The National Film Authority (NFA) of Ghana is set to launch a new initiative called 'Cinema Train' to expand film screening venues beyond Accra. This project aims to provide filmmakers with more opportunities to showcase their work across the country. The NFA is partnering with the National Commission on Culture (NCC) to identify suitable locations for film exhibitions. The initiative seeks to address the shortage of exhibition spaces for filmmakers and enable Ghanaian films to reach a broader audience.
The NFA's Executive Secretary, Ms Kafui Danku-Pitcher, stated that the Authority is currently scouting for suitable locations nationwide. The NCC has facilities in nine of the former 10 regions of Ghana, which can be converted into film exhibition venues. Some of these facilities require renovations and technical upgrades to meet film screening standards. The upgrades will improve the aesthetic appeal, comfort, and technical capacity of the venues.
The 'Cinema Train' initiative will also provide a platform for the NFA to collaborate with actors, filmmakers, and industry stakeholders on film distribution and exhibition. The programme is expected to formalize the use of identified spaces for film-related activities. Ms Danku-Pitcher mentioned that the initiative will be launched soon.
The Acting Executive Director of the NCC, Mr Wakefield Ackuaku, expressed the Commission's readiness to support the initiative. He stated that the NCC's cultural facilities can be used by filmmakers and other creative industry practitioners. The facilities can also host activities involving musicians, performers, and other creatives.
Mr Ackuaku noted that the NCC does not require large financial deposits for programmes consistent with its mandate to preserve, promote, and develop Ghanaian culture. The arrangement aims to encourage creatives to use the facilities and create more activities at the Centres for National Culture. The partnership between the NFA and NCC is expected to create a network of venues that can support film exhibition across the country.
The 'Cinema Train' initiative is expected to give filmmakers opportunities to showcase their productions to new audiences while strengthening the distribution and exhibition side of Ghana's film industry. This project comes as stakeholders in the creative sector continue to explore ways to improve access to infrastructure and create more avenues for locally produced films to reach the public.
The success of the project will depend on the upgrading of identified facilities and the establishment of a workable system for filmmakers and other creatives to use the spaces. The initiative aims to revive the use of the facilities, particularly beyond normal working hours, when many of the centres are not being fully utilised.
Key points
- The National Film Authority and National Commission on Culture are partnering to launch the 'Cinema Train' initiative.
- The initiative aims to expand film screening venues beyond Accra.
- The programme is expected to formalize the use of identified spaces for film-related activities.
