relationships. Under his leadership, the Pan African Film and Arts Festival has established institutional ties with the Pan African Festival of Cinema and Television (FESPACO) in Burkina Faso. And has established ties with Africano Film Festival in Milan, Italy. Additionally, he is developing formal ties with the Film & Video Foundation of South Africa, the South African Government’s entity to develop and promote the South African film industry.

WEBSITE: PAFF.org