The headquarters of the East African Film Network will soon be set up at Bujumbura. Ngabo Léonce was elected the Chairman of the Interim Executive Committee.-By Lorraine Josiane Manishatse
Ngabo Léonce ©Iwacu
Where did the idea of creating the East African Films Network come from?
In 2011, I got a grant of USD 4,000 to organize the 1st meeting gathering Festival Directors from the East African Community. There were representatives of each country member of the Community. During that meeting, we organized training workshops supervised by professionals from EAC. During the Festicab 2011, we issued a statement in which we marked our intention to create the East African Festival Network. Since then, the idea was born and grew step by step and it is the reason why in March 2014, we organized the 1st East African Professional Festival Forum Network Meeting thanks to GIZ sponsorship.
Why and how was Burundi chosen to be the headquarters?
During the debate, it was first required to elaborate the status, and then we should determine where to place the seat of the network. Of course, there were a lot of expressions of interest; each country wanted to host the seat. But, regarding the development of the idea since its beginning, everybody was convinced that Burundi would be the appropriate headquarters. But later, each country should have its branch. I was officially elected the President of the Interim Executive Committee and I have to seek now the agreement of the Network at Bujumbura.
What are the East African Film Network objectives?
The first objective is to enhance the value and make known different professionals and talented filmmakers from the East African Community. Secondly, to create a synergy gathering different associations and festivals so that we may have an advocacy regional platform. Thirdly, we should propose a harmonized policy in EAC Films management. We want harmonized laws and regulations in the five EAC partner states. Our main objective is to have a common objective of promotion. Today, there is a current move from analogical to digital system. All African countries have the deadline of 2015 so that all televisions should hustle from analogical to digital system. A lot of TV channels will be created thanks to the new optical fibers. Unfortunately, any country from EAC is able to produce 50% of local products of those channels. Consequently, the danger is that young people and the future generation will consume 80 to 90% of foreign products that progressively lead to a kind of acculturation. Then, the East African Film Network aims to gather all products from EAC that will be considered as local products.
What are the advantages for Burundi?
There are many advantages. It is a big chance for Burundi to gain the East Africa Film Network. Burundi visibility will become immense in EAC. As it hosts the headquarters, many activities will be held in Bujumbura. Products of Burundian filmmakers will be automatically known in EAC. There will also be job creations and the entry of foreign currencies in the country.
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