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QUINTESSENCE
International Film Festival of Ouidah
1st Edition : 8th to 12th january 2003

General presentation

Quintessence is an annual film festival. The aim of this festival is to make the most films possible known to the Benin's public. These films will be mostly French speaking. A special place will be reserved for African films. But the films of important directors and producer, as well as those with novelty will equally be welcomed, be they American, Asian, European…

The initiator of this project is a Benin director and producer, Jean ODOUTAN, whose films have been welcomed by the critics in many festivals in the 5 continents. His striking personality and his dynamic nature make his future surely promising. Thanks to him Quintessence is already proving as an important media cover.

Many partners are already involved and bring logistic and financial support to Quintessence.

It isn't by chance that all film festivals took place in beautiful cities (Venice, Cannes, and Deauville…)
Quintessence is particularly lucky on this point. Ouidah is a heavenly place with breathtaking beeches and plentiful vegetation. Ouidah is historically important: it was the main harbour for the slave trade. Ouidah is already a tourist venue with its museum, its sacred forest, its cathedral, its python temple, and its neo-Portuguese architecture…

God with three heads
At the same time, easy of access from Cotonou (commercial capital and airport of the country) but also preserved from the smog and pollution of a town. Ouidah will allow Benin to recover its natural right to be the Latin Quarter of Africa.