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

USA: Cameroon gets own awards

USA: Cameroon gets own awards

  In recent years, Africans living in the diaspora have been very concerned about recognizing and appreciating the continent’s values, talents and productivity. The creative arts domain has easily been figured... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Comments(6) 19 Jan 2012 Hits:9016 Latest

Coming up: The Storm to storm world movi…

Coming up: The Storm to storm world movie market

It is now an undeniable fact that Cameroon’s film industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the country. It grows in quantity and quality. This growth is thanks... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 13 Jul 2013 Hits:9103 MOVIES

ON AFRICAN FIESTA THIS WEEK

ON AFRICAN FIESTA THIS WEEK

The journey of a global traveler is only complete when they have visited Africa. The continent’s rich cultural heritage is second to none, it has been tested and proven. This... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 28 May 2021 Hits:2328 Latest

UNFOLDING: “NAGCAM-USA elections are nul…

UNFOLDING: “NAGCAM-USA elections are null and void” – Kena Kesha, NAGCAM national president

The national president of the National Actors’ Guild of Cameroon, NAGCAM has declared that the election of a new bureau in its USA branch is null and void. “We are... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 05 Sep 2016 Hits:9905 Latest

Restore order, get back to us – gov’t of…

Restore order, get back to us – gov’t officials tell filmmakers

Cameroonians who practice the craft of filmmaking have been enjoined to restore order in their ‘house’ and present themselves as an organized group. It is only by doing so,... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 30 Mar 2015 Hits:7744 MOVIES

Yaounde filmmakers back on rails

Yaounde filmmakers back on rails

Filmmakers living in Cameroon's capital Yaounde have announced they will resume activities of their chapter of the Cameroon Film Industry organization (CFI). The artists and technicians took the vow in... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 10 Nov 2010 Hits:7515 MOVIES

“Waa Musi has no authority to convoke a …

“Waa Musi has no authority to convoke a GA of CFI” -	Otia Vitalis, CFI board chair

Coincidentally, the first interview Otia Vitalis, the board chair of the Cameroon Film industry CFI is granting to TIPTOPSTARS after taking office is a reaction to the one from... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 04 Apr 2013 Hits:258435 Latest

Snapshots around CMMA II nominations

Snapshots around CMMA II nominations

To go by the words of the organizers, the décor is already almost completely planted for the 2013 edition of the Cam Movies Merit Awards, CMMA. “We are currently observing... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 22 Nov 2013 Hits:9049 MOVIES

“I Treat Each Role As Something My Life …

“I Treat Each Role As Something My Life Depended On”	 -	Anurin Nwenembom, Best Actor, Cannes (France) Festival

Never has a cameroonian movie been so consistent in harvesting awards like the case with ninah’s dowry. it is easy to accept that the movie is going to be a... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 28 May 2013 Hits:13542 MOVIES

Xplosif Choppers to explode soon

Xplosif Choppers to explode soon

South Africa-based Cameroonian film writer/producer, Fred Kenyati has a nut to crack with cyber crime. “Something has to be done and fast enough to eradicate this contemporary ill,” he told... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 14 Mar 2012 Hits:8199 MOVIES

Cameroonian movies: Votary announced

  Cameroonian movies: Votary announced

Serving more than two masters is a leeway to failure. That’s one of life’s basic truths. What about someone who serves three at a blow? What becomes of such a... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 03 Oct 2012 Hits:12370 MOVIES

WebRoundup: Nexdimempire

WebRoundup: Nexdimempire

Among  the sprouting Entertainment and promo sites is Nexdim Empire Aka Camer Entertainment House which is aimed at bringing Cameroonian talents in the music and Film industry to gain... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 30 Mar 2010 Hits:6629 WEB ROUNDUP

Sovereignty: NAGCAM-USA announces gigant…

Sovereignty: NAGCAM-USA announces gigantic movie project

From all indications, Cameroon will sooner than imagined, be celebrating what is already conjectured, within film circles, to be the biggest movie project done by its diaspora. The said... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 12 Apr 2015 Hits:9385 MOVIES

TIPTOPSTARS: We are back!

TIPTOPSTARS: We are back!

Abruptly, we went silent. We did not indicate we were going to be absent for a while. Perhaps, that’s where we went wrong. But as a matter of fact,... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 17 Sep 2013 Hits:5389 Latest

Learn the Energetic Benskin Dance in Jus…

Learn the Energetic Benskin Dance in Just One Minute

The Benskin dance, a vibrant expression of Cameroon’s cultural heartbeat, has found its way to screens worldwide. This youtube video breaks down this energetic style into simple, easy-to-follow steps that... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 17 Oct 2025 Hits:478 Latest

The world of black magic Wins at Serbian…

The world of black magic Wins at Serbian Ethnological Film Festival

The Nightmare of a Belief by Cameroonain filmmaker Samuel Loe which was first screened at the 11th Göttingen International Ethnographic Film Festival, has come out emergent in the category... Read more

TTS Be the first to comment! 19 Oct 2012 Hits:7820 MOVIES

From movie set to music stage: Taka Tann…

From movie set to music stage: Taka Tanni, Mairo Sanda go “love-zouking”

One good thing about performing artists is that they are flexible. They would sing if you want them to. Actors would dance if you set the stage for them to... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 13 Dec 2012 Hits:7845 STAR CORNER

Neba Lawrence in Cape Town

Neba Lawrence in Cape Town

One of Cameroon's most-sought-for film directors, Neba Lawrence is in the South African city of Cape Town.  Neba arrived there a forthnight ago for a movie project, sponsored by a... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 13 Apr 2010 Hits:177752 Movies

Cameroonian movies: Roses await Tinted R…

Cameroonian movies: Roses await Tinted Roses

Later this January, what behind-the-scene observers have confidently described as one of the biggest Cameroonian home video productions of recent times will be made public. Tinted Roses, an emotionally-filled, yet... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 11 Jan 2014 Hits:8327 MOVIES

Mimi GAL is 2010 Varsity Games Mascot

Mimi GAL is 2010 Varsity Games Mascot

For the first time in her budding career, Cameroon's new RnB diva, Mimi GAL is learning how to manage an over-crowded mind and euphoria. Hardly had she settled to join... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Be the first to comment! 02 Apr 2010 Hits:21029 Music Stars

Don Tom, Wax Dey see their wives

Don Tom, Wax Dey see their wives

It requires an extra-ordinarily creative mind to compose a timeless and universal song. Timeless and universal songs make meaning over time. They are new today, tomorrow and forever. It even... Read more

Ernest Kanjo Comments(1) 25 Jan 2012 Hits:11184 STAR CORNER

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...