Second edition of Africa Cinema Summit opens, with a call to revive cinema culture

The second edition of Africa Cinema Summit (ACS) has opened in Accra, with a call for Africans to build a strong cinema network.

Giving her key note address at opening ceremony of this year’s summit taking place from Monday, October 7-10, the Chief Executive Officer of National Film Authority(NFA), Juliet Asante challenged stakeholders in the film industry to tell the African stories and not be spectators, watching the world tell their stories.

“With time, Africans have become spectators as we sit and watch the world tell their stories, with little access or funding to do ours and do it well and our cinemas have dried up.

“Now, our children never really get to see themselves on the big screen and never even get to perhaps enter a cinema to witness the magic of a big screen. 

“We are all, including our kids, limited to the small screen and the small mindedness that goes with it. Over 90% of Africa’s 1.5 billion people have never watched a film on the big screen,” she said.

Ms Asante pointed out that a strong cinema means a film production will be seen by a substantive percentage of African audience, adding, “a strong cinema network will mean that a film released in Ghana or Nigeria or Morocco or Angola can reach all of our people.

“In America, some major films can reach more than 30% of their population. Imagine if a filmmaker in Africa can reach even 10% of Africans, that’s over 750 million dollars right there,” she stated.

Organised by the National Film Authority (NFA) of Ghana, this year’s summit is themed, “Is Cinema Relevant in African Communities”.

It boasts an impressive headliner: Idris Elba, a Hollywood icon and seasoned entrepreneur, leveraging his leadership roles at IE7 and The Akuna Group.

Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Creative Arts, and Culture, Andrew Egyapa Mercer and Deputy, Mark Okraku Mantey graced the opening session today.

The ACS  gathers major industry players and decision-makers including government officials, film authorities and commissions from across Africa, exhibitors, investors, financial institutions, studios, producers, distributors, filmmakers and suppliers, alongside the global cinema market.

There were presentations by CEO of Nile Group, Moses Babatope and Madam Funmi Onuma, Country Head, Silverbird Cinemas, Ghana.

Renowned Nollywood actress and producer, Omoni Oboli shared insights on the topic, “A Roadmap of an African Story Journey to the Cinema and Beyond”.

The presentation was a case study of her latest movie, “The Uprising: Wives on Strike” which was premiered at the opening.

The summit continues on Tuesday, October 8, with the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, gracing as the Guest of Honour.