Funding: The challenging path of African cinemas

Making big productions with limited means; such is the challenge filmmaker Isaac Nabwana and many others face.

Chuck Norris, Rambo or Bruce Lee serve as inspiration for Isaac Nabwana, director of Uganda’s first action movie studio -Wakaliwood. He started his production house ten years ago.

Making films around the world proves to be a difficult undertaking. Movie makers often play several roles: film director, cameraman and editor all at the same time.

Raising funding is often difficult. Nabwana and his team have had to find innovative solutions. They make all their props and costumes from locally sourced materials.

The filmmaker said the production of his first movie – Who Killed Captain Alex – cost about 200 U.S. dollars.

The Ethiopian film Lamb, created by director Yared Zeleke made its debut at Cannes Film Festival despite challenges.

“It was extremely difficult and honestly my producer and could not find funding. Yet the script won a very prestigious award in France with many other scripts. It won top place,” Zeleke said.

With its captivating cinematography, ‘Lamb’ seeks to counter negative stereotypes of Ethiopia.

Other films and documentaries such as the rags-to-riches story of NBA star Serge Ibaka, Son of the Congo Dream”:http://www.madinasdream.com/, a film depicting the lives of young girls living through conflict in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains and ‘Beasts of No Nation’ which stars Idris Elba and newcomer Abraham Attah are also forces to be reckoned with.