By Staff Writer
Uganda Communications Commission acknowledged Amakula International Film Festival’s role in developing the local film industry.
Speaking during the festival’s panel discussion on Film regulation in Uganda at the Uganda Museum on Friday, Ruth Kibuuka thanked Amakula for its role in improving the film industry in Uganda.
“I would like to thank Amakula and other festivals for the role they play in organizing film trainings all year round.”, Kibuuka told the audience at the panel discussion, which included film makers, actors, film experts and journalists.
She said this after coming under fire from the audience which wanted to know why UCC concentrated its efforts in film development around the Uganda Film Festival, which is only a one week film bonanza.
“Unlike Amakula which liaises with Kampala Film School, UCC has budgetary constraints, which cannot allow us to do everything we want to do.”, Kibuuka explained.
During the panel discussion, various film stakeholders expressed concern that UCC was not doing enough to support film makers through capacity building activities like trainings, seminars and workshops, as well as setting up the long promised, but unfulfilled film fund.
However, some of the attendees we talked to expressed their gratitude to the Bayimba foundation, organizers of the Amakula International Film Festival for focusing their efforts on not only providing exposure for local films through this prestigious festival, but also availing capacity building facilities like workshops and seminars, as well as their partnership with Kampala Film School, which has trained many professionals in the film industry.
This comes on the back of comments made by Kampala Film School Head of Studies, Cristiano Civitillo, who urged Ugandan film stakeholders to work together for the good of their film industry, and not expect foreigners to develop the industry for them.
While addressing the issue of showing Ugandan movies in the mainstream Cinemas Ruth revealed how there’s a possibility of passing a law which orders the cinemas to show local content and that they are moving forward upon implementing it
