As a way to improve and strengthen both its tourism and film sectors, Uganda is taking part in the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival, an event that kick started on May 14th and will be running up to May 25th in France.
Delegates from the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Ugandan filmmakers will represent Uganda at the prestigious event.
This year, for first time in the history of the event, an African Pavilion will be elected. Pavillon Afrique will be a beehive of activity ranging from film business for both private and public sector roundtables, a series of country produced destination seminars, leadership workshops, celebrity-hosted panels among others.
The pavilion will also be the first tent within the Film Market section of the Cannes Film Festival dedicated exclusively to the business of Film in the African continent and among its diaspora.
The annual Cannes Film Festival is running under the theme, ‘Connecting the Past, Present and Future.’
Speaking about Uganda’s participation at the event, the Chief Executive Officer UTB Lilly Ajarova, commented that Uganda has received more attention in recent years due to its beautiful landscape and epitome weather that have attracted internationally celebrated movie producers choose it as a filming venue for epic movies.
“Uganda is an ideal filming destination given its beautiful scenery. We have the best filming locations and with a good road network across the country, filmmakers looking to come to Uganda will be pleasantly surprised to find a ready-made set for them,” she said.
Ugandan independent film makers who will bless the event include personalities like Nisha Kalema, Malcolm Bigyemano, Sharpe Ssewali George, and many others.
The participants will be given privileged to access resources rarely accessible to filmmakers from developing film markets. Countries will be given an opportunity to present their film industry potential, showcase innovation and technologies that disrupt the movie making process and costs, and many more presentations.
Also, noting about the event was the Executive Director UCC, Godfrey Mutabaazi. He commented that Uganda is creating a unique venue for its local film.
“Our ambition is to become a center for filming in Africa, through this exclusive business platform where film industry stakeholders meet, discuss, trade, make deals and take advantage of the unique atmosphere of the Festival de Cannes,” he added.
Others to comment on Uganda’s participation at the African Pavilion included Oscar nominated Director and Founder of Maisha Film Lab, Mira Nair who noted that the festival is was a great opportunity for the Ugandan film industry to tap into a global network of professionals who will enable the country attain her desired film potential.
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