Cinema Halls are Empty When Local Movies are announced: Time to Unite and Work Together

Mediavision Academy’s director, Robert Nkambo, calls upon Ugandan filmmakers to join their efforts to ensure sustainable development in the national film industry, and major cinema projects.  He was speaking to the Academy’s communication team in the immediate aftermath of an unsuccessful rendezvous at the Uganda National Theatre where filmmakers, cineastes, and lovers of cinema and culture meet once a month to watch a Ugandan new movie.

“The screening of Shark Avenue, a feature movie directed by Joseph Ken Ssebaggala, was simply cancelled on Wednesday 2 November,” Nkambo, a film director and producer, said sadly.  “No one turned out to the National Theatre for the film show”. 

Although some progress has been registered in the production of local feature films and television series in recent years, the locally produced films have a long way to go to attract larger audiences.  The Uganda Cinema Night, a film show for strictly Ugandan movies, has spared no effort to market local films, try to gain film exposure and create other ties with the general public. 

"When foreign movies are announced, the cinema halls are full, but when our own are showing, no one wants to make it. This is like a betrayal to our own people. We ought to stand up for our local movies to promote the Ugandan industry," Godfrey Musinguzi, Kampala Film Development Foundation Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Cinema Night, told The Kampala Sun that there was no ticket bought that day, so the screening of “Shark Avenue” had to be called off.

What’s next…?

Robert Nkambo believes that it is time for filmmakers to unite and work together in order to make rapid progress.  “Even the weak become strong when they are united,” he said while recognizing that film marketing is not an easy task, but it’s a worthwhile one.  

Besides, he adds, the development of national film industry lies with us.  Challenges we face can only be overcome through fostering mutually beneficial cooperation among ourselves.  “Ugandan filmmakers have smaller budgets and already juggled multiple responsibilities — whether it’s writing, directing, producing, casting, production design, and storyboarding, etc. You have too much going on to worry about marketing your film.”

In September 2020, the Government of Uganda – in collaboration with European Union and UNESCO – launched a year-long project aimed at supporting the development of the national film industry.  “A great initiative that generated an enormous feeling of hope in the filmmaking community nationwide” said the Academy’s Director.  “However, the expected outcomes of the project are yet to be seen.”  “That’s where unity and collective responsibility come in.”

On-line piracy is another issue of great concern…

The growth of digital piracy in Uganda and a lack of unity among filmmakers continue to undermine a wide range of film business leaving them with no option but go broke.  Polo Walusimbi, a cinematographer and sound recordist, remains extremely skeptical about any improvements in the film sector.  “I am focused in on television series production these days,” he told the Academy’s communication team.  “That’s where money is.”

Robert Nkambo who studied digital television techniques at the Conway School of Communication & Broadcasting in Ontario, Canada, contends that piracy issues in the film business hamper its development and curb entrepreneurial efforts and success.  He wrote and directed “Spying On Susana”, the first-ever full-length comedy to be launched at the National Theatre in 2013.  “We are producing films, series, etc. to spark interest, engage and connect with new audiences nationwide and beyond.” 

Passionate about art and promoter of Mediavision Academy, a tertiary training institute that offers short certificate courses in Film, Photography and Television, Robert Nkambo has partnered with the Uganda Cinema Night in a bid to promote locally-produced films showed every first Wednesday of every month at the National Theatre.

“The film industry is very competitive and can be challenging to break in if working in isolation.  Piracy is one of the main threats to the development of our national film industry and you can’t win that war alone. Thus, time has come for Ugandan filmmakers to be united and work together rather than be divided; united we stand, divided we fall,” he concluded.