
Africa Cinema Summit: Pioneering the Future of African Film
By Mustapha Yahaya
The National Film Authority of Ghana in partnership with FilmHouse Group and Silverbird Cinema, Ghana proudly announce the groundbreaking Africa Cinema Summit, slated to unfold from November 14 to November 16, 2023, at the prestigious Movenpick Ambassadors Hotel and Silverbird Cinema in Accra, Ghana. This three-day event marks a historic milestone as the first-ever Cinema Summit in Africa organized by Africans.
The Africa Cinema Summit promises to be a dynamic gathering, drawing Film Authorities, Filmmakers, Cinema Investors, Cinema Architects and builders, Heritage Center Authorities, Distributors, and Exhibitors, among other industry stakeholders. This unprecedented initiative is a testament to the commitment of the National Film Authority to drive the transformation and revitalization of the African film industry.
Aligned with the broader vision of the Ghana Cinema Agenda, the Africa Cinema Summit aims to address critical issues such as infrastructural gaps and the cultivation of a robust cinema-going culture. These challenges are closely linked to the scarcity of cinemas not only in Ghana but across the African continent.
Recent data from the 2021 UNESCO reports underscore the enormous potential of the film and creative industry, estimated to be worth over 20 billion dollars, positioning it as the largest employment sector in Africa. However, the report also reveals a stark reality: fewer than 1,700 screens serve the entire African continent, home to approximately 1.4 billion people, meaning that more than 80% of the population has never experienced a cinema outing.
To bridge these gaps and propel the growth of the African film industry, the Africa Cinema Summit has been meticulously curated to bring together participants from across the continent. Confirmed attendees and strategic partners include leading film exhibitors in West Africa, with the FilmHouse group as the organizing partner. Notable screening partners include Silverbird Cinemas, Ghana,Ster-Kinekor, the largest exhibitor in South Africa, and Century Cinemax, a major player in East Africa. The alliance extends to Nigerian Theaters Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), Canal Olympio, and Pathe distribution, along with cinemas from French-speaking Africa.
Currently, Ghana has cinemas in only two areas of the country, operating fewer than five (5) cinemas for a population exceeding 35 million people. Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, the CEO of the National Film Authority and the convener of the Summit, emphasizes that the event is grounded in the twin pillars of content growth and cinema screen growth on the continent. She asserts that this initiative must evolve into both a national and continental dialogue, encouraging broad participation from students, market women, teachers, corporate entities, and government bodies. According to Asante, the benefits of this endeavor will impact every facet of society.
As we stand at this pivotal moment in our history, the Africa Cinema Summit beckons film stakeholders from across the continent to engage in meaningful discussions about the challenges hindering the sector’s growth, with a steadfast focus on finding sustainable solutions.
A flourishing film market holds the promise of numerous opportunities for the industry, including job creation, economic growth, community development, and the global dissemination of the rich Ghanaian and African narrative.
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