By Mulengera Reporters
Filmmakers attending the first session of the Uganda Film Festival 2026 workshop at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) Bugolobi offices have been challenged to look beyond film production and focus equally on distribution, audiences, consistency and emerging opportunities in the creative industry.
The session brought together industry practitioners who urged Ugandan filmmakers to stop viewing limited equipment, funding or access to traditional cinema spaces as barriers to storytelling.
Mr. Herman of Sauti Plus introduced participants to Kwiso TV and the Kwiso streaming platform, highlighting opportunities for Ugandan filmmakers to distribute their work to wider audiences and potentially access bigger platforms, including AfroMobile.
Nathan Magoola, a prominent television series producer on Pearl Magic Prime, encouraged filmmakers to use the equipment available to them rather than wait for expensive cameras before telling their stories.
Magoola noted that Pearl Magic Prime broadcasts in HD, but stressed that older cameras can still produce quality content. He encouraged filmmakers to make their films, identify the right contacts and follow the relevant submission guidelines when seeking opportunities for broadcast.
Meanwhile, Humphrey Nabimanya, founder of the Ikon Awards, challenged filmmakers to embrace both quality and quantity as audiences increasingly consume content across YouTube, social media and short-form drama platforms such as ReelShort, DramaBox and ShortMax.
Using Nigeria’s film industry as an example, Nabimanya explained that changes in funding models have pushed filmmakers to become more consistent in producing content, particularly as some major platforms have reduced their previous investments in local productions.
He urged Ugandan filmmakers not to wait for perfect equipment or ideal circumstances, but instead to produce consistently, build a body of work and allow their films to demonstrate their capabilities when opportunities and funding arise.
Nabimanya also encouraged filmmakers to explore Uganda’s cinema opportunities, noting that local productions continue to secure space for theatrical screenings.
Representing UCC, Ruth Kibuuka encouraged filmmakers to take advantage of the Commission’s capacity-building programmes aimed at strengthening skills and professional development in Uganda’s film and creative sector.
She also highlighted the UCC Screening Van, which filmmakers can use to conduct public screenings at no cost, provided their films have been appropriately classified by the Media Council.
The initiative offers filmmakers an additional way to take their stories beyond conventional cinema venues and bring locally produced content directly to communities.
The discussions at the opening session underscored a changing film landscape in which making a film is only the beginning. For filmmakers seeking sustainable careers, finding audiences, understanding distribution channels, producing consistently and taking advantage of available industry opportunities are becoming increasingly important.
The message from the workshop was clear: Don’t let limitations stop you from creating. Tell the story. Build the work. Find the audience. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
