Inflow of cheap foreign Films threatens local industry

The Chairman of the third Ghana Film Awards, Mr Mamah Mohammed on Friday noted that the influx of cheap foreign films into the country has created a vicious cycle that threatens the infant local film industry.

He said "the relatively small Ghanaian film market is flooded with cheap foreign films, which are being dumped in such a way that the Ghanaian producers are unable to break even." Mr Mohammed called on the government to provide the enabling environment for a sustainable development of the local film industry through the strengthening of existing legal and institutional framework to protect it.

Speaking at the award ceremony in Accra, he also recommended a tax incentive package to attract investors from both the private and public sectors to boost the industry.

The awards were to promote the development of the film industry in its bid to become a vital tool for growth, a conduit for social and economic integration in the West Africa sub-region.

It would also serve as a bridge of renaissance in film on the continent and a catalyst for international market participation.

Mr Ebenezer Brew-Riverson and Ms Pascaline Edwards were adjudged the Best Actor and Actress, while little Esther Tettey Quarshie as Ama in the film, Black Sunday won best juvenile role.

"A call at Midnight" of Princess Film Production was also adjudged the best film of the year with best story and best screenplay both going to Ripples '2'.

Mr Mohammed urged government to recognise the film industry as a potential source of employment, generating revenue and also a means of technology transfer.

He said Ghanaian films had considerable potential as non-traditional export products and called for their exploitation to bring in foreign exchange earnings from the Diaspora. On the perception that Ghanaian film productions were not living up to the expectations of the film loving public, Mr Mohammed highlighted the financial handicaps of producers, stressing, "quality productions do not come cheap."

He explained that filmmaking was capital intensive, very expensive and risky business that required adequate financial investments up front. "Unfortunately our industry is characterised by a fragmented, small scale firms, inadequately funded, who engaged in low budget productions in a very tough environment."

Mr Mohammed also expressed concern about the lack of credit facilities for filmmakers, which hindered the exploitation to the fullest the available professional expertise within the industry.

He, however, acknowledge the need for the film industry to recognise and accept their duty and responsibility to give their consumers the needed satisfaction.

Mr Mohammed urged stakeholders in the film industry to pool resources to have the optimum level of funding required for high quality and professional productions whilst at the same time minimizing the risks involved.

He suggested the formation of cooperative ventures or consortia to better access credit facilities.

The Minister of Information and Presidential Affairs, Mr Jake Obestebi Lamptey decried the content of local films, which he said most often portrayed abusive husbands, cheating their wives or depicting witchcraft.

He urges film producers to use the medium to portray positive cultural practices.