Fourth African Film and Television Festival opens

Accra (Greater Accra), 6^th July 99 -

Mr Kofi Sekyiamah, Director of the Information Services Department (ISD), on Monday asked managers of film and television industry in Africa to emphasis issues on development and morality.

Mr Sekyiamah, speaking at the opening of the "Fourth African Student film and television festival", said Africa has not reached the stage where developmental issues can play second fiddle to entertainment..

"I should like to see a return to the days of films like 'Mr Mensah builds a house' or films that will shock all of us to the menace of AIDS and not to glorify sex".

Forty participants are attending in the two-week annual festival under the theme, ''Liberating The Mind''.

It was organised by NAFTI, the Television Training Centre (TTC) in Berlin and the International Association of Film Schools (CILECT).

Mr Sekyiamah lamented the influx of foreign produced films saying many of these foreign films do not respect the sensibilities of African minds.

"In liberating our minds, we need to evolve at this festival, strategies to deal with these problems. Managers should be able to suggest legislation and actions including previewing classifications and excision of films within the framework of our global village".

He said film producers in the developed countries also need "similar liberation of mind by recognising the sensibilities of other cultures and not just dump any type of film; not even when they are ready to send them to us free of charge".

Mr Sekyiamah said communication is a powerful instrument for development and urged the industry to use it to project and encourage the developmental efforts of the continent.

He said the festival creates a platform of learning which the government welcomes and will continue to support at the multilateral level.

"The bounds of friendship and bridges of co-operation that these festivals forge and build between the people of Africa cannot be underrated".

Mr Martin Loh, Director of NAFTI, said the institute is aware of the spate of violence on the screens and is finding ways of addressing the problem.

He said apart from films, the influx of satellite transmissions and video films brought in by individuals without the cinematography boards' knowledge is another source of the increase of such films in the country.

Mr Loh announced that beginning from next academic year, the institute in affiliation with the University of Ghana will introduce a Degree programme in film production.

GRi…/