By Ibrahim S. Bangura
The Sierra Leone Film Council (SLFC), an umbrella regulatory and interest group of film makers in Sierra Leone, has on Monday August 12th, 2024, unified fragmented and less functional film structures in Sierra Leone into a single union with a single goal. The unification is branded: ‘Rebirth of the Salone Film Industry’.
On Saturday February 24, 2024, the Sierra Leone Film Council held its first Film Industry Unification Night which brought filmmakers and other stakeholders of the industry together and chart the way forward.
It took place at White Stone Garage at the HL Pool in Waterloo in the Western Rural Area and was attended by representatives from the Film Council, Actors Guild, Producers Guild, Cinematographers Guild, Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Information and Civic Education, etc. who all made pleasing statements at the event. It was after that night that the need arose to bring the less functional and fragmented film groups in Sierra Leone into one powerful film union.
According to the SLFC Public Relations (PR) Team, uniting the film groups together would unlock their immense potentials within the industry and offer significant benefits to all.
“As we move forward to advance our collective interests and align the film industry with the economic growth of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Film Council (SLFC) is excited to announce the strategic consolidation of the fragmented and less functional structures into one unified, powerful film union,” announced the team.
Highlighting the importance of the new structure, the PR team stated that the initiative would better regulate the film professionals, ensuring that standards are met, enhancing member benefits and making a stronger and well-regulated environment that would guarantee individual and collective benefits for all.
“Bringing the fragmented structures together, the welfare of our members will be a top priority, with visible and effective support mechanisms in place. Through this, Salone movies will have assured market access, opening new avenues for distribution and revenue. In addition, there will be guaranteed industry gains. The industry will see measurable gains, benefiting all operatives,” said the PR team. According to the team, with such an initiative, the industry’s relationship with the government will be more robust, leading to optimal benefits for both the government and the industry players. “By properly unifying and regulating our industry, we can better manage and filter the influx of movies from other countries, protecting the interests of local practitioners. Failing to support this crucial process can have detrimental effects on our industry, including unregulated practices. Loose and undefined rules of engagement may favor a few at the expense of the majority, harming the industry as a whole. Unchecked breakaway factions could damage the credibility of the industry, weakening our standing with the government, private sector partners, and the public. The industry could suffer from reduced opportunities and decreased appeal for industry players. A lack of unity could create opportunities for non-Sierra Leoneans to dominate the movie business, to the detriment of local citizens. The SLFC remains committed to leading the change in the rebirth of the Salone film industry, ensuring that all practitioners can thrive in a unified, well-regulated environment,” the PR team concluded.