Mediavision Academy Commends UCC for Consistency in Uganda Film Festival Amid Industry Challenges
During the launch meeting, Robert highlighted the significant role UCC has played in promoting the Ugandan film industry over the years. Mediavision Academy has partnered with UCC for over a decade, providing training workshops aimed at enhancing the skills of filmmakers, which has contributed to the growth of numerous talents in the industry.
The event was presided over by UCC’s Executive Director, Hon. Nyombi Thembo, who officially flagged off the festival. In her address, Julianne Mweheire, Director of Content Development and Industry Affairs at UCC, revealed that a total of 363 films were submitted for this year’s festival, with 303 being Ugandan productions. This impressive number reflects the increasing energy, creativity, and professionalism within the Ugandan film industry.
Mweheire announced that the awards this year will feature 27 categories, commending all filmmakers for their dedication to perfecting their craft. The festival will include a variety of activities such as capacity-building sessions, industry development discussions, film screenings, an award gala, and the introduction of an industry marketplace.
In his speech, Thembo reaffirmed UCC’s commitment to supporting the film industry, announcing this year’s festival theme: “Local Stories, Global Impact.” He emphasized the importance of the festival as a vital component of Uganda’s cultural and creative economy. Thembo acknowledged the challenges faced by the industry, including rampant piracy, copyright infringement, a lack of relevant policies, limited access to funding, and insufficient avenues for commercialization. He assured attendees that UCC is set to launch initiatives addressing these issues through six strategic pillars:
- Establishing a formal structured market space
- Audience development and distribution of films, focusing on bibandas as a key platform
- Integration of digital marketing platforms
- Attracting international distributors and buyers of content
- Establishing and facilitating new partnerships and networking opportunities
- Creating a content development facility, likely to be housed at the Uganda National Cultural Centre
Thembo also commended the filmmakers behind the newly formed producers’ guild, led by Mathew Nabwiso, and expressed UCC’s commitment to engaging with this guilds in finding strategies of channelling support to the sector.
Following the speeches, Philip Luswata, head of the jury, introduced the jury members and explained the selection process. He noted that judges focused on the storytelling and urgency conveyed in each film, as well as the performance of the actors. Luswata confirmed that no commissioned films were submitted, highlighting the competitiveness among individual film producers. He also observed a trend where downtown filmmakers produced films in English, while uptown filmmakers favored Luganda, and noted the recurring nominees in television series due to the complexities involved in producing television dramas.
The meeting concluded with Gonzaga Gonza from UCC announcing the nominees for this year’s festival, setting the stage for an exciting 12th edition of the Uganda Film Festival.
