The organizers of the 7th edition of the international first film festival-YARHA over the weekend granted a press conference on Friday October 16th at the city hall of Yaounde in the presence of over 25 media organs including national and international medias represented by a variety of journalists. The aim was to brief the public about the 7th edition of the festival slated for the 15th-22nd of November 2020 in the city of Yaounde. Amongst the organizers were the president of Yarha Association Madam Sylvie Nwet, the supervisor of this year’s edition Samuel Dikongue , festival coordinator M. Ewangue, Events Manager Valerie Ayena and the festivals programmer Tanwie Elvis De dadies.
During their respective presentations, the president reviled the theme of this year’s edition; “Cinema at the service of development” and went further to enumerate the different activities that will commemorate the event. Valerie Ayena then officially declared Syndy Emade the Godmother of Yarha 7th Edition. This position over the years has been earned by mostly foreigners with outstanding history and contribution in the world of cinema. Syndys’ nomination comes as a result of hardwork and commitment in her sphere as a prolific producer, actress, humanitarian and entrepreneur.
Tanwie Elvis Dedadies, the head of the selection of the festival calmed the much awaited anxiety about the possible films shortlisted. He disclosed that over 311 films were submitted worldwide, 55 were Cameroonian films and 265 were foreign films. He highlighted to the press the different criteria’s his team implemented in the selection process. He lamented about many good films that were not retained because they didn’t meet up with some of the basic criteria which included for example subtitling in English or French in case of the usage of another language.
He concluded by confirming that 31 films were retained in four different categories: – 1. Long films 2. Short films 3. Documentary 4. Panorama which is a special category for films not in competition.
Among other activities during the festival shall be Yarha talent sourcing which give opportunities to dancers, music lovers and models who wish to use the platform to showcase their talent in a competition at the festival village every day during the event. There is going to equally be a conference with the aim of this edition to position cinema as a structuring factor for (sustainable) socio-economic development on the continent. We shall have guest speakers nationally and from around the world. This conference is scheduled at the Yaounde city hall from the 19th and 20th of November 2020.
Women in Cinema will equally be having a round table discussion on entrepreneurship in the domain on the 21st of November at the Yaounde City hall. And finally the president Madam concluded that the children will equally have the chance to experience cinema through the Breakfast cinema program which allow different schools to bring their kids in the morning periods to savor the cinema culture in a film theatre.
The press conference ended after a variety of worries from press men and women were cleared and a family photo was taken before the president and the festivals programmer reiterated their reason d’etre in front of a multitude of cameras.
By TED