The Africa Cinema Summit (ACS), first of its kind on the continent, is slated to hold in Ghana from 14th to 16th November, 2023 at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel and Silverbird Cinema in Accra.
The event, hosted by the National Film Authority of Ghana in partnership with FilmOne and Silverbird Cinema, is aimed at projecting African cinemas on a global pedestal.
At a press conference in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer National Film Authority of Ghana, Juliet Asante, who is the convener of the summit, acknowledged the importance of cinema, particularly as a means for filmmakers to earn an income.
“We thought that to make a bold step, it is important for Africa as a continent to tackle issues challenging the cinema sector.
“That is why we reached out to partners in Nigeria and Ghana to go with us on this journey of proffering solutions,” she explained.
Asante however stated that the concept of the summit goes beyond the shores of Nigeria and Ghana alone.
“Ghana is just a gateway. Africa is the destination. The people of Africa have a right to cinema. Cinema energises society. Cinema can not be dead,” she added.
She also acknowledged the efforts of Nigeria to be at the forefront of the cinema sector, saying, “Africa recognises that.”
The summit, in its first year, hopes to identify the bottlenecks of African cinema and also proffer solutions. It is expected to feature a showcase of African films alongside celebrating the richness and diversity of the continent’s cinematic artistry.
It is also expected to offer an exhibition area, business matchmaking sessions, targeted connections, panel discussions, and collaborations, amongst many others.
Speaking on the summit’s significance, Co-founder and Managing Director of Film House Cinemas, Moses Babatope, said it would attract investments to double the number of screens in Africa.
In his words: “It is time we stop folding our hands, and nothing happens. We are saying we have a track record, and we are ready for collaboration, investors, and conversations.”
Additionally, Babatope noted that the summit is an impact-making avenue to present a uniformity of purpose, particularly concerning opportunities in the cinema sector.
