My Concern for Filmmakers and the Ministry of Information on the Film Policy

It is no secret that the industry is fully divided all in the name of the Sierra Leone Film Council (SLFC) and Sierra Leone Film Guild (SLFG). Even those who are not with any of these two bodies feel left out, as none of the above-mentioned bodies believes them and the regional film bodies are no exception.

With the nature of relationships in the film industry, when the policy is enacted, if we are not careful, it will be the worst moment for the film family in this country. As it is, members of the respective bodies are bent on thinking and ensuring that their wing is superior to the other and it’s no fun that most of the best filmmakers have grown interested in fighting for leadership than making films.

Let me also hasten to make this prediction that people who will be fortunate to be in the administration would succeed in collecting funds from the government but will miss out on having total control to boost the filmmaking activities in the country. Our goal is to make better films that will market the good image of this country, but if our intentions and aspirations have been shifted to securing positions and authorities to continue to select and impose people we favour to be in power, then we will still miss on our goal.

As it is, we make little or no money from our films; so, the only thing that will give us the courage to continue to do more is togetherness and unity. We don’t spend that much on actors, on technical crews and even on advertisements because are all connected in love; we support each other to make good films.

The likes of Jimmy Bangura, Julius Spencer, Desmond Finny, John Solo, General Abu Sankoh, Salami Carew, Brima Abdulai Sheriff, Ernest STF Mannah, Arthur Pratt, and others, we know people have disrespected you in this Industry over the years but now the industry needs you most to galvanize the young brains in togetherness. That is if some of you do not tend to support the status coo that we have today.

We know the current leadership of the Sierra Leone Film Council and Sierra Leone Film Industry Labour and Marketing Guild think they can move this industry even without you but trust me I know what experience can do. So, therefore, please let us have your influence and experience precede so that the right thing happens to prevent future problems. No one becomes a leader forever, but good policies prevail forever.

To the Ministry of Information and the other line Ministries, I want to thank you for the good work in trying to project our industry over the past years. However, as we monitor the process and progress that our film policy is going through, I hereby pen my concerns for the film family because as it is, it seems the best practices that should stand the test of time are being ignored and evaded.  We want to see the film family celebrate your work rather than serve as a knife between us, and as well be a headache for the generations that will follow.

To the leadership of the Sierra Leone Film Council (SLFC) and Sierra Leone Film Guild (SLFG), Mr Michael Kargbo and Mr Darammy A. Kabba, I want to say I admired your leadership, and the endurance and courage you have put over the years, onto this moment. But let me remind both of you that If you still carry your egos through the validation process of the film policy, one of you might win, rather than the entire industry winning the policy against the odds. None of you would have a legacy and trust me both of you will be losers in the eyes of the industry despite your achievements.

Years back, when I looked at both of you, I saw a better future for the film family, I saw better leadership in you rather than just film heads. I can predict that if any of you lead us well now and stand for the mantle of Sierra Leone’s presidency in the future, you will get the support of the entire film family. But if you fail us now, if you cannot even lead a small group of just the film family, how can we trust you in any way when it comes to national leadership?

It is no joke that both of you are potential, and the future is yet to come for you. So, strive well for the industry is watching you as you play with the daily bread of thousands of filmmakers.

In my humble request, I, therefore, called on both leaderships to have one vision and one mission to achieve one goal and if only you can achieve this in the right way, then the whole industry will win, and we will all remain to celebrate you.

I wish the entire industry a fruitful deliberation as we go for the validation of the policy that may either continue to make us or break us.

Let’s allow the industry to win…! Let the industry win…! Let the industry win…!!!

By Iscandri A. Sankoh

Full-Time Filmmaker

Contact: +232 77 712 841

Email:     iscandrisankoh@gmail.com