President of the Black Star International Film Festival (BSIFF), Juliet Asante, has urged Ghanaian filmmakers to confront one of the industry’s biggest challenges—resistance to change. She cautioned that although many call for transformation, few are willing to embrace the mindset shifts necessary to make it happen.
Speaking at the 10th edition of BSIFF in Accra, Asante stressed that the unwillingness to adapt continues to hold back the growth of Ghana’s film sector.
“One of the major issues we face is that we say we want change, but we do not want to change. We want things to be different, but when it comes to shifting our mindset, structures, or approach, there is resistance. And that makes it very difficult to move forward as an industry,” she said.
Over the years, BSIFF has established valuable connections with distributors, funders, and international partners, creating opportunities for Ghanaian films to reach new markets. Asante revealed that the festival is finalising a partnership with Ivory Coast that will allow selected Ghanaian films to premiere there—an opportunity she described as “golden.”
“We are working on a partnership with Ivory Coast to showcase Ghanaian films there. These initiatives expand the reach of our cinema, yet many of our filmmakers are absent. If you don’t show up where distributors, funders, and partners are, how can your work travel?” she remarked.
She expressed disappointment at the low participation of Ghanaian filmmakers in BSIFF and other industry events, stressing that disengagement undermines efforts to support the sector.
According to Asante, while funding remains a challenge, the mindset gap and lack of involvement are equally damaging barriers to progress.
“We do a lot of advocacy behind the scenes, but it will mean little if our own filmmakers are not part of the process,” she emphasized.
She added that calls for transformation must move beyond talk and result in concrete action.
Asante highlighted that BSIFF was created to serve the industry by offering knowledge-sharing platforms, networking opportunities, and access to markets. However, these benefits can only be realized when filmmakers actively participate.
This year’s festival, themed “The Relevance of Film in Society,” marked BSIFF’s 10th anniversary and underscored the role of cinema not only as entertainment but also as a tool for education, cultural preservation, and social change.
Concluding her remarks, Asante reiterated the need for Ghanaian filmmakers to seize opportunities and embrace change.
“The festival exists for the industry, but it cannot function without the industry. If we truly want change, then we must all be prepared to change,” she said.