The National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) has signed a three-year partnership agreement with Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) to revamp the Ghanaian film and photography industry.

The partnership is also aimed at strengthening knowledge and skill levels in the sector as well as helping to create jobs in the medium to long-term while developing young creative talents in Ghana for employment in the film and photography industry Speaking at a press conference to announce the partnership, Professor Linus Abraham, Rector of NAFTI, underlined the importance of modernizing and building the industry.

It also seeks to bring international standards and practices into the Ghanaian film industry, noting that collaborations with institutions like Canon would help to achieve this.

He said the partnership would see Canon donating several film and photography equipment to NAFTI as well as providing experts in the industry to share knowledge with Ghanaian stakeholders.

It also will expose filmmakers and photographers to cutting-edge professional technology used internationally and globally by acclaimed experts. “In this collaboration, Canon will be working to support NAFTI in its ability to deliver cutting-edge courses and professional skills for students.

“Canon will do this by providing some equipment support for students’ practical production work; support a number of visits by internationally acclaimed photography/videography experts, as well as provide seminars by Canon technology support teams,” he said.

As part of this agreement, NAFTI is holding a week-long workshop from Monday 11th to Friday 15th July, 2016 for students and other professionals in the film and photography industry.

Prof Abraham said the workshop will allow young aspiring film makers to benefit from short courses in the technology of videography and photography and their application as well as increase awareness of the latest affordable technology to improve the capacity of players in the field.

He said Canon was increasingly becoming the brand of choice for technology in the industry especially in small scale productions. The partnership will help ensure excellence in the sector and also provide the much needed equipment support for the training of its students, as government institutions continue to struggle for investments.

Canon, he said, will also benefit from the partnership through its association with the main film and television school and with the industry. “The commercial opportunities are many. By exposing Canon technology to the school and industry, Canon is only expanding its way into the African Film and television industry,” he added. Mr Amine Djouahra, Sales Manager at Canon CCNA, said Ghana was one of the key markets for Canon CCNA, as the capacity of the market in photography and film was untapped thus the partnership with NAFTI.

The company, he said, was focused on helping to develop talents and create employment thus the mentorship programmes in the partnership was important to its brand. He said Canon was the only brand with full imaging solutions which allow all customers or professional to record moments and actions and re-live them.

Mr Djouahra presented the first batch of equipment to the school and these included Canon photo and video cameras and lenses. “As we move forward, we will continue to build on the positive relationships that we share and will take to the next level through our new solutions” he stated.

Mr Simon Quarrie, a film maker and Canon expert, who is one of the resource persons for the workshop, extolled the virtues of collaboration saying that the idea of collaboration made film possible as it brought together the different themes, technologies, ideas and concepts with a common goal. He said he had benefited from using Canon technology throughout his career, saying the technology had enabled him to grow as a photographer and film maker which had built a bond with Canon.

“Throughout this week the students will benefit from access to technology, access to equipment but also access to experience aimed at ensuring that they learn, are inspired and be in a position to go on to be employed in the field that feel so passionately about” he stated.