Focus on your rich culture while making films, says Iranian Consul

FILM |ENTERTAINMENT

KAMPALA - Uganda has been struggling with producing proficient film makers, but Film Club Uganda came out to solve that problem.

Last Friday, at Uganda National Theater, 90 prospective film makers from Kampala and Kabaale were awarded certificates for completion of their two months training.

Godfrey Musinguzi, the project coordinator said the Film Club Uganda trained 90 film makers in the fields of makeup, acting, directing, sound design and script writing and all graduated.

"Out of these trainees, the film sector is sure of the skills impacted and will be of help to the Uganda film industry," he said.

While officiating at the award ceremony, Mohammad Reza Ghezel Sofla, the new Cultural Counsul of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Uganda who was the chief guest, said the role of film is very vital in the development of the nation.

The Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Uganda, Mohammad Reza Ghezel Sofla handing over a certificate to the graduates

 
"Cinema and media are responsible for informing and educating the community, so if the production of the film is void of these, regardless of its characteristics, it would be worthless," said Sofla.

On the other hand, Sofla was strongly against film writers and producers who copy the Western cultures instead of drawing a leaf from their indigenous cultural backgrounds.

"What is very important is the existence of the relationship between the productive films and the cultural values of each society," Sofla observed adding: "So, imitation of the products of the leading countries in this field, regardless of the realities and needs of society, is a blind imitation that does not serve that society."

Another vice that is destroying the film industry is that of explicit sexual immorality, which the new film makers should avoid.

"Today, one of the most dangerous threats to cinema is the display of immoral and vulgar films, which lead to misleading the youth and the nation," Sofla said. "The films should focus on the development of the inner and spiritual values of human beings, instead of addressing the external beauty of human beings."

Some of the guests at the function

 
In addition, art is a divine gift given to strengthen the human soul, create joy, taste, and offer help, which the fresh film makers should emulate.

Drawing comparison to the Iran's film industry, Sofla noted that Iran developed dramatically both inside and outside after the victory of the Islamic Revolution. He encouraged Ugandans to imitate the Iranian film industry, which mainly covers science, history, ideology, history of the great prophets, family issues, and the bitterness of life experiences.

"I do believe that Ugandans have human, social, religious, moral, and spiritual values and rely on Uganda's history and cultural values to develop realities in the cinema industry," he advises.

Others guests that were present included Juliana Naumo, commissioner for culture and family affairs at Ministry of Gender,   Labour  and Social Development and Robert Musiitwa, the Public Relations Officer of Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC).

These were the graduates of the first national film workshop in Uganda. The training was made possible due to the support from Uganda Communication Commission (UCC), Uganda National Cultural Centre (UNCC) and ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.