By Nelson Manneh
Members of the Film Producers Association of The Gambia (FPAG) recently held congress to elect a new executive that will steer the affairs of their association for the coming years.
Prominent Gambian filmmaker, Prince Bubacarr Aminata Sankanu was elected as FPAG President in an election supervised by the NCAC Director of Performing Arts, Mr. Sana Jarju.
Other elected members include Franklin C. Adim as Vice President, Tida Sanyang as Secretary-General, Abdoulie Khan as Public Relations Officer, Marie Marenah as Treasurer, Kayode Adeleke as Programme Coordinator, and Fatoumatta Jallow as Assistant Secretary.
While expressing gratitude to the film fraternity for the trust and confidence bestowed upon him and his new team, Prince Sankanu encourages more collaborations among stakeholders toward the common good.
With FPAG being the recognized collecting bargaining group for the creative audiovisual sector, it stands to promote solidarity, standards, ethics, and professionalism.
On the need for permanent structures, Mr. Sankanu expressed his desire to engage The Gambia Government, development partners, and visionary investors in establishing “Gambian Film or Creative Village” and reviving cinema culture with the construction of cinema halls in the country.
“FPAG will also encourage the creation of a Gambian Film Commission, operationalization of the Endowment Fund for the Arts, standardization of film training curriculum and completed films, among other plans,” he said.
Sankanu said: “Anyone who wants to seriously make films in The Gambia or invest in Gambian film projects should consult us at FPAG for professional guidance and due diligence as we can outline the risks and opportunities necessary for informed decision-making. Ours is a nascent industry and we will continue to support filmmakers and enthusiasts in building their capacities accordingly. We invite all those interested in building careers in the cultural and creative industries especially in the film domain to join FPAG as more benefits await them.”
Mr. Sankanu, who is the Deputy Government Spokesperson and an audiovisual communication expert, has been lecturing Film Studies at the University of The Gambia (UTG) School of Journalism and Digital Media (SJDM) since 2019.
Sankanu’s film-related qualifications include a Master’s Degree in Film Studies from the University of Stirling in Scotland, UK, and a Diploma in Digital Film and Animation from SAE Institute in Cologne, Germany.
