The founder of Fireflies receives a continental distinction recognizing twenty years of commitment to African cinema and the promotion of Malagasy talent.
A new international honor puts Malagasy cinema in the spotlight. Felana Rajaonarivelo, director, founder, and CEO of Fireflies, received the Women in Film & TV (WIFT) Africa Special Recognition Award on July 2 in Lusaka, Zambia, during the Africa Creative Market (ACM) Global and the Creative Industry Business Summit (CIBS).
Awarded during an international conference dedicated to the empowerment, representation, and development of women in the film and audiovisual sectors in Africa, this prize acknowledges the filmmaker’s career. According to Fireflies, this distinction goes beyond individual recognition, highlighting twenty years of collective work dedicated to creating powerful narratives, supporting talent, developing international partnerships, and promoting African and Malagasy stories on the global stage.
This award comes a few weeks after Felana Rajaonarivelo’s participation in the Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival, where she already represented Madagascar. In Lusaka, she continues this momentum by taking part in two major events for African creative industries, bringing together filmmakers, producers, photographers, designers, entrepreneurs, investors, and decision-makers from across the continent.
“The adventure continues”
Invited as a VIP Guest Speaker, the filmmaker participated in a panel focused on the empowerment of women in creative industries. She also engaged in professional meetings and B2B sessions with institutional representatives to strengthen collaborations between Madagascar and several African countries, notably Zambia, Nigeria, and Kenya.
“I had the honor of being part of the official WIFT Africa delegation. The adventure continues in Lusaka. A huge thank you to Dr. Inya Lawal, founder of the Africa Creative Market and Ascend Studios Foundation, and President of WIFT Africa, for her trust and for inviting me as one of the VIP Guest Speakers for this edition,” she declared.
As the only Malagasy representative in the official WIFT Africa delegation, Felana Rajaonarivelo also led an experience-sharing session for young creatives, highlighting cooperation opportunities between African professionals in film, photography, design, and cultural industries. Her presence confirms Madagascar’s growing role in creative exchanges across the continent.
Cassie Ramiandrasoa
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-04 06:43:25 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/distinction-felana-rajaonarivelo.html