Film funding a major constraint

The infancy of the Cameroonian movie industry is largely attributed to the absence of funding possibilities.

There is no denying the fact that the Cameroonian film industry is still lagging behind many African countries. One of the reasons for the situation is the near absence of viable funding opportunities for home movie or conventional film-making.

Consequently, most producers who have attempted making films have often turned to their mean personal or family resources. Expectedly, this is not enough to hire quality equipment and actors and shoot films that can stand their own at international film festivals.

Granted that the conventional film or cinema production in some African countries has gradually been dying away in the face of cheaper-to-produce home movies that tend to be preferred for family viewing. But most potential Cameroonian film investors appear to have their sights focused elsewhere. With the general high cost of doing business in the country, financers seem to be saying that it is better to put their money into other potentially more lucrative ventures than film-making.

To buttress their point is the absence of cinema halls in the country. Since films cannot be watched at home – except on television – like popular home movie DVDs, any production does not guarantee the recovery of returns on investments. On the other hand, the budding home movie industry in the country suffers the same fate – absence of funding channels.

Though relatively cheaper to produce as a result of the evolution of technology, Cameroonian home movie producers are still not having things easy. Many individuals, groups and churches are trying their hands at making sellable movies, but the major handicap is funding.

On the other hand, government, through the Ministry of Arts and Culture, cannot spare the funds that are needed to jumpstart the national film industry. While those who have some cash are contemplating whether to put their money into the venture of film-making, the situation, as it stands, does not appear to provide any immediate light at the end of the tunnel for Cameroon’s film industry.

Save there is a complete change of mind by government and other stakeholders to pump in more resources; without which, we are bound to remain in infancy for a much longer time.