By: Aja Horeja Njie
In a bid to consolidate the nexus between film academia and audiovisual practice, the University of The Gambia (UTG) School of Journalism and Digital Media (SJDM) is hosting the fifth (5th) edition of The Gambia’s premier elite “Cinekambiya International Film Festival (CIFF)” on Friday the 6th December 2024 and scheduled to continue on the place at the UTG Kanifing Campus on Saturday 7, Sunday 8, Friday 13, and Saturday, 14 December 2024 respectively, the festival’s theme anchors on “The Advancement of Creative Freedom Under The Barrow Administration since 2017.”
Explaining the motivation for this year’s theme, Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu, the festival’s founder says it is imperative to proceed with CIFF as film festivals are a necessary pillar of every serious film industry but “as a starting point, we should fairly reflect on the journey so far and appreciate the dynamics of the new political dispensation. You will agree with me that since 2017, creative freedom in our beautiful country has thrived as talented Gambians continue to make songs and videos on various critical issues without undue restrictions from the State. The enrollments of students for media-related courses both at UTG where I teach and at the various Technical and Vocational Training Centers (TVETs) are impressively rising. All thanks to the conducive environment created by the Barrow Administration and the attractiveness of what we teach.”
Looking back, Prince B.A. Sankanu said “Since 2015, my production house, Sanxaanu Kaggoro Film Kaffo (SANXAAFI) has been complementarily building the capacities of Gambian audiovisual talents through co-curricular activities both in theory and practice. The Cinekambiya Film Festival is effectively serving as an international standard platform for exposing those home-grown talents.
The UTG School of Journalism and Digital Media introduced Film Studies as an academic discipline during the time of founding Dean Nana Grey-Johnson in fulfillment of the school’s digital media mandate and Mr. Sankanu has been pivotal in lecturing Film Studies and coordinating media development projects since 2019. After 5 years of imparting relevant knowledge to the enrolled youths, the mentees are celebrated with the “Cinekmabiya Young Talents” component of CIFF featuring films made by students and other young professionals.
Aja Fatou Drammeh, a final year student of Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Digital Media at SJDM who recently understudied the ‘11th Emergence Film Festival’ in Togo says “I am enthusiastic about the re-launch of our own prestigious Cinekambiya International Film Festival. After four years of thoroughly studying film under the mentorship of Prince Sankanu, I cannot wait to present our senior film projects to audiences. UTG School of Journalism invites everyone to come and and watch their films at UTG Kanifing campus during the festival and encourage them in the audiovisual sector.
Other highlights of the 5th CIFF include open-air screenings, “Cinekambiya Lounge” discussions on investment opportunities in audiovisual sectors, academic exchange, and networking sessions for film industry stakeholders.
In addition to screening films made by Gambians, the 5th Cinkemabiya International Film Festival (CIFF) will program entries from The Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, Egypt, France, Germany, France, and others.
Founded in 2015 as a modern promotional platform for celebrating authentic films, the annual Cinekambiya International Film Festival is organized every December by the Sanxaanu Kaggoro Film Kaffo (SANXAAFI), a member of the Federation of Pan African Filmmakers (FEPACI). CIFF is also, part of the Pan African Federation of Film and Audiovisual Festivals.
Mr Sankanu, who doubles as the current President of the Film Producers Association of The Gambia (FPAG) revealed that the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the restrictions on public gatherings compelled his organization, SANXAAFI to take a long break from film festivals after the 4th edition and re-strategize.
Having the UTG School of Journalism and Digital Media as a reliable hosting partner, the Cinekambiya International Film Festival (CIFF) envisages stability for programming sequent editions with captivating themes and mesmerizing films from The Gambia and the rest of the world.
