One of the most powerful ways to engage and inspire change is through film. Today, film goes beyond entertainment and fun. It is the most influential and greatest form of creative expression and can be utilized in changing and shaping people’s outlook across communities. However, this same medium can also promotive prejudices, perpetuate stereotypes and disenfranchise communities. Gender inequality is still widespread in every aspect in the film industry, as women continue to be under-represented in technical roles in filmmaking. In Cameroon, just about 3% of women are in technical and decision making roles in filmmaking such as script wright, directing, and producing. The lack of technical skills, lack of funding, ineffective gender policies are a contributing factor. Further, the male dominated field perpetrates stereotypes through use of language, gestures and unwritten laws that suggests that technical and decision making roles are for men. This under representation doesn’t only allow for discrimination but it shapes the on screen representation of women in film: lack of complex inspirational characters, perpetrating women as the root of evil, as weak. SHF is bridging this gap through trainings, production support and show case events.
Feature story
In April 2022, Sysy House of Fame in partnership with The Why Foundation organized the Sustainable Development Goals film festival focusing on Gender issues in some selected secondary schools in Bamenda. The project reached over 500 children between the ages of 14 and 18 years. Six documentary films were screened during the film festival.
