Ugandan filmmakers to revolutionize film distribution

Sep 05, 2019

Matthew Nabwiso, the Managing Director of Victory Film Distribution Company, says that from research, the main challenge that film fans face is a limited number of distributors and a lack of a streamlined company to spearhead the distribution.

FILM          ARTS 

Second, to piracy, film distribution is one of the most pressing challenges in the film industry, as filmmakers say. To address this challenge, therefore, a section of film practitioners recently launched a distribution platform.

The company, Victory Film Distribution Company, is set to revolutionize film distribution in Uganda.

Speaking at a press conference in Kampala, Ronnie Nkalubo, the programmes Coordinator of the company says that for a long time now, distributors have been using the archaic way of moving around with hard copies of DVDs, something that is no longer entirely effective.

"Filmmakers are the most important sector of the film industry in any country because without them you cannot even talk of the film industry. Uganda cannot be an exception. After the filmmakers, the second most important stakeholders are the film distributors who are supposed to buy and sell movies to consumers through exhibitions, cinemas, broadcast, and other online distribution methods," Nkalubo said

Matthew Nabwiso, the Managing Director of Victory Film Distribution Company, says that from research, the main challenge that film fans face is a limited number of distributors and a lack of a streamlined company to spearhead the distribution.

However, looking at past initiatives similar to this one by filmmakers, one would not be wrong to imagine that this too will fail. Nabwiso acknowledges this skepticism and calls on the public to support the initiative and film industry in general.

"As we strive to fight piracy in our industry, we need to, first of all, ensure that our fans out there get the movies. If you Ugandans watch their own content, then it will be easy to talk to them about other challenges including piracy," Nabwiso urged

As one of the main strategies of modern-day distribution, the newly launched company has set out a program to showcase Ugandan films in various cinema halls. To start with, the award-winning 94'Terror will from September 6 be showing at Century Cinemax, Acacia mall. Other movies like Bed of thrones will follow at sh15,000. 

Makeshift cinema halls, commonly known as Bibanda, are not left out. Nabwiso added that Ugandan films will be shown there as well and where the need arises, some films will be translated into the respective languages.

 Matthew Nabwiso, the Managing Director of Victory Film Distribution Company

State of Uganda's film industry

According to Uganda Film Makers and Associates, globally, the movie industry generates over USD50b annually. In Uganda, the film industry is estimated to generate about USD50m per year. Unfortunately, most of that revenue is lost through piracy and sheer disorganization within the sector. It has also been understood for some time that much of the independent film sector in Uganda operates on a broken business model.

Film producers today release over 150 films annually. Each of these films employs over 50 people both directly and indirectly. For the distribution role alone, the industry today employs over 600 people directly.

Nabwiso, however, says that with the advent of the new distribution platform, more Ugandans will be employed hence benefiting the economy. Besides distribution, the industry also has opportunities like digital marketing where digitally skilled Ugandans can help take Ugandan films to a global level.

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