Last year, over six juries carefully selected around the world to judge entries at the 6th edition of Yarha 2019 international first film festival in Yaounde answered present in a quest to carefully identify and select the best feature film amidst outstanding films selected for competition to win the biggest price of the festival. Among the other members of the jury were; Tanwie Elvis De dadies from Cameroon, ISSAKA CAMPOARE from Bukinafaso, ALETH LABLACHY from France, CATHERINE LASKI from France, SANA EZZINE from Tunisia, CLAUDIA YOKA from Congo Brazzaville as president of jury. The experience fusing these filmmakers with such reputable international portfolio was the outcome of the outstanding films that emerged winners.
One thing that was generally noticed in the process was that 95% of the films were foreign films that qualifies into the competition with filmmakers whose films were inferred to be their first features in the domain. Marveled by the high quality of productions and above all the creativity induced in their respective arts. While watching those films, I was furious in my imagination about how first time filmmakers in competition use simple themes to realize outstanding creative works especially the cinematography, dialogue, lighting, acting and screenplay. As a member of the Jury, i kept building my anxiety towards these different artistic potentials of these young filmmakers across the world, I started envisaging our local film making craft trying to juxtapose these films of some of our top rated local films in the country. Vividly I jumped into conclusion that despite the creativity of our local filmmakers who are barely squeezing water out of stones to bring verisimilitude on the table in their narrative, they lack proper artistic orientations and knowledge to sharpen most of their outstanding ideas.
In all, I wasn’t disappointed after watching best actress of last year’s sub-regional category Tatiana Matip in “Ne crains rien, je t’aime” produced and directed by Thierry Ntamack, all of the films were not in competition. Last year’s edition was not well attended by local filmmakers probably because the event was not well mediatize in English reason why I think it’s a duty as last year’s participant to inform you reading through my participation. I will wish that all our producers/directors with their first feature films should register their films into this year’s edition on www.festivalyarha.org.
