Gelam Dickson, popularly known as Colonel or The Godfather of Cameroon entertainment industry didn’t mince words when he hammered on the return of cinemas in Cameroon to help promote Cameroon film.
The famous business man and proprietor of Hotel Residence Carlos in Muea, made a strong call for cinemas to be resurrected and money pumped into showbiz at the Cameroon International Film Festival 2017 in Buea, in the presence of the Minister of Arts and Culture Jean Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, Governor of the South West Region and District Officer for Buea.
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“Colonel” stressed on the fact that without cinemas, films go nowhere and its difficult for Cameroonians to appreciate and recognize actors, actresses or their celebrities in general because they don’t get to see them in action.
He cited the lack of funds for film and music production saying without government support, film makers are rendered helpless to promote and distribute film within and out of the country. He urged the Minister to take the cry of film makers to the President, H.E Paul Biya and encourage him to help grow show business in Cameroon in order for it to serve as a huge platform for employment among young people in the country.
The Minister on the other hand, praised the team behind CAMIFF and pledged his support to the course. He also encouraged film makers not to give up but be patient in their struggle to rebuild the state of arts and culture in Cameroon.
He further acknowledged the under development of cinemas in Cameroon and how hungry Cameroonians for local films and says it may seem a gradual process but Cameroon shall get there.
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Meanwhile, Nigerian businessman and CEO of Filmhouse Cinemas in Nigeria, Kene Mkparu announced he is planning on building a multi-purpose cinema in Douala for the sake of promoting cinema culture in Cameroon.
