A shooting scene from Loukman’s film Blind Date. PHOTO/COURTESY.
The local film industry has been growing over the years as captured in visible improvements in production values such as cinematography, editing, sound design, and production design. Observers contend that Ugandan filmmakers have grabbed the attention of the international market so much so that many local filmmakers head juries at festivals or are simply part of bigger productions as directors and supervisors.
Yet, when it comes to audience visibility, the local film industry is still introducing itself to the audience. Critics, for one, point to the fact that its festival has celebrated a paltry 11 editions.
While previous efforts to get Ugandans to watch Ugandan films have registered some successes, observers hold that the feats somehow fall short. Take Kampala Cinema Night. Started by Film Club Uganda’s vice president and actor, Godfrey Musinguzi, it takes place every Wednesday at the National Theatre. Shorn of any marketing drives, the nights, besides being consistent, have struggled.
Elsewhere, initiatives such as African Movie Night, Nteredde Documentary Showcase, and Kampala Shortfilm Showcase have reaped the whirlwind. Whereas other initiatives such as Matatu Filmstage have been successful, they too are not frequent. Matatu Filmstage, organised by Film Possible, an organisation that nurtures and trains young filmmakers, happens annually at Century Cinema and later for a weekend around different parts of Uganda. The rest of the year is then spent taking the films around the world. It is currently showing in Tanzania.
Kwiso Mu Cinema by Sauti Plus is always a hit in Kampala and surrounding downtrodden areas. The initiative spreads messages on reproductive health using film. Most of their films are watched for free. It is an outlier primarily because most Ugandan filmmakers try to sell local films as bankable products people should pay for.
Critics continue to advise that it makes little sense to invite the public to watch works of art free as was the case with Sauti Plus’s Sabotage and When You Become Me.