LAGOS – The 6th edition Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) came to climax last week at Eko Hotels and Suites in Nigerian capital Lagos. But team Uganda has returned home medal-less. The country’s hopes of earning an award in the African film contests remained low.
However, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) executive director Godfrey Mutabazi said the commission will continue to promote the sector including putting a fund that can help the film industry grow as it has already promoted the national identity.
“This [film] industry is the best industry in the world. There is no way we can make the film industry die,” he said adding that, “Nigerians are proud of their film industry and it has done it for them without oil. Production and creative industry is the industry driving the world now; it has transformed all developed economies for-example Nigeria.”
Julianne Mweheire, UCCs former director, Industry Affairs and Content, urged the broadcast media to promote more local content to “increase national identity and tourism, as well as promote business linkages”.
She said the UCC funded initiative Uganda film festival has since its inception enabled about 500 filmmakers to attain training in sound, lighting, marketing, and distribution of films.
For the filmmakers, however, they may not have scooped any gongs this year, but the government support they have always yearned for took a step in the right direction.
Among the nominees representing Uganda in the just concluded were singer-turned-actress Cindy Sanyu (Bella), Matthew Nabwiso and Eleanor Nabwiso (Rain), Joan Agaba (The Torture), Rushabiro Raymond (The Torture), Hassan Mageye (Devil’s Chest) Samuel Kizito Saviour (The Forbidden), Matt Bish (Bella), Andrew Ahuura (Bella) and Richard Mulindwa (The Torture)
