As Ghanaian filmmakers wait for cinemas to launch, one producer is looking to the international market to bring his film to life.
Peter Sedufia will release Aloe Vera, his new feature film, in the francophone market, where cinemas have reopened after the coronavirus pandemic’s slowdown.
Following a partnership with Canal Olympia, the largest cinema chain in francophone Africa, Sedufia’s film is set to resume its theatrical run in nine French-speaking African countries starting May 14.
Aloe Vera, a feel-good romantic comedy, played in Ghanaian cinemas for around a week in March 2020 and was on track for a lucrative run until the coronavirus struck and public meeting limits were imposed.
Though Ghanaians are familiar with Nigeria as one of Africa’s largest film markets, the filmmaker told Citi News that there are opportunities in francophone Africa worth exploring.
“When you add up all of the French-speaking African nations, you have a massive audience for filmmakers. As a result, it is a market that Ghanaian filmmakers should consider.”
“If you create a great film and it screens in a French-speaking market, you never know which production house or filmmaker is watching and will want to collaborate on potential projects with you.”
Industry leaders also urged the government to loosen limits on cinemas, as it has done with mosques, conventions, and bars, among other things.
Late in April, President Akufo-Addo told filmmakers that their appeals would not be ignored.
He mentioned that the COVID-19 task force will recommend a course of action in this regard.
The prolonged closing of cinemas, according to Sedufia, is heartbreaking, considering that other countries have taken measures to restore cinemas.
“It’s heartbreaking. In light of the reality that many African countries involved in film production are reopening their cinemas to enable workers in that field to return to work and feed their families.
Mr. Sedufia said, “People have their projects in their rooms and machines awaiting release and they don’t know what to do about it now.”
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SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
