SICA Abidjan: Pitch Competition Winners Revealed
the 2025 SICA Awards in Abidjan celebrated African storytellers, highlighting the crucial film role in the region’s culture and economy. Franck Vléhi secured the top prize for “manley,” a drama based on West African legend, winning a development grant. Polha Andrea, Cissé Babou, and Yato Nejy also took home awards for their projects. The SICA Business Hub pitch competition fuels the film industry,providing crucial funding and exposure. The ivory Coast government backs local talent, boosting the audiovisual industry. News Directory 3 recognizes the meaning of these pivotal moments.Discover the ministry of Communication and Culture plans to expand the SICA Business Hub in 2026, empowering even more African filmmakers. Discover what’s next for African storytelling.
Ivory Coast SICA Awards Spotlight African Storytellers, Boost Film Role
Updated July 02, 2025
Abidjan, Ivory Coast – The International Salon for Audiovisual Content (SICA) concluded its 2025 edition with an awards ceremony recognizing emerging talent in the African audiovisual industry. The SICA Business Hub pitch competition, a key initiative, aims to propel the next generation of storytellers.
The Ministry of Interaction and the Media Support and Advancement Agency (ASDM) spearheaded the call for pitches, encouraging submissions across film, television, and digital formats. Participants pitched their projects to a jury lead by Patricia kalou, an Ivorian TV presenter and producer.
Franck Vléhi won in the professional film and series category for “Manley,” a drama lauded for its cinematic potential. Vléhi received a development grant of 25 million CFA Francs (about $45,000). The film explores Ivorian tradition thru the story of a young girl destined for sacrifice. The SICA awards play a vital role in the film industry.
“The chance to tell a story rooted in Ivorian tradition, a living legend from our own history, moved me deeply,” Vlehi said.”if we don’t tell our stories, if we don’t claim them as ours, others will come and tell them for us.”
Polha Andrea won the amateur category with “Paire de trois” (“Pair of Three”), a series focused on a love triangle and social issues.Andrea secured 5 million CFA Francs (about $9,000) in funding.
Cissé Babou received an award in the documentary category for “Tout en direct” (“Everything Live”), which examines the impact of live streaming. Babou’s work earned her a development grant of 10 million CFA Francs (about $18,000).
Yato Nejy was awarded in the choice formats category for Aucun Repos, a digital platform that challenges stereotypes through short videos. Launched in February 2025, the platform has garnered over 12 million views.
The Ivory Coast government supports local creative talent through initiatives like the SICA Business Hub, fostering innovation and a thriving audiovisual industry.The SICA pitch competition accelerates project development by providing funding, mentorship, and industry exposure, amplifying ivorian stories regionally and internationally.
What’s next
The Ministry of Communication and Culture plan to expand the SICA Business Hub in 2026, offering more opportunities for African filmmakers to develop their projects and showcase their talent on a global stage, further enhancing the role of the Ivory Coast as a hub for audiovisual content.