Former Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA) Juliet Asante
Former Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA) Juliet Asante has called on Ghanaian filmmakers to work on changing themselves and their mindsets while asking for change from the public.
Speaking at the tenth Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF) in Accra, she shone a spotlight on some hurdles facing the Ghanaian film industry today.
“We say we want change, but we do not want to change. We want things to be different, but when it comes to shifting mindset, our structures, or our approach, there is resistance. And that makes it very difficult to move forward as an industry,” she said,
She expressed disappointment that many filmmakers fail to show up at events like BSIFF, refusing to engage even when potential funding and global exposure are on the table.
“If you do not show up where distributors, funders, and partners are, how can you expect your work to travel?” she asked.
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According to Asante, lack of funding is real, but a fixed mindset and lack of participation is also crippling the film industry.
Under this year’s theme, “The Relevance of Film in Society,” the festival emphasized cinema’s power not just for entertainment, but as a tool for education, preserving culture, and driving social change. At the tenth anniversary, Asante urged her peers to seize opportunities, show up, and own the platforms made for their growth.
“The festival exists for the industry, but it cannot work without the industry. If we all want change, then we must all be ready to change,” she said.
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