Second Premier of the Movie Where Lies the Truth

Where Lies the Truth is one of the finest movies from the Sierra Leone Film Industry in 2022. The movie is allegedly the most successful movie project from the Spectree Film Production; a production co-founded by Joseph Mensa Fiamapple and Zainab Sillah Fiamapple commonly known as Gina.  

It was a private premiere that took place on the 30^th of December 2022 at the Freetown City Hall and this was the second time that ‘’Where Lies the Truth’’ was premiered privately as a strategic move to have invited only a selected few that matter to the event.

Most of the invitees were women of calibre within society. Amongst the invitees were, Adama Tuma Gento Kamara – Chairperson of the Board of Directors – National Revenue Authority, Madam Claire Carton Hanciles, Head of Legal Aid Board Sierra Leone, Madam Priscilla Okechuku, Director – Orange Foundation SL, etc.

Some members of the industry-known personalities present comprised a cross-section of the Sierra Leone Female Producers, actors, directors, producers and bloggers (Khadijah Jalloh – the chairperson, the Actors Guild of Sierra Leone – Christiana Kamara, Aminata Aminash Kabba, Mariama Bah, Fayia Foray, Ishmail Kamara, Abubakarr Bah, Lansana Spartar, the MC Michaela Sallu, the producer of the movie – Zainab Sillah Fiamapple, the screenwriter and director – Joseph Mensah Fiamapple, etc).

Statements From Key Audiences

‘’It’s hard. I heard my sister say the film industry is male-dominated. Which industry is not male dominated in Sierra Leone and the world over? It’s hard. It’s not easy. It’s a man’s world. Do you know what is not working? She is a woman!’’ when it becomes hard, we need to wet that door. Women, we have integrity. We need to think out of the box, and reach out. I am pleased that Gina invited me. Most times people think we cannot respond to invitations, but we need you to remind us. We are very busy people. We work. When we get home our children are there, and we have our husbands too. You need to do something like an outreach.’’

Madam Gento went on to advise all the female producers available and proffered various ways they could go about the business aspect of filmmaking and promised to be with them to organize events and as well reach out to other people within her circle to throw their support.

Madam Fatmata Claire Carlton Hanciles – Head of Legal Aid Board – Sierra Leone was invited to make a statement. Much of her statement was bent on the ways forward to enhance growth, especially for female producers.

 She said, ‘’How do we move forward? I like progress. One thing is, we need to come together. We need powerful women to build a power network. We can discuss with NASSIT (National Social Security Insurance Trust) to support so that we can be premiering one or two movies by female producers every month. The money will come but we need to network.’’

Madam Hanciles went on to say she looks forward to film festivals, especially to having a Human Right Film Festival every year. One that they can invite the American Embassy and the British Commission.

Madam Priscilla Okechuku, Head of Coding, Orange Digital Center, Orange Foundation: ‘’I am wow! I enjoyed the movie. I want to say thanks to the female producers. You have broken the barriers. You just need to take a quantum leap. you don’t have a movie cinema here. But you know, there is the Cinema Bird that can help you premier your film wherever you want, just like this. I am an engineer and most times when there are jobs, a few women show up, and we end up getting the jobs. So, women have already broken the barriers. You need to collaborate with one another. You can make it.” Madam Priscilla ended her statement with anticipation to see the end of the movie.

Audience Reaction

Conclusively, the film kept the audience engaged with the urge of wanting to see how the chaotic life of the major character unfolded. In the end, a lot of donations were made to support the producer in a good job.

Facts About ‘’Where Live the Truth’’

Where Lies the Truth is one of the finest movies from Sierra Leone that was seriously researched by the screenwriter. It is a story that was inspired by true-life events related to marriage and women giving birth in government hospitals.

Joseph Mensa Fiamapple – Screenwriter & Director

Zainab Sillah Fiamapple – Producer & Lead

The pregnancy carried by the lead character was real. The producer who is the lead character became pregnant based on the instruction of the director and screenwriter who happens to be the partner of the producer and founding member of Spectree Film Production.

Because the crew wanted a real pregnancy, and Gina, who rolled as the character had to become pregnant for some months to enhance the reality of the story, it took two years for the shooting of the project to be complete.