Film Industry celebrates 13th Film and TV festival

Mr. Kofi Sakyiama, Director of the Ministry of Information, on Monday called on the film industry not only to produce films to entertain, but also to focus attention on promoting government policies and programmes through imagery for national development.

He said the industry wielded enough power to effectively communicate government policies and programmes as well as educate the public on pressing development issues through its productions.

Mr Sakyiama was speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Television and Film Institute's (NAFTI) 13th Film and Television Festival.

The four-day celebrations would be showcasing different film productions by NAFTI and educate students on pressing national issues like the HIV/AIDS pandemic, breast cancer and politics.

Mr Sakyiama said African movies of late, were too much centred on witchcraft, wizardry, imaginations and fiction, leaving the other side of communication that would help develop the minds of audience and challenged them to aim at development.

He stated that the Cinematography Bill that was before Parliament intends to address the loopholes that currently exist in the old law to control and check the production and showing of films in Ghana.

Mr. Sakyiama further explained that the Bill seeks to check the production of hasty and cheap films and ensure that every film producer had a certificate from a recognised film institute. "It will specifically check the showing of films by television stations as well," he added.

He assured NAFTI of the ministry's support in all its programmes and said the ministry has included NAFTI in its communication and development programme to help preserve and restore films.

Mr Martin Loh, Director of NAFTI, said the institute was faced with a number of challenges that included financial constraints and breakdown of its equipment.

He said NAFTI was therefore, compelled to hire equipment for its productions. He said the institute has been able to secure funding from some organisations to purchase new cameras and other equipment for its productions.

Mr Loh advised companies and individuals who sponsor the production of certain films to ensure that they do not sponsor cheap films.

He called on the public, especially those who are into film production, photography and actors to take advantage of NAFTI's training facilities to polish up their knowledge and skills in filmmaking.

Mr Alpha Suberu, President of the Students Representative Council, called for sponsorship from companies, organisations and individuals to honour those who excel in the production of films.