Home Archives More Women to delve into film directing Will Yaounde women’s film festival be platform?
More Women to delve into film directing Will Yaounde women’s film festival be platform?
Ernest Kanjo / Thursday, 04 March 2010 09:43

MisMeBingaThough considered as embryonic, Cameroon's film industry is four decades old. Within this period, there has been a remarkable involvement of women. There is hardly any artistic or technical crew that sets out for a movie project without women on board. Their presence at locations is always significant.

Usually, they would prepare the beautiful costumes and make sure the actors are properly clad in them. They would display their make-up prowess on actors' faces, giving out just what the director desires. Perhaps, their most significant role is "welfare". Since actors and directors are red carpet personalities, the women make sure they are well fed, taking into consideration quantity and quality.

Unfortunately, the role of women, for over 40 years has not gone beyond these. They have hardly stood behind the cameras to call the shots. Ask why it is an issue. It is established that directing is the most prestigious aspect of filmmaking. So, does it mean when it is juicy, women should be left out, whereas, directing is something they too can do?

This is a reflection that has inspired GIC VIDEO STAR, a film common initiative group, mostly made up students of the Performing Arts and Cinematography Department of the University of Yaounde I. To get women on board and encourage them to direct films, the CIG is organizing a festival to their honour. Dubbed Mis Me Binga, the festival will take place in Yaounde from 4 to 8 March 2010, with three major aspects: a round-table conference to discuss strides women have made and how far they could go, film projects and film contest.

Dozens of films (including some from English-speaking Cameroon), directed and produced by women have been lined up for projection at the Goethe-Institut, the French Cultural Centre and the Nkomkana Youth Centre in Yaounde. Also on the programme will be films from other countries including Namibia, Germany, Israel, Finland, Spain, Canada and Japan. Sixteen of the films lined up for projection will contest in three chosen categories: best fiction, best documentary and best actress.

At a press conference last week in Yaounde, organizers of Mis Me Binga hoped the initiative would change the current phase of film making, not only in Cameroon, but in the Central African sub region and the rest of Africa.  "We think women have potentials that must be exploited. So why shouldn't they get behind the cameras and direct the films?" GIC Video Star's Martial Nguea questioned rhetorically. To him, Mis Me Binga which has come to stay should face the challenge and get female filmmakers out of the doldrums of unpopularity as far as directing is concerned. Otherwise, Nguea didn't why in 40, the country would only boast of about 15 female filmmakers, producing not more than two films per decade. "We think the time has come to redress the situation," the young film maker said.

The first edition of Mis Me Binga is now a reality, thanks to partners including the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Women's Affair and the Family, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Goethe-Institut Kamerun and French Cultural Centre. Media partners such as Vox Africa, Vision 4 and Radio Campus have also been prominent.

Some films on the Mis Me Binga schedule:

·       Sister in Law (Cameroon) by Kim Longintho & Florence Ayissi

·       Bongfen (Cameroon) by Sunjo Petra

·       The Last Bus (Germany) by Maria Hensse

·       Nairobi Love Story (Gernmany) by Maria Weber

·       Lily Festival (Japan) by Sachi Hamanu

·       Rape (Cameroon) by Naah Joyce

·       Cries at Night (Namibia) by Oshesheni Hiveluah KAM by Astrid Atodji

·       La Divorce (Gabon) by Manouchka Labouba

·       Dans l'Ombre d'une autre (Cameroon) by Francine Kemegni


TTS/MTDV ARCHIVES

Apex1radio: Afro Ethics with Guest Rose…

Apex1radio: Afro Ethics with Guest  Roselinde Ngozi

Nigerian/American Motivational speaker and music artist, (@roselindengozi ) Roselinde Ngozi is our guest on this week’s edition of Afroethics. Roseline Ngozi is a motivational speaker and a music artist with... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 06 Mar 2019 Hits:4708 Latest

Belgium: New track clams down on evil do…

Belgium: New track clams down on evil doers

Mouth-watering Cameroonian music videos are the order of the day today. If in the diaspora, Cameroonian singers and their videographers have stepped up the game, back home the young boys... Read more

Titus Banyoh Be the first to comment! 08 Dec 2015 Hits:6581 Latest

Denzyl inaugurates new name with smashin…

Denzyl inaugurates new name with smashing single

A sensation! That’s the most apt description for Rendez-Vous, a new single by AMBE, hitherto known as Denzyl. It requires just a single exposure to the Afro Hip-Hop track to... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 22 Jul 2014 Hits:7554 Latest

OTIA VITALIS SPEAKS OUT “We’ll not enco…

OTIA VITALIS SPEAKS OUT  “We’ll not encourage disorder” – CFI Board chair reacts to new whatapp group

CAMEROON - Soon after June 2008, men and women who love the seventh art and aspire to thrive in it have been putting on a different lens with which to... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 13 Aug 2014 Hits:7874 Latest

CFI honoured at Ecrans Noirs

CFI honoured at Ecrans Noirs

The Cameroon Film Industry, CFI and the Ecrans Noirs film festival are fast becoming associates. At this year’s edition, CFI’s board chair, Otia Vitalis was honoured as one of the... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 13 Jul 2013 Hits:5649 Latest

South Africa: Celebrating Cameroon’s ric…

South Africa: Celebrating Cameroon’s rich culture

Skeptics to the fact that Cameroon is a miniature of Mother Africa are undoubtedly going to be righted soon after 25 May 2012, when what has been described as a... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 23 May 2012 Hits:6684 Latest

“Bigger things for Cameroonian Hip-Hop …

“Bigger things for  Cameroonian Hip-Hop on the way” -Limo, South Africa-based Cameroonian singer

 {xtypo_rounded2}He might have been ambitious when he left Cameroon seven years ago. But little did the 26-year-old singer know he was going to hit the apex of the profession he... Read more

TTS Comments(10) 15 Jan 2011 Hits:65568 INTERVIEWS

Rap: Ciana shoots high

Rap: Ciana shoots high

Pacing slowly to ensure that it is strongly erected with all openings mended, is certainly what Ciana can be associated with. From all indication, the Buea-based rapper dines endlessly with... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 21 Jul 2014 Hits:11668 Latest

Gospel Musical album: Emile Ngumbah sure…

Gospel Musical album: Emile Ngumbah sure of sound quality

Emile Ngumbah is the name everyone in the entertainment industry in the Cameroon knows, at least for the success stories he has recorded this far. He is the proprietor of... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 08 Dec 2010 Hits:6465 STAR CORNER

Music: Kokong Signet proves might

Music: Kokong Signet proves might

Like is the case with any other artiste, insufficient finances slow down the pace of production. Yet, that doesn’t kill Kokong Signet Tabong’s dreams. The Douala based Hip-Hop artist... Read more

Titus Banyoh Be the first to comment! 29 Jan 2013 Hits:6190 STAR CORNER

African Fiesta 169 - Ebangha Njang talks…

African Fiesta 169 - Ebangha Njang talks about latest SA MAJESTE mag

When you educate a man, you have educated an individual, but when you educate a woman,  you have done so for an entire nation, so goes an old adage. When... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 06 Feb 2021 Hits:2162 Latest

“Talent, creativity, uniqueness, humilit…

“Talent, creativity, uniqueness, humility is what we look for in artists” -	Eyong David, sound engineer, CEO of Kumba Yo’on Records.

    At least, for now, scores of aspiring young musicians, based in Kumba-Cameroon would tell you their hopes are immeasurably high, thanks to the coming of Yo’on Records. Yo’on Records, a... Read more

Anang Christy Ijang Be the first to comment! 01 May 2014 Hits:14182 STAR CORNER

Press release: Jovi unveils H.I.V album…

Press release:  Jovi unveils H.I.V album package

The widely acclaimed Cameroon based MuMak label is thrilled to announce the online release and cover art of Jovi’s highly anticipated debut album. H.I.V, the title of the said album... Read more

TTS Comments(1) 14 Aug 2012 Hits:30053 Latest

Camwood, Callywood or Collywood?

Camwood, Callywood or Collywood?

  {xtypo_dropcap}T{/xtypo_dropcap}here has been an increasing passion for home video, displayed by young Cameroonians of English expression. Not only do they find pleasure watching movies, they have not hesitated... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Comments(1) 08 Aug 2008 Hits:11080 INTERVIEWS

Cuisine: Anita Etta diversifies art menu

Cuisine: Anita Etta diversifies art menu

You might have been visiting Colleyville, Texas, for work or vacation and have never really experienced healthy cuisine. Yet, you are a non-negotiable healthy eater. Or, you may be a... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 10 Jan 2017 Hits:86905 Latest

CRTV shows: The desirable Baldwin Sama

CRTV shows: The desirable Baldwin Sama

Breaking down newspaper content for a better decoding of television audience is not often chocolate. This is the challenge Fonkenmun Baldwin Sama has faced for the past three years on... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 27 Mar 2012 Hits:11608 STAR CORNER

Up-coming: Most beautiful Cameroonian in…

Up-coming: Most beautiful Cameroonian in Belgium revealed  soon

There is a growing yet, soothing anxiety among Cameroonians in particular and lovers of culture in general as the city of Antwerpen braces to host the first ever final of... Read more

Titus Banyoh Be the first to comment! 22 Oct 2012 Hits:9288 Latest

Women’s film festival Advocacy film se…

Women’s film festival   Advocacy film seduces jury

It's just six minutes long, yet Rape is so telling. When it was projected during the just-ended maiden edition of the women's film festival dubbed Mis Me Binga, the audience... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 16 Mar 2010 Hits:7315 MOVIES

Cameroonian movies shine on Amazon

Cameroonian movies shine on Amazon

Many more Cameroonian movies have been made, released, premiered and written about, than they have been watched. This has been a long-standing worry, expressed by film lovers, over the years.... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 09 May 2020 Hits:4684 MOVIES

Cameroonian features top in Brazilian fi…

Cameroonian features top in Brazilian film

Tommy Germain again! He is one of the Cameroonians making headlines in Brazil in the domain of showbiz and precisely in film making. Many are those who fell in love... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 04 Jan 2012 Hits:6749 STAR CORNER

“Don’t let your talents dragged in mud”…

 “Don’t let your talents dragged in mud”    Ekiti Drogba, Denmark-based Cameroonian singer tells youths

Buea-born and Kumba-bred Ekiti Drogba is an oral artist par excellence. When he sings, you are convinced. Yet, he reigned in oblivion for so long and his country would not... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 17 Jun 2013 Hits:6225 Latest

418293622 7484176181616363_8241778451874313913_n


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...