Film makers in Ghana would soon be spared the headache of thinking about how to secure funding for their movies as government takes steps to lend more support to the film industry. Film makers in the country have often complained about challenges of finance in producing their works yet are not able to rake in the much needed revenue due to piracy. But all that should be a thing of the past when the film bill finally becomes law. Deputy Information Minister, Baba Jamal, has told Multi TV’s PM Express host, Nii Arday Clegg that a new film bill aimed at improving the film industry has “crossed the cabinet hurdle” and would be laid before Parliament soon. Although he could not give a specific period within which the bill will be laid before the legislative house, Mr. Jamal was optimistic the bill would be passed before the close of the year. The Information Ministry on Thursday met with film producers to discuss issues affecting the industry and to find ways of resolving those issues. Speaking later on PM Express, Baba Jamal said the new film bill will put stringent measures in place to check the foreign movie makers who operate without license. He said the film bill also makes provision for the creation of a fund to support local film makers overcome their financial difficulties. “I agree it’s expensive to produce movies and looking at the circumstances of our country and not much emphasis has been put on movies and that is why the bill is taking care of that by establishing a fund that will provide ready money for them and we hope that once that is done it’s going to boost the industry.” On how the fund will be resourced, Mr. Jamal said it would be done through various sources. He was however quick to add that “since it’s a bill, we wouldn’t want to discuss the details of it on air and when it comes out and it is not what has been accepted then it becomes a different thing.” “The most important thing now is that we have is a fund, government itself will be a source of fund, it can provide seed money, the movie industry itself, there will be some few charges that will go into the fund, foreigners that come out with their movies and what not, all that charges can come into the fund” he said adding that companies and philanthropists will also be welcome to make contributions to the fund. Story by Nii Akrofi Smart Abbey/Multi TV