AFRICAST 2024: IFAAP tasks broadcast regulators on illegal, unauthorised use of content

* Afro Film Alliance opens October 25 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

By Editor

THE International Federation of African Audiovisual Professionals (IFAAP) has congratulated the newly appointed Director General of National Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Charles Ebuebu, on his appointment and expressed the hope that his tenure will bring innovations to the broadcast industry while tackling some of the headaches associated with broadcasting, as it affects filmmakers and content producers.

“We have no doubt you will parley your vast legal and content management background into an effective regulation of Africa’s largest broadcast market,” IFAAP Secretary, General Madu C. Chikwendu, said on Tuesday in Lagos.

As the new NBC helmsman engages in his first official outing at the ongoing AFRICAST, IFAAP has made a call on the NBC and other West African regulators to urgently and immediately take necessary steps to checkmate the flagrant, illegal and unauthorized broadcast of content particularly African movies, and also called on intergovernmental, non-governmental, national and subnational entities to initiate necessary actions to curb the evil tendency that is sowing poverty and misery amongst African cinema professionals, a statement signed by IFAAP Office of Communications said on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.

IFAAP said the meeting of West African Broadcast Regulators on the sidelines of AFRICAST is a wonderful opportunity to adopt relevant protocols to checkmate this tendency.

Newly appointed Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Charles Ebuebeu

“The worst part is that these African film Industries developed on their own without any government intervention… these films are the sweat and blood of the filmmakers. The actions of these broadcast stations are not only cruel but criminal,” IFAAP’s SG said in Lagos. “International best practice and national statutes make it mandatory for broadcast stations to provide evidence in form of licensing agreements from content owners prior to broadcast. The time to enforce this protocol is now.”

IFAAP has its headquarters in Accra , Ghana, with regional offices in Kenya, Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon. It is the voice of African professionals in the film industry with a dual corporate and membership structure. IFAAP has an irrevocable commitment to the development of the audiovisual industry and the broader creative industries. It has a triple mandate to protect the interests of the film professionals, contribute to the socio economic development of Africa and engage in relevant partnerships for the attainment of its objectives.

In a related development, the gathering of African filmmakers, both from the continent and the diaspora, aims to revolutionize the African storytelling landscape, foster unity, and leverage on the transformative power of African rich cultural values to drive social and economic progress. Africa Celebrates 2023 comes up from October, 25 – 29, 2023 at the African Union and Skylight Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Afro Film Alliance (AFA) is the film component of Africa Celebrates. The gathering of African filmmakers, both from the continent and the diaspora, aims to revolutionize the African storytelling landscape, foster unity, and leverage on the transformative power of the African rich cultural values to drive social and economic progress.

Afro Film Alliance has the primary goal of uniting African filmmakers as a collective force by harnessing the power of cinema to showcase Africa’s diverse cultures, rich heritage, and breath-taking tourism locations. Through collaborative efforts, the AFA project seeks to provide a platform for African filmmakers to tell African inspired stories, bridge gaps and foster unity in the film industry across the continent. By promoting cross-national and cross-continental collaborations in storytelling, AFA intends to challenge stereotypes by using film to change the negative narrative often portrayed by non-Africans about Africa. AFA will include panel, workshop and film screening sessions.

For participation and partnership, visit www.africacelebrates.com