CAMEROON CINEMA… (In the Entertainment industry. History of Cameroon Cinema)

Logo Camiff Cameroon International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Film Freeway

CAMEROON CINEMA… (In the Entertainment industry. History of Cameroon Cinema)

Bruce Bisbey…please follow me at: https://dumbdogproductionsllc.blogspot.com or https://www.facebook.com/DumbDogProductionsLLC/ thank you.

Cameroon Cinema

The Cameroon International Film Festival

https://filmfreeway.com/CAMIFF

The Cameroon International Film Festival Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/events/169686263620457/

Cameroon Film Industry (CFI) Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pg/Cameroon-Film-Industry-149903038356866/about/?ref=page_internal

Emerge Films Solutions

https://emergefilmsolutions.com/country/Cameroon /

History

The cinema of Cameroon includes French and English-language film making. The Anglophone film industry is sometimes known as Collywood.

In 1919, the movie Haut-Commissariat de la République Françoise au Cameroun was shot in the French Cameroons.

In 1960, Cameroon became an independent country, and the history of Cameroonian cinema started in 1962.

Thérèse Sita Bella and Jean Pierre Dikonguè Pipa were the first Cameroonian movie producers. Other names in early Cameroonian cinema included Alphonse Béni who had studied Film technique at the Conservatoire libre du cinéma français (CLCF), and Daniel Kamwa who had studied film at the Université de Paris 8-Vincennes. The first movie shot in Cameroon after the independence was Point de Vue No. 1, directed by Dia Moukouri, which did not appear in the market until 1966.

Before 1973, approximately 15 short and long films were produced, with financial support from the French Ministry of Cooperation, and technical support from the French Cultural Centers (CCF – centers culturels français). In 1972, there were about 32 movie theaters across Cameroon by Film Industry Development Fund (FODIC – Fonds du développement de l’industrie cinématographique) sponsored by the Government of Cameroon at the time.

In the 1970s and 1980s, a number of films were produced in Cameroon, including Muna Moto by Jean-Pierre Dikonguè, who was awarded the Golden Stallion (The Étalon d’or de Yennenga is the supreme prize) at the Panafrican Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO – festival Panafrican de cinéma et de télévision de Ouagadougou) in 1976.

In the 1980s there were several cinemas in Yaounde and Douala, which have subsequently shut down, and movies are instead shown at mobile cinemas.

Ninah’s Dowry was produced in Sabga Hills, in Bamenda. It won more than 30 awards. Beleh is another movie which has received 10 awards.

The Cameroon International Film Festival was first held in 2016.

Collywood

In 2008, the "Collywood" association of Anglophone film makers was created at Alliance Franco Camerounaise centre in Buea. The current chairman of the movie board is Vitalis Otia Suh.

Cameroon Film Industry (Collywood) has seen growth compared to the period between 1980,s and 1990,s. A recent movie project done in Collywood A man for the weekend produced by Syndy Emade featuring Alexx Ekubo.

In 2016 ROFUR TCHIFU MBUNKUR created an online movie distribution platform called NJOKATV www.njokatv.com. This platform is the largest online market place for Cameroonian movies and Cameroonian films. To watch all the latest Cameroonian movies in 2016 - 2018 visit their website on

Emerge Films Solutions

https://emergefilmsolutions.com/country/Cameroon/

Cameroon Film & Photography Production Services

Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Cameroon? We have fully vetted, locally based fixers, service producers, directors, DP’s, videographers, cameramen, photographers, sound operators, production drivers, and a range of other film crew. Contact us for referrals, questions, cost estimates and references.

Want to know more about shooting in Cameroon? See below for an introduction to Cameroon locations, permits, when to shoot, costs, talent, crews, equipment, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits, film friendly hotels, transport, communications and safety advice.

Cameroon Film Locations

Cameroon is “Africa in miniature”. It has all the major climates and landscapes found in Africa including tropical forests, lakes, beaches, savannah, deserts and mountains. Wildlife including lions, elephants, hippos and giraffes can be found throughout the country. National park and nature reserves of interest include Bénoué, Bouba Ndjidah, Waza, Korup, Lobéké, Kalamaloué, Mefou, Campo Ma’an, and Dja Faunal. The southern part of Lake Chad is in Cameroon. Kribi is a beautiful beach and the nearby Chutes de la Lobe waterfall cascades directly into the sea. Rhumsiki is a traditional village located in the Mandara Mountains. Agricultural looks include cocoa, coffee, banana, cotton and rubber plantations. The vibrant city of Yaounde is the capital and Douala is the largest city.

Cameroon Film Location Permits

Most locations are possible given time, money and the right approach. It is illegal to take pictures of government buildings, military installations, and other public facilities. Unauthorised photography may be punished with fines, arrest and confiscation of your photographic equipment. Please contact us for location specific information.

When To Shoot?

Cameroon has a tropical climate which is humid in the south and dry in the north. In the south, the dry season runs from November to February, the small rainy season is from March to June and the big rains come between August and October. The dry season is the best time to film for weather. In the north the rainy season runs from May to September. For monthly weather statistics please see here.

Cameroon celebrates both Christian and Muslim holidays. Cameroonian festivals and events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:

• Nyem-Nyem Festival held in the city of Ngaoundéré in July…

• African Music Market (Le Kolatier) is held in Yaoundé every two years in October…

• Ngondo Festival in Douala every December...

• Nguon Festival of Foumban every two years in December…

Costs & Tax Incentives

Costs. Locations, local talent and support crew are inexpensive but since little to no filming infrastructure exists all key crew and equipment must be brought in from abroad. Our Cameroonian fixer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.

The Central African CFA franc (XAF) is the official currency. Local ATM’s are unreliable, so make sure to bring USD or Euros to exchange.

Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Cameroon.

Film Crew & Talent

Crews. Cameroon has a small local pool of directors, directors of photography and stills photographers. Cameroon has a good gaffer, art department, hair and makeup, and sound recordists. Some crew may need to be brought in from abroad.

Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Cameroon.

Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable. Cameroon has mainly West African looking talent including Cameroon Highlanders, Equatorial Bantu, Kirdi, Fulani, Northwestern Bantu and Eastern Nigritic peoples. All other talent needs to be brought in from abroad.

Cameroon Film Equipment

You will need to bring in all camera, grip and lighting equipment from abroad.

Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production

Art department and set construction is very basic beyond local looks.

Studios and backlots. None exist at present.

Post Production. Post abroad.

Visas & Work Permits

Crews travelling on Western passports are required to apply for entry visas at their closest Cameroonian embassy or mission. The application must include an invitation letter from a locally based fixer, as well as proof of polio and yellow fever vaccination. Processing times vary. Allow at least a week. US travelers see here for more information.

Transport & Accommodation

Transportation Infrastructure. Major roads are paved. Rural roads are slower going and difficult to cross during the rainy seasons. Travel by night outside of major towns is considered dangerous. Our Cameroonian fixer organizes safe and reliable 4WD transportation. Several international airlines service flights to Cameroon.

Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Cameroon:

Yaounde:

Hilton Yaounde

Douala:

Le Meridien Douala

Please contact us for corporate rates.

For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.

Final Notes

Safety. See here for up to date travel advice. See here for vaccinations required for Cameroon.

Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Cameroon.

Hire Cameroon Production Support & Shooting Crew

If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Cameroon, please contact us.

If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Cameroon, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.

We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.

Sources, References & Credits: Google, Wikipedia, Wikihow, Pinterest, IMDB, Linked In, Indie Wire, Film Making Stuff, Hiive, Film Daily, New York Film Academy, The Balance, The Numbers, Film Maker, TV Guide Magazine, Media Match, Quora, Creative Skill Set, Investopedia, Variety, No Film School, Daily Variety, The Film Agency, Best Sample Resume, How Stuff Works, Career Trend, Producer's Code of Credits, Production Hub, Producers Guild of America, Film Connection, Variety, Emerge Film Solutions, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, "COLLYWOOD is the official name of the Cameroon Film Industry", "The Story of Cameroonian Cinema: Toward Independence in Production", "Cameroon International Film Festival", 

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Logo Camiff Cameroon International Film Festival / Photo Credit: Film Freeway