By Perekeme Odon

The 5th edition of the Ghana International Film Summit (GIFS) has come and gone with memories still lingering in our hearts. The dynamic summit-event, which is designed to inform, inspire and empower filmmakers in the Ghanaian film industry and Africa on how to overcome and transform the wider film ecosystem in training, distribution and marketing.

The two-day Covid-19 Compliant event, anchored by Rev. Ernest Ackom, former General Secretary of Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG), was held at the prestigious Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on Friday 03-04 September 2021, which also attracted first-rate keynote presentations, panel sessions, open forum and presentation of awards to the Ghanaian industry practitioners, as well as focused on the innovative creative and business strategies from around the world, with special emphasis on Ghana and African film industry - deliberating on creating key initiatives gateway on the business of filmmaking.

The event was organized by the apex body for all cinematographic authors, film and television directors who undertake the making of motion pictures, Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG) and Holyworld Entertainment Centre, in collaboration with the Street of Gold Foundation, MICE Ghana, Mice West Africa and Mice Africa reeled out an unparalleled enthralling experience of film and media displays and networking from practitioners from Africa filmmakers.

This year’s edition was particularly special with the theme, ‘Instituting Continental Integration For Holistic Development Of Ghana And Africa Film Industry’; a chance to rediscover the excitement and continue the consideration of strategic plans to develop the culture and film industry in Ghana and Africa at large with the energy of others who share the same concept of collaborative and inspiring cinematic creativity.

In his opening remark, the President of the Film Directors Guild of Ghana, Mr. Richard Yaw Boateng, welcomed all guests and stakeholders and disclosed his displeasure on the apathetic attitude on how the Ghanaian film industry is being disconnected by various administrative departments at the helms to drive things optimistically.

“I am very delighted to welcome you all to the 5th edition of the Ghana International Film Summit here in Accra. As we all know, the film industry is the vehicle for promoting tourism, arts and culture of every country. It is rather unfortunate that, when you come to Ghana, the film industry is not really considered as important to the development of the tourism industry.” He stated.

The FDGG President affirmed that “The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) organizes events and does not see the need and importance to invite or collaborate with the mainstream film associations and guilds in the country, whereas the majority of the films shot in Ghana always display and showcase the visual narratives of tourism potentials in their creative works, the movies.”

Though, the DGN President emphasized that the story is the same in Nigeria and other African countries, but believed the time has come for all parties to rally around together as partners of the same interest to support the development of the film industry in Ghana and other African countries thereby integrating the cinema culture in Africa.

Validating the drive of the African cinema production, the President of Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Mr. Victor Okhai, counselled African countries not to be narrow-minded in their cognitive advances, but open up and break boundaries and barriers by embracing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement founded in 2018, which is to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the African Economic Community and Customs Union.

“We prefer to see a foreign scheme other than ours, forgetting that we Africans need each other to succeed. Enhancing trade integration between African countries could yield large economic gains. There is a need for us to open up because the AfCFTA Agreement is a framework agreement covering Trade in Goods and Services, Investment, Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Policy. The agreement enables us to move goods and services both of which are in the film industry. We have goods in the sense that we produce products - films, and services, in the sense that we have technicians and crew members that we travel across other African countries with to develop local capacities, and also dispersed disbursement.”

The DGN President accentuated the development of infrastructure and engaging in collaborative ventures to assist one another by capitalizing on our numbers and what brings us together than what divides us.

“We are not competing in any form. Envy is a sign of weakness and admittance of failure to measure up to the next man. We should seek solutions on how to improve ourselves on things we believe are challenged to us. We have allowed the colonialists to separate us if not, there is no cultural difference between Nigeria and Ghana, except the size of the population. Numbers are huge and that’s why countries need to engage in co-production enterprises to boost sales. There is a lot in the value chain of filmmaking, not minding who is coming to take our jobs. If Nigeria and Ghana come together, perhaps, we can lead the rest of the continent.”

One of the guest speakers, the Board Chairman of National Film Authority, Ghana, Mr. David Dontoh, hailed the President of the Film Directors Guild of Ghana for putting all this film summit together, and also hail the President of the Directors’ Guild of Nigeria for his presence. He informed the sense of working together and the effectiveness of always being in the company of wise people as he recapped his experience on the first Nigeria-Ghana co-production where he acted alongside Sam Dede and Edith Ayalogu.

“I remember in 1967 Ghana’s population was 6.5 million and Nigeria was 40 million, and we bellowed, but today it’s a different story. Human beings abound in separate different times around the world. People advised that it was dangerous to act alongside Nigerian actors when they first came, and I asked how dangerous is it when I am an actor, and not a standup comedian acting alone before the camera. Even the idea behind the television quiz game was brought from Nigeria, and we started it. Unfortunately, viewers ran away because it was a Nigerian concept, but I stood and it became one of the best television programmes we’ve ever had in Ghana. So it is important to us to accept human beings in our communities.”

He also related how he was attacked and insulted on radio and television for giving Ghanaian Music Awards to a Nigerian. “I was fought and abused, but the Ghana Music Awards is the best music award we have in Ghana today. Every year, artistes come from various countries to compete for the honour.” He stated.

Mr. Dontoh acknowledged that the government would be well briefed about the outcomes of the event and remains steadfast in its support for the development of film production in Ghana. “The President and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture will be informed since the event is being captured for further implementation.”

The former CEO, MultiChoice Ghana Limited, Mr. Cecil Sunkwa-Mills stimulated a headway as he stressed the need for each African country’s structure to be put in place for further dialogue to tackle piracy, copyright and other ills affecting the African film industry.

“The NFA in Ghana should be speaking with similar bodies in Nigeria, Kenya and other African countries. Kenya has made a positive evolution in copyright, but we are not. The old copyright laws should be looked into because there is a need to do an in house cleaning since we have a lot of new media platforms today. NFA must form a working group that must include the guilds and associations.”

The former CEO of MultiChoice Ghana Limited furthermore went ahead to question how many other organizations do practitioners have to pay fees for rights and content. “All these should be streamlined because there are limited resources. We may not be able to give out money to production companies, but we can bring in equipment at a reduced cost for hiring so that production becomes more affordable.

He advised filmmakers to engage in mergers and collaborations so as to cut costs. “The fact that you’re a producer may not make you have full capacity to be able to produce a certain quality of content. So we need to consider a partnership for the better capability of quality., so we can start competing with other countries. We should also look at the subscription level on DStv in Ghana compared to what’s obtainable in other countries.”

Keynote speakers and panellists at the summit include Salim Hannawi, Film Advocate; Mr. Albert Jackson-Davis, senior Film Actor; Mr. Victor Okhai, DGN President; Mr. Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, former CEO of MultiChoice Ghana Ltd; Mr. David Dontoh, Board Chairman of National Film Authority, Ghana; Patricia Penton (Jamaica); and Octavias Tchibozo (Togo), Face of Miss MICE Global 2021.

The high point of the event was the presentation of legendary awards in various categories. Awards in the acting category are awards to Kofi Adjorlolo, Andrews Frimpong, Rabby Bray, Eunice Banini, Edinam Atatsi, Ekow Blankson, Kwame Yeboah Obroni One, Pascalina Edward, SunSum, Oscar Provencal, Ricky Kofi Adelayitar, Christiana Awuni, Joseph Pamfo (Shotingo), Abeiku Sagoe, Ellen Kyei White, Etty Bedi, Peter Ritchi, Derick Kobina Bonney, Clement Ashiteye (Clemento Suarez), Richmond Xavier Amoakoh (Lawyer Nti) and Jeffrey Nortey (Papa Nii).

The following deserving film crew in the below-the-line category also carted home awards. Elitasu Kalifa, Kofi Asante, Prince kojo Hilton, Anaba Kodjo, Rhemah Bright Dzamposu, Gordon Weldy Quaye, James Adofo, Sulaimon Rasak and Gifty Mawuena Sossavi.

Frederick Fiifi Hayford, Samuel Ofosu Ampadu, Bob Smith Jnr, and Prince Yawson carted the awards of producers of the year.

While the film directors of the year awards went to Samuel Appiah (Sampower), Eric Essien, Kalifa Adam Kalifa, and Romeo David Amoateng.

The President FDGG thanked the organizing committee members of His Majesty, Royal Panford (Coordinator), Haruna Seidu Soale (operations), Lewis Kwame Atchoglo (Research Consultant), Kofi Appianing (Event Coordinator), Anaba Kodjo (Organiser), Ellen Agbavor (Media Consultant) and Rev. Ernest Ackom (IT Consultant) for their support over the past five years when the summit launched.

His Majesty, Royal Panford who expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to all guests, stakeholders and Gentlemen of the Press for their immense support to the success of the summit, enjoined them to keep faith with the development schemes and programmes of the next Ghana International Film Summit 2022, presented a vote of thanks and closing remark. “We are indeed grateful to you all and may God bless Ghana.”

Present at the event is Mr. Destiny Austin Omon, Abigail Ofosu, General Manager, Business Resource Centre of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana; Ahmed Naamann, Director of Dodi Travels & Tours; Perekeme Odon, PRO of Directors’ Guild of Nigeria; Amb. Nancy Q. Sam, President, Women In Tourism & Business, Ghana; Austin Akpobome Useh, Member, DGN (Nigeria), and Joe Boy D’ One Man Band.