CAMIFF 2021: Connecting Cameroon to the World through Cinema

The Cameroon International Film Festival: The must-to attend event of this end of month. Actors of the Industry of Cinema enjoyed solemnly gathered to express their support to the Festival and participated in connecting Africa to the world through cinema.

Glamour, fame, beauty and talent were all gathered in the same place; right in the hills of the Buea mountain, precisely at the Mountain Hotel from the 20th to the 24th of April; in order to celebrate.

A PROMISING INDUSTRY

It is no more a secret that Cameroon has talented filmmakers, producers and actors, just to name a few. But it is the ambition of this Festival to bring in more attention over the talents of Cameroonian filmmaking stakeholders in order to produce more wealth and strengthen it as an industry. We all heard about The fisherman’s Diary produced by Kang Quintus and the numerous prizes it harvested throughout the world. And we also know that it is henceforth available on Netflix. Not only that movie, but another one has been featured on Netflix. Cameroonian films are going high and they will keep it up.

Sixty films, short films and documentaries have been screened in four different sites during the festival this year. The entries were coming from Cameroon, Sweden, Portugal, China, France, Spain, India, Germany, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Iran, Iran, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, USA and the UK.

Far from being a local film festival, CAMIFF aims high to really connect Cameroon film to the world highlighted Chi Chi Ladislav, TV producer, Entertainment Executive and member of the organization committee.

ACTIVITIES

There has been a handful of workshops during the Festival. Acting, writing, directing, screen playing, and scriptwriting have been core activities during the festival. Added to that, Africa night, pool party, mask party and white party, prior to the day of the awards; kept all the participants involved in the basics of film production as well as a lot of entertainment.

The masterclasses have been animated by instructors who are also involved in the Movie Industry. The acting masterclass has been animated by Morocco Omari, an American film, Teacher, Actor, Screenwriter, Producer and Director. Best known for his role as Tariq in the Hip Hop television drama series Empire. He shared this role as instructor with Anurin Nwenembom, an Actor and Filmmaker with a rich theater background; known for his role in the movie Ninah’s Dowry.

The cinematography masterclass has been animated by Rene Eta, Cameroonian Creative Director, CR and Cinematographer, also CEO of GOHFA studios. He’s been the Director of Production of many movies such as A Man for the Weekend, recently Fisherman’s Diary, Therapy and Le Char Des Dieux.

There was also a workshop on leadership and entrepreneurship, animated by Rowan James Laxton, British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cameroon; Brenda Elung, Vice Chairwoman of the Cameroon Film Industry (CFI) and Bony Dashaco, President of Dashaco Holdings.

PRICES AND REWARD

Since its launching in 2016, CAMIFF, godfathered by Ramsey Nouah and Solange Yijika;  has been awarding prizes and rewards such as: the best long film, the best short film, the best documentary, the best actor, the best actress, the best filmmaker, and the best scenario. Our bets did not fail us; CAMIFF was THE event to attend.