KAMPALA/PARIS – In a continued efforts to promote Uganda as Africa’s premier tourist and film hub in the region, the Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) and Uganda Communications Commission will participate in the Pavilion Afriques at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival starting May 14 to 25 in France.
In its first year at Cannes, Pavillon Afriques is set to become the busiest, unique, networking and business hub at the festival this year.
Uganda is joining a line-up that includes participants including Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Jamaica, USA, Brazil among others.
Ugandan film heavyweights such as directors, writers Nishi Kalema, Malcolm Bigyemano, Kemiyondo Coutinho and Museven’s Natasha Karugire, among others will be at the Pavilion.
UCC Executive Director Godfrey Mutabaazi, noted that with this project, “Uganda is creating a unique venue for its local film trade and promotion that outlines the diversity and plurality of Uganda at the International level in television content”
He added “Our ambition is to become a centre for filming in Africa, through this exclusive business platform where film industry stakeholders meet, discuss, trade, make deals and take advantage of the unique atmosphere of the Festival de Cannes.”
Pavillon Afrique will be the first tent within the Film Market section of the Cannes Film Festival dedicated exclusively to the business of Film in the African continent and among its diaspora.
Organisers noted that the festival will be situated within the heart of the Marché du Film, which is the world’s biggest gathering of film industry professionals who come to sell films, find partners and expand their professional network.
With the theme ‘Connecting the Past, Present and Future’; Pavillon packs a full schedule with a mix of private and public sector roundtables, discussions on film financing and content distribution, a series of country produced destination seminars, celebrity-hosted panels, leadership workshops, film screenings and more, the program is set to be the most fascinating hub out of Cannes in 2019.
Participating in some of the sessions will be top executives of international festivals and events Sundance, European Film Market, Rotterdam Film Festival and the support of UCC, Uganda Tourism Board and top broadcaster Canal plus.
Confirmed activities include screenings, seminars, workshop, round tables, country 5forums, an auction, art exhibition, haute cuisine, mini-concerts and so much more.
Networking and promotional activities will include product presentations, receptions, cocktail parties, brunches, B2B, B2G and G2G meetings.
The ‘Marche du Film’ Cannes Film Festival runs from 14-25 May 2019
