Also known as: NFA
National Film Authority — Ghana's film industry regulator; currently navigating AI adoption, piracy enforcement, and sustainability funding for creatives.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on National Film Authority
Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Daily Guide
… The project has the support of the National Film Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President. …
Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Peter Sedufia Unveil Three-Film ‘The 70 Slate’Joy Online
… Present at the launch were the Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority, Kafui Danku-Pitcher, and the Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko. …
Sparrow Studios, OldFilm Productions launch three movies for Ghana at 70Joy Online
… Mr James Gardiner, Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), said the Authority was proud to support an initiative that brought European cinema to Ghanaian audiences while encouraging cultural exchange in both directions. …
EU 2026 Film Festival Ghana launchedJoy Online
… The National Film Authority has opened applications for the Film Development Fund, which covers production, script development, distribution, cinema infrastructure, training, research and international co-productions. …
When will Ghana’s creative industry become as big as its stars?Joy Online
… Sounds paltry, considering that in the National Film Authority’s Presidential Pitch Series in 2021, the budget for a single film among the 25 selected for a match-up fund was US$5 million. …
Weep no more, Abla DzifaDaily Guide
… Other dignitaries spotted at the event included Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, musician Sista Afia, and Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority, James Gardiner. …
Ga Mantse, Celebs Turn Up For ‘OobakɛExperience’Joy Online
Ghanaian-American filmmaker Leila Djansi has criticised the National Film Authority’s (NFA) appeal for public donations to the Ghana Film Fund, arguing that the fund should generate investment rather than rely on public contributions. …
Leila Djansi questions NFA’s appeal for Film Fund donationsJoy Online
Ghanaian actor and Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority (NFA), James Gardiner, has assured filmmakers that authorities are working on tougher measures to curb the illegal broadcast of movies by television stations in Ghana. …
Ghana plans tougher crackdown on TV and movie piracy after Nollywood filmmakers raise alarmThe Ghanaian Times
… Speaking at the event, Mr Ansah reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to strengthening the National Film Authority (NFA), describing it as the institution best placed to drive the growth and transformation of Ghana’s film sector. …
Kwaw Ansah unveils films to reclaim Africa’s narrativeJoy Online
… The National Media Commission, the National Film Authority, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and the Creative Arts Council need to pay serious attention to the new realities of digital content. …
Laughing at Harm: Akabenezer and the problem with sexualised comedyThe Creative Arts Agency, National Film Authority, and Copyright Ghana will lead a stakeholder dialogue on Monday, 2 November 2026, to develop a roadmap for a sustainable pension and social security programme for Ghanaian creative professionals, addressing their distinctive employment and income challenges.
30 October 2026 · Joy Online →
The Creative Arts Agency, National Film Authority, and Copyright Ghana will lead a stakeholder dialogue on Monday, 2 November 2026, to develop a roadmap for a sustainable pension and social security programme for Ghanaian creative professionals, addressing their distinctive employment and income challenges.
30 October 2026 · Joy Online →
National Film Authority official James Gardiner has urged Ghanaian audiences to intentionally support home-grown cinema, arguing that audience backing and a strong production environment are essential to industry growth. He criticized Ghanaians for scrutinizing local productions more harshly than foreign films, saying that well-made films can reach global audiences if given proper support.
29 October 2026 · The Chronicle →
The Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority has described AI as another creative tool in filmmaking, arguing that it does not remove Ghanaian creativity if Ghanaian creatives control the story, performance, and direction. She acknowledged concerns from some creatives, particularly younger people, about job opportunities, but contended that AI can help bring stories to life that otherwise might not be made due to high production costs.
27 October 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
James Gardiner, Ghanaian actor and Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority, says local audience support and attention to production quality matter more than Ghana's population size for film success. He calls on Ghanaians to back their own films rather than focus on faults, arguing that good films will reach audiences regardless of market size.
27 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Filmmaker and former National Film Authority Executive Secretary Juliet Asante has publicly questioned why Zakaria Abdulai, headmaster of Obuasi Senior High Technical School, remains on the NFA Governing Board despite allegations of sexual misconduct involving female students currently under investigation.
19 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghanaian filmmakers received opportunities and cash prizes at the European Union Film Festival Ghana 2026, which ended in Accra on October 11. Kwaku Edusei Acquah won the EU Ghana Pitch Café competition with his animation project Obonsam Cartoons, earning GH¢10,000, while the National Film Authority announced plans to provide additional development support to two other participating writers.
16 October 2026 · The Chronicle →
At the launch of the second Peruvian Film Festival in Accra, Ghanaian filmmakers were urged to tell authentic local stories, strengthen distribution networks and attract investment to reach wider audiences. The event brought together cultural representatives, filmmakers and industry executives from Ghana and Peru to discuss how cinema can shape societies, preserve national identity and build cultural connections across borders.
12 October 2026 · Joy Online →
UNICEF has launched Ghana's first Children's Film Festival, selecting 10 young filmmakers from more than 300 submissions to develop short films centred on children's rights and experiences in Ghana. The initiative aims to give children a platform to tell their own stories and spark conversations about their rights and challenges.
30 September 2026 · Joy Online →
A restored Ghanaian film, His Majesty's Sergeant (1984), was screened in London to honour Dr Kwame Nkrumah's birthday and mark 103 years of cinema in Ghana. The event, organized by Flamboyant Damsel Films and Grace Abounds LTD, brought together filmmakers, diplomats, and film enthusiasts, with Ghana's Deputy High Commissioner encouraging Ghanaian filmmakers to preserve the industry's cinematic heritage and produce quality work.
22 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The 11th edition of the Black Star International Film Festival will run from 24–27 September 2026 in Kumasi, featuring films and industry sessions from 12 countries under the theme "Film & Global Culture: The New Wave of African Cinema."
22 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Award-winning filmmakers Shirley Frimpong-Manso and Peter Sedufia have unveiled "The 70 Slate," a three-film project celebrating Ghana's 70th Independence anniversary. The films—scheduled for December 2026, July 2027, and December 2027—will explore themes of identity, culture, migration and history while aiming to revive Ghana's cinema culture and attract diaspora audiences.
10 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
Sparrow Studios and OldFilm Productions have launched three films to commemorate Ghana's 70th independence anniversary in 2027: The Return of Makunse (December 2026), Nkrumah's Red, Gold and Green (July 2027), and a remake of I Told You So (December 2027), each exploring migration, independence history, and contemporary storytelling.
8 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The European Union Film Festival (EUFF) Ghana 2026 has been launched in Accra, with the third edition scheduled for October 5–11, 2026, themed on peace, tolerance, and inclusion. The festival seeks to bring Ghanaian and European filmmakers and audiences together through film screenings, filmmaker engagements, and industry activities across venues including the Goethe-Institut Ghana, British Council, and Alliance Française.
4 September 2026 · Joy Online →
While Ghanaian musicians like Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale achieve international success, the country risks producing celebrities rather than building a sustainable entertainment industry that supports producers, managers, engineers, and other supporting roles. Government has pledged GH¢20 million each for film and the wider creative arts sector.
2 September 2026 · Joy Online →
President John Dramani Mahama has disbursed GH¢20 million to the Film Development Fund and GH¢20 million to the Creative Arts Fund, totalling a GH¢40 million package for the creative sector, following years of Ghanaian creatives seeking government support comparable to Nigeria's.
27 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The maiden Oobake Experience, curated by Naomi Naa Borley Larbi and held at Bukom Boxing Arena, celebrated Ga culture through cuisine, live music, boxing, and art. Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II attended and commended the initiative, which featured performances from artists including D-Black, EL, Jupiter, Cina Soul, Mzbel, and Gasmilla.
10 August 2026 · Daily Guide →
Ghanaian-American filmmaker Leila Djansi has criticised the National Film Authority's fundraising appeal for the Ghana Film Fund, arguing the fund should generate investment rather than rely on public donations, and that structures to make the film industry commercially viable should be established first.
25 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's National Film Authority Deputy Executive Secretary James Gardiner has assured filmmakers that authorities are working on tougher measures to curb illegal broadcast of movies by television stations, following complaints from Nollywood producer Uchenna Mbunabo about Ghanaian stations downloading films from YouTube and airing them without permission or compensation.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Veteran Ghanaian filmmaker Kwaw Ansah has unveiled a documentary and animated film exploring Africa's identity, history and future, featuring African intellectuals examining the continent's development challenges and themes of slavery, colonisation and loss of identity. The works were previewed at an industry screening in Accra with leading actors and creative stakeholders invited to offer feedback ahead of public release.
9 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
An opinion piece argues that Ghanaian comedian Ras Nene (Akabenezer) increasingly uses skits depicting sexual conquest and reducing women to objects, normalising harmful attitudes in a context where sexual violence remains high in Ghana.
29 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The government has released GH¢5 million of GH¢20 million allocated to the Film Development Fund, but the National Film Authority says only eligible applicants meeting specific requirements — including NFA licensing, membership in recognised industry associations, and tax compliance — will qualify for support, with beneficiaries required to repay the funds received.
15 June 2026 · Daily Guide →
The government has released GH¢5 million of a GH¢20 million budgetary allocation to the Film Development Fund, with the amount paid to the National Film Authority. The fund is intended to support Ghana's film industry revival through research, training, infrastructure development, and financial support for eligible projects.
10 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The inaugural Ladé Wosornu Students Poetry Contest, organised by the Creative Arts Agency Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Library Authority and Pan-African Writers Association, was held in Accra to honour the Ghanaian creative arts legend. The annual national student literary programme aims to encourage appreciation of Ghanaian poetry and promote indigenous Ghanaian languages, with regional competitions leading to a national final.
31 May 2026 · Joy Online →
The National Film Authority has expressed sorrow over the passing of Ghanaian actress Beverly Afaglo, describing her as a respected figure in Ghana's film and entertainment industry who played an important role in promoting Ghanaian storytelling.
25 May 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The National Film Authority has launched the Film Development Fund with GH¢20 million in seed money and inaugurated the Fund's Management Committee, fulfilling a long-awaited support mechanism for the film industry following the passage of the Development and Classification of Film Act in 2016.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Actress and producer Juliet Asante argues that political influence entangled with tribal affiliations and money is stifling Ghana's creative sector, unlike the US where the creative space operates independently. She calls for the sector to be decoupled from politics, noting that creatives cannot afford political divisions when creating art meant for all audiences.
21 May 2026 · Daily Guide →
The National Film Authority has unveiled its Film Development Fund, an initiative designed to address financing difficulties and foster growth in Ghana's film sector. The launch event in Accra also included the inauguration of the Film Development Fund Management Committee and Film Classification Committee.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Afrotoons, an animation studio focused on bringing African stories to global audiences, officially launched in Accra with a premiere of its flagship animated series Selase's Adventures, attended by cultural leaders, diplomats, and development sector stakeholders across Africa.
16 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Afrotoons, an animation studio focused on bringing African stories to global audiences, officially launched in Accra with a high-energy event attended by cultural leaders, diplomats, and stakeholders. The launch marks a milestone in the studio's mission to build a globally scalable platform for African children's content, starting with its flagship animated series Selase's Adventures.
16 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Veteran actor Fred Amugi has called on the National Film Authority's current leadership, James Gardiner and Kafui Danku, to fulfil the reforms they promised while criticising the previous administration. Amugi welcomed the NFA's plans to renovate abandoned cinemas across the country as part of efforts to revive movie-going culture and strengthen local film distribution.
8 May 2026 · Daily Guide →