Accra, July 7, GNA - The Ministry of Information is finalising a Film Development and Classification Bill to streamline film development in the country. The National Film Board, to be established under the Act, would be adequately empowered to institutionalise and enforce the culture of quality, priority and decency in the distribution, sale and exhibition of films and videos in the country.

Mr Kofi Sakyiamah, Chief Director, Ministry of Information, was speaking at the opening of the Sixth Major Students Film and Television Festival "ANIWA Africa" 2003,on Monday. The festival under the theme: "Liberating the Mind", is to promote and encourage quality training in film and television production in Africa. Over 50 participants from the African Region and Germany are attending the two-week event that would also focus on the role of film and television as instruments for change in African societies.

Mr Sakyiamah said the country lacked the relevant laws or regulations to streamline the production and sale of quality films and this was negatively affecting the socio-cultural aspect of development in the country. "There was, therefore, the need to critically review African cinema to make it more competitive," he said. Mr Sakyiamah said the poor quality and contents of films being shown on both the national television and theatres were having negative effects on the youth and were damaging the cultural fabric of the society. "Our productions lack pure African touch and are full of borrowed ideas from western films and set-ups ", he said. He stated that the Board would, therefore, capture the policy direction of the development of the film industry, which included the evolving a dynamic, economically self-sustaining and culturally conscious film industry.

"This would promote the use of film for national integration, cohesion and mobilisation for the projection of the country's image abroad", he said. Mr Sakyiamah further said the Bill would also include a film fund to ensure the swift running of the industry. He said the African continent needed a new breed of film and television professionals imbued with the requisite knowledge and skills to prosecute effectively and efficiently the communication agenda in each country with a sense of Africans. He further said the festival should focus on areas of technical co-operation, programme exchanges and exchange of ideas and expertise with the view of promoting the eventual socio-economic and political integration of the Sub-Regional Blocs, as essential impetus to the Africa Union. He urged film professionals to take advantage of the workshop and NAFTI's facilities to ensure a vibrant film industry in Ghana.