Stakeholders have lamented the stagnated state of the movie industry in the Volta Region over the years.

The Festival Director of the Wova International Film Festival, Eunice Dake attributed this to a lack of financial support and understanding of the industry.

“People around here do not even understand the business aspect of films. They wouldn't invest in what you do. Even if you have the money to do it, the culture of film is not in us. People will not even come out to appreciate what you have done.

"So, the industry here has been stagnant for a very long time now because it is not appetizing enough for anyone to invest in”, she said in an interview on the sideline of the maiden edition of the Wova International Film Festival.

She asserted that the Volta Region has great potential in film production but needed a little push to hit the mainstream with productions from the region.

“If you know the movie industry in the Volta Region very well, it has never moved from where it had started, a lot of talents have to migrate to other parts of the country, for instance, Accra to be able to be seen, or breakthrough.”

Madam Dake who had won many awards with her productions with DEEPROOTS PICTURES lamented the improper use of the Ewe language in movies, which she identified as a stumbling block in promoting the industry.

“Then our local language has never been used properly in our films. We don't get to see the movie industry here. It is not even working”, she grieved.

She further indicated that her outfit seeks to revive the industry through movie festivals to re-engage stakeholders and whip up public interest, with a focus on identifying and promoting talents.

She outlined organizing training and masterclass sessions for all industry players, ranging from actors to technicians and script writers among others to equip them with the modern knowledge in film productions.

“We will also work on exchange programs so that those who will come from other countries to join us during the festival can share their ideas with us here so that the younger ones can also pick something. We will work on bringing renowned industry players from across the world to help build our movie industry in the Volta Region”, she concluded.

The Wova International Film Festival screened 3 movies produced by DEEPROOT PICTURES, a production house in Ho, in the Volta Region. They movies were Black Morning, Half the Pain, and Sesime.

Break Up Gone Wrong produced by Mankata Studios (Ghana), Fall For Love and The Case Study of Doctor Rasheed produced by Alexander Jeremiah (USA), Clash of Era produced by Mary Grace Fatima (Sierra Leone) and Hide produced by Kerry David Barry (Sierra Leone) were also screened.

A lead Character in Sesime, Koku Lumor, who is also a radio personality, described the progress of the movie industry as “slow and downward”, hoping practitioners would get a better understanding of the industry to propel growth.

He believes Wova International Film Festival would serve as a catalyst to engage and enlighten the practitioners on the various aspects of filmmaking to enable them to produce top-notch films to attract investors.

“They [practitioners] should be ready to listen and come and watch some of these films, especially when it is being shown so that it corrects and by so doing it also connects them to what they would love to see and how they would love to see it, i.e. the quality of the movies.

“I just believe that this is a starting point, and this could direct us where we want to go to. So big ups to Wova International Film Festival, I am expecting several things to happen as the years come by”, he said.