East African Community Secretariat, Arusha: 12 March 2014: The East African Community in collaboration with the German International Cooperation (GIZ) has convened a three-day 1st Preparatory Forum for Film Festivals/Film Makers to prepare ground work that will lead to the integration of all Film Festivals/Film Makers in the region into a regional body that will advocate for the Film sector and also support the regional integration efforts through Film in the overall context of Culture and Creative Industries.
The inaugural Forum is being attended by Film Directors, Cultural Officers from Partner States’ Ministries of Culture, and Culture and Creative Industries stakeholders.
Addressing the participants at the official opening of the Forum, on behalf of the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors Hon. Jesca Eriyo, the Head of the Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Mr. Owora Richard Othieno commended the East African Film Festival Directors for initiating the process to re-establish an alliance of Film Festivals to support the regional integration effort through film.
The EAC official said the Secretariat was delighted and will fully support the initiative to further strengthen the already existing cooperation between the EAC, other state and non-state actors towards building a stronger East African Community through the Arts and Culture.
“Indeed this is a laudable initiative and is in line with Article 119 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, The Common Market Protocol and the Development Strategy (2010 – 2016), all of which provide for the fostering of public – private sector partnership towards the development of Culture and Creative industries in the EAC”.
“The Film industry is one of those Culture and creative Industries in the region with great potential to alleviate poverty and also to create employment for young people. The EAC is cognisant of the critical challenges facing the sectors such as the low capacity, infrastructure, financing and copyright among others. But these are not insurmountable”, affirmed the official.
He commended the Facilitators of the Forum; Mr. Akpor Otebele – Founder/Festival Director Arusha African Film Festival and Prof. Martin Mhando – CEO/ Festival Director Zanzibar International Film Festival (ZIFF), as well as the GIZ for the financial and logistical support to the Forum.
Prof. Martin Mhando, who was represented by Mr. Akpor Otebele noted that culture has been used to shape and to govern identity and as festivals are perceived to be vehicles for “re-imaging” places, they also give communities a creative focus, helping to celebrate achievements, forge community identity, and of course in generating increased tourism. He said the region was rich in talent but has no infrastructure to develop the talents and the formation of a Festival Network is a response to such a need.
The representative of EAC-GIZ Cooperation, Ms. Miriam Heidtmann re-affirmed GIZ’s commitment to support the regional integration initiative.
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