TIPTOPSTARS

CFI-USA: Newfound bond wins wide attention

News / Latest / Ernest Kanjo / Friday, 20 September 2013 07:10

There has been a torrential pour of reactions from members of the Cameroonian film sector and observers after what has generally been termed a successfully organized and impressively attended Cameroon Film Industry, CFI meeting in Washington DC. The meeting which took place on Saturday September 14 amidst great anxiety and excitement was the first organized under the banner of CFI in the diaspora.

Receiving the news of the successful holding of the meeting, Cam Movies’ CEO Fred Keyanti quickly expressed his joy of noticing the filmmakers and production houses who hitherto operated at dispersed ranks had decided to bury their hatchets and speak a common language. Writing on facebook, Keyanti enjoined them to favour dialogue and a team spirit.

On his part, Peter Njodzeka aka Penjo hailed USA for getting on the rails and prayed the latest happening would inspire the team back home to multiply its efforts in making the industry a great place to be. The Yaounde-based filmmaker swore that the USA team was going to be speedy in its actions.

Writing from Douala, Cameroon’s economic stronghold, broadcaster/comedian/cultural promoter Ayuk Thomas alias Pa Tom committed CFI-USA into the precious hands of Jesus Christ, praying division should be completely expelled. “Courage all, do not stumble, the sky is your springboard,” the media personality who works for the privately own Canal 2 International and Sweet FM wrote.

Also entrusting the USA branch of the film organization into God’s care, a representative of the Walters Videos production outfit reacted as such: “Let the Lord Almighty cover and seal that bond with the blood of Jesus.”

These reactions and more had quite much to do with unity which according to CFI-USA members who attended the Washington come-together, was the biggest catch the hunt had set out for. Talking to Ernest Kanjo on African Cocktail (a show on Afrikka Radio) Wednesday, CFI diaspora representative Akim Macauley acknowledged that agreeing to work in unison had been a difficult thing to come by. “It’s largely because of certain misconceptions, but I’m glad that we are beginning to understand ourselves and going back to the drawing board,” he said.

Akim further explained that the enthusiasm displayed at Saturday’s meeting was clear testimony that Cameroonian filmmakers in the USA and diapora in general were ready to rail the locomotive towards a glorious end.

On his part, producer Agbor Gilbert Ebot, CFI’s PRO simply owed God for the memorable day – the birth of CFI in the USA. The ace producer’s emotions could be vividly understood – he was not only one of the pioneers of CFI, but he had actually taken the bull by the horn to introduce the idea and make it functional. That was way back in Buea in June of 2008.

During the DC meeting coordinated by Akim Macauley and Kenneth Ngamne, Emmanuel Takusi and Mat Atugon were respectively elected to head the caretaker committees of the Cameroonian filmmakers’ and actors’ guild in the diaspora.

Present at the meeting were renowned film industry workers including Kang Quintus, Sahndra Fondufe, Nathalie Bih, Elian Mambo and Maybelle Boma.

Created in 2008, the Cameroon Film Industry, CFI run affairs of the sector with the vision of improving the standards of the art of filmmaking in Cameroon. Upon its birth, it was tasked with ensuring specialization and professionalism within the sector. Its day-to-day activities are run by a board of 16 members elected in March this year and led by ace actor Otia Vitalis Suh who is bead in the capital Yaounde.

LATEST COMMENTS

Well, I think the CEA was a very shallow and misgu... More...
This is creativity we are talking about, this are ... More...
Lovelyn,your pre-selection criterias are ok but i'... More...
camhood 4 the better More...
fame is gd More...
CONGRATULATION. THANK GOD FOR YOU GUYS. CAMEROON S... More...
cool girls dat was great but this year we the cons... More...