During the colonial era Africa was exclusively represented exclusively by Western filmmakers, which resulted in portrayals of Africa and African people as "exoticized", "submissive workers" or as "savage or cannibalistic".[1] The African independence movements that rose out of the 1950s and 1960s resulted in cinema that aimed to use the camera as a tool to counter these colonial portrayals. Women were active in the African film industry prior to and during this time, however their roles were predominantly limited to supportive positions such as acting. The emergence of women into other roles in the film industry during this period coincided with a collective assembly of film professionals that desired to promote African cinema.[2] These film professionals, several of whom were women, began to establish organizations and festivals geared towards the cultivation and recognition of African films such as the Pan African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) and the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI), both created in 1969.[2] The World Festival of Black Arts, a month-long culture and arts festival, also emerged during this time period and highlighted literature, fine arts, music, cinema, theatre, fashion, architecture, design, and dance from creators from the African Diaspora, particularly from filmmakers in the United States.[2][3]