Critic punches holes in new Ugandan movie streaming platform

Filmmaker and tech-entrepreneur Charles Kasozi recently launched Flicone, a Ugandan movie streaming platform.

The initiative, introduced on February 26, 2024, aims to provide Ugandans with access to movies from Uganda and around the world.

Kasozi, speaking to New Vision, emphasised the platform's role in offering affordable access to local films while enabling content creators to monetise their work.

"Ugandans have struggled to find a platform for their movies, and for filmmakers, it's challenging to feature their content on global platforms like Netflix and Disney. This platform addresses that issue," he explained.

Kasozi explained that Flicone has a user-friendly interface. Notably, all movies on the platform are translated into Luganda, targeting the local Ugandan market. The monthly subscription fee is set at sh10,000, significantly lower than Netflix's sh36,000. Kasozi justified this pricing by designing it to align with the economic context of Ugandans.

Despite the potential, the high cost of data in Uganda has hindered the growth of the streaming sector. Kasozi plans to engage with telecommunications companies to create data packages that facilitate more affordable streaming for Ugandans.

While previous movie streaming platforms in Uganda and Africa have faced challenges, Kasozi expressed confidence in Flicone's success, citing its focus on Luganda language preference as a strategic advantage.

 However, critics have questioned Flicone’s ownership, the absence of Ugandan films, and the acquisition process for movies from other industries.

Samuel Saviour Kizito, a movie producer, director, and scriptwriter, shared his skepticism with New Vision, expressing uncertainty about the platform's benefits for Ugandans due to the lack of local content.

"I have already used the platform, and it's not bad. However, they claim it's meant to help us, but there is no single Ugandan movie. We don't even know who owns it, but I am sure such big projects are funded by foreigners to take advantage that we have not yet come up with one. Some of these movies on the platform are from other bigger platforms such as Netflix, so we are not sure if he is pirating them or he bought them," he said.

Kizito hinted at a potential foreign-backed project masquerading as a Ugandan innovation, raising concerns about foreign ownership and profit motives.

While acknowledging the platform's usability, he questioned the origin of some movies, speculating that they might be pirated or acquired from larger platforms like Netflix.

In response, Kasozi explained ongoing efforts to collaborate with Ugandan filmmakers to negotiate terms. He acknowledged challenges in securing local content, citing higher fees demanded by local producers compared to their foreign counterparts. Kasozi disclosed discussions with international platforms, expressing optimism about obtaining permission to feature their movies.

Regarding ownership details, Kasozi remained tight-lipped, promising more information later.

Flicone's entrance into the Ugandan movie industry coincides with efforts to combat piracy and restrict foreign content on local platforms. Kasozi, however, remained silent on the acquisition process for movies from prominent industries such as Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood, indicating ongoing communication with production houses.

Despite previous failures of movie streaming platforms in Uganda and Africa, Kasozi expressed confidence in Flicone's success, emphasising its appeal to the local audience with movies Veejeyed in Luganda.