BY ALAZAR SHIFERAW
Ethiopia has ratified its film policy in 2017 zeroing in on job creation for the youth and gender equality. Policy implementation has not got rolling due to a lack of frameworks to carry out the envisaged measures.
Consequently, the project supports Ethiopia in designing a structural and institutional framework, by laying the ground for the creation of a national film institute, said UNESCO.
Cognizant of lack of professionals in film industry, Liket College has been engaged in churning out fill makers in the country.
Liket College Chief Executive Officer Muluken Mohammed said that last academic year had witnessed various challenges. But thanks to colleges’ teachers’ contribution, students are gearing up for graduation. The college based on the federal TVET standards, has been producing film maker students and training human resource in the sector. Particularly the college has been focusing on film -maker students’ training. It is the only one in its kind in Addis Ababa and is expected to contribute professionals in the film industry. Graduates, apart from helping one another, they will help their country, he said.
A total of 235 students, in accounting 136 students and on Video film making 109 students had graduated at level four. In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopia Heard, Film Director Birhanu Shibiru said that currently film production in Ethiopia is not showing a steady progress. “As far as I know, to come up with professional film work, the sector is constrained under many things like dearth of finance and professionals. Sometimes, the sector shows progress and during other times it lags behind. “ I think it is related to sponsorship and capacity. Significantly the film policy has to be practical.” Rules and directives are not yet prepared.
He further said that most importantly, Cinema is among the top significant parts of artistic sectors. It is the most import art. Because it comprises of all art genres; like painting, music, literature, poem. All these genres are found in a movable art. It is a means to convey the present expression, thoughts and cultural identities through movable pictures.
Besides, preserving film documents is very important to future generation. But there are many things that we lost; it is not a timely show. It has to be documented for the coming generation. “We do not have archives, but if we have them, the next generation can understand his / her ancestors past history through documented films.
“I feel very sorry, because most films produced earlier are lost . There were many films produced during 1928 EC. I remember there was a film entitled Ethiopian Zemnat and Ametat . But currently I do not know where they are. But they have to be digitalized and passed down to coming generations. Hence, there must be a film policy,” he said.
Liket College film making instructor Mezgebkal Ayele said that apart from skilled professionals, film making needs various instruments like ,light instruments , various cameras among other instruments . Yet these instruments are very costly too. It is difficult to get all these instruments successfully at a time. Besides, film making needs a huge amount of budget. Film may not be produced by one or two people. It is done through the combination of professions in each sector. Film making is the art done by the union of various professionals .It is far from one man mission, he said.
Currently, although there are various challenges but the trials are so impressive and promising. Yet compared to other African countries, film production in Ethiopia is still found at embryonic stage. “We do not have organized institutions but it is a promising field. As I observed from the film audience, there is a great interest for film.” But it needs the government and respective bodies’ support.
Related to production quality, lack of professionals decreases the quality of films produced. Sometimes the right person is not assigned in the right place.
Cognizant of the skill gaps, the Liket College is working aggressively to address the challenge, he said.
He further said that film making has huge contribution in showcasing and promoting the country’s native cultural assets. Because culture is displayed by art, music, literature among others. In general, film is one of the country’s cultural promotion tools. “As you know we Ethiopians have civilization, history and culture that stretch thousand years back. Film is one of the most important tools in prompting the country’s culture, he said.
The UNESCO Liaison Office in Addis Ababa in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ethiopia (MoCT) had organized a virtual meeting on 29th April 2021 to launch a project on “Strengthening Ethiopia’s film industry through sound institutional and structural frameworks”. With financial support from the European Union (EU), the project provided international and national expert facilities for designing a structural and institutional framework which would enable the country to start the implementation of its film policy.
Dr. Yumiko Yokozeki Director of UNESCO Addis Ababa Liaison Office to AUC and ECA and Representative to Ethiopia, on her opening remarks, expressed that the project will enable the Ethiopian film industry to play a monumental role in promoting the cultural diversity of the country. In consultation with MoCT, UNESCO identified, from its global pool of expertise, an international consultant Ms Yoonhyung Jeon, to guide and support the national experts and the Task Force, established for this purpose.
A message delivered on behalf of Dr. Hirut Kassaw, Minister of Culture and Tourism Ethiopia (MoCT), noted that the implementation of the film policy project is timely and important. The Ethiopian film policy was endorsed by the Council of Ministers in 2017, by considering the importance of the film industry for the socio-economic development, job creation and promoting Ethiopian culture world wide.
Mr. Tadious Odissu, the National Expert, made a presentation to the participants about the project’s objectives and expected outcomes. Under the coordination of MoCT, a working ‘Task Force’ having twelve members has been established from the relevant government ministries, professional associations and private film professionals for the effective execution of the project.
Over the past few years, Ethiopia’s film sector has been growing steadily. It is estimated that, between 2005 and 2015, 600 films were produced in Ethiopia. Fifty seven feature films were also produced in 2018 alone. For the country, the film industry is a strategic economic growth sector, capable of playing meaningful social roles such as promoting a democratic culture, peace and unity, it was stressed.
The Ethiopian Herald September 16/2021
