Gloria Sarfo
Ghanaian actress, Gloria Sarfo, has expressed her disappointment over the low turnout of local filmmakers at the 2024 Africa Cinema Summit (ACS), organised by the National Film Authority (NFA).
Speaking to TV3 during the event, which took place from October 7 to 10 at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Sarfo highlighted the absence of key industry players as a major concern.
“It’s really disheartening to realise that most of our industry players were not here,” Sarfo lamented. Recalling a moment during the event, she added, “Yesterday when Kunle was speaking, he asked, ‘Where are your movie producers? Where are the actors?’ And it was so embarrassing that there was silence in the entire auditorium.”
While acknowledging that some filmmakers might have been occupied with ongoing projects, she stressed the importance of attending such events for the growth of the industry.
“Trust me, we could have also made some time for this, for the industry,” she emphasised.
Gloria’s concerns stemmed from the significant learning opportunities presented at the four-day event, which focused on promoting African cinema, projecting local languages, and expanding cinema markets across the continent.
The summit attracted leading figures from Africa’s film industry and the diaspora, with a particular emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth.
The second edition of the ACS featured British actor Idris Elba as the headline speaker on the first day, drawing attention to the potential of African cinema on the global stage.
The 2024 Africa Cinema Summit was organised by the NFA in collaboration with partners including Filmhouse Group (Nigeria), Silverbird Cinema (Ghana), the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria, Century CineMax (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda), and Canal Olympia.
Despite the summit’s success, Sarfo’s concerns highlight the need for greater involvement from local filmmakers to drive the future of African cinema.