2012 NAFTI Film Lectures Launched

The National Film and Television Institute (NAFTI) in conjunction with the Goethe Institut has launched the 2nd Annual NAFTI Film Lectures on Ghanaian Motion Picture Industry in Accra.

The lectures were instituted last year in reaction to public criticism to the poor state of affairs concerning the quality of films produced in Ghana. The NAFTI lectures which are held annually in the third week of February have its theme on’ ‘Promotion of Cross –Cultural Understanding: A Celebration of Ghanaian-German Co-operation and Collaboration in Media.

The Rector of NAFTI, Professor Linus Abraham, in his address noted NAFTI is leading discussions, charting the way for the growth of the industry, studying its structures, identifying its problems and providing solutions to enhance the growth of the industry.

The goal of the lectures are to highlight the role that film and television play in the socio-economic development of a country, showcase Ghana’s finest film-makers and their contributions and also to discuss the best practices in the industry.

The lectures which include a research, paper presentations, workshops, public forum discussions and screening sessions, will provide a platform for students, professionals and the public to interact and exchange their views on the industry.

The lectures will draw attention to the significant German collaboration that has contributed to the growth and maintenance of NAFTI, such as Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Goethe Institut.

Prof Abraham emphasised the immense contributions of King Apaw‘s work which has put Ghana on the international filmmaking industry and revealed King Apaw as the 2012 celebrant.

The CEO of TV Africa, Mr Kwaw Ansah, who was last year’s celebrant, acknowledged the pioneering role of King Apaw and his contributions to the development of the film industry in Ghana.

We use film as a medium to promote national development, but we must interpret our films in our rich African beauty, he added.

The Director of Goethe Insitut, Mr Robert Sobotta, said the Goethe Institut is happy to be a part of the programme, which he noted is the first in terms of the lectures.