The Cameroons International Film Festival (CAMIFF) , supposedly the glamour of the Cameroon entertainment industry, has been ongoing at the Buea Mountain hotel.
The festival resumed this year after it had taken a temporary standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other unscrupulous reasons.
As part of its usual activities, the CAMIFF rallies together the major actors in the country’s emerging film and entertainment industry. This year hasn’t been an exception rather, the festival seems to have attracted some international guests from Nigeria, Ghana, USA and other countries
The week long festival has as part of this year’s edition; cultural night, workshops, master classes, networking sessions and other programs aimed at creating a breeding ground for future movie makers and actors.
Despite the many years of display, the International film festival has had almost everything but an International standard.
The festival has failed to galvanize interest in the hearts of outsiders of the film industry and is yet to inspire denizens of the Buea municipality to welcome the idea despite efforts from the organizers to give the event an international touch.
Attendance has been unimpressive and its marketing uninspiring. Very few people in Buea are aware there is an International festival taking place in their rich touristic mountainous town
In the past, its President Agbor gilbert, a heavyweight in the country’s struggling movie industry had bemoaned the government for refusing to support the initiative financially despite the entertainment industry’s potential to be a major source of employment to the youths. While he has enjoyed administrative support from local administrators like Governor of South West region and Divisional Officer of Buea, the income has not been flowing in as expected.
Lack of financial support has slow paced the growth of the festival. For now ,Mr Agbor has been the sold funder of the project.
In recent editions, organizers had publicly begged the unimpressed crowd for arms-offering, walking round the hall with a basket begging for money all the while embarrassing their local and International Guests
For an international event rallying international actors across Africa and indeed the world, one would have imagined Mountain hotel would be jam-packed with onlookers and people who want to network from all over the country.
The event has been abandoned to few rising Cameroonian comedians and movie makers who are saddled with the responsibility to do its marketing by sharing event flyers and status updates about their outfit.
The Cameroons’ International Film festival might have wonderful intentions, but if urgent measures are not taken to rescue the project and give its long term viability, it might have survived COVID-19 but might not survive bad publicity and cash crunch.
