Ghana’s ambitions to build a competitive creative economy are receiving a boost as the University of Media, Arts and Communication Institute of Film and Television (UniMAC-IFT) and Germany’s University of Television and Film Munich (HFF Munich) complete the second edition of their Africa Dialogues Student Exchange Programme.
The six-week reciprocal programme brought together four emerging filmmakers from Ghana and Germany and provided practical international exposure at a time when skills, investment, intellectual property, and global distribution are becoming increasingly important to the economic future of Africa’s film and audiovisual industries.
Selected through a competitive application and interview process, the two Ghanaian students participated in practical training, workshops and industry activities designed to expose them to filmmaking practices outside Ghana.
One of the highlights was a dramaturgy mentorship and workshop led by Professor Nicholas Wackerbarth, covering directing, working with actors, casting and improvisation. Bless also participated in a specialised time-lapse photography seminar in Austria.
Their stay coincided with the 43rd Filmfest München, held from June 27 to July 5, 2026, giving the Ghanaian students access to screenings, conferences, masterclasses and industry networking around one of Germany’s major film events.
The economic significance of such exchanges extends beyond the classroom. UNESCO estimates that Africa’s film and audiovisual industries already employ about five million people and contribute approximately US$5 billion to the continent’s economy. The organisation has also identified the potential for the sector to create more than 20 million additional jobs and generate about US$20 billion in annual economic value if structural challenges are addressed.
For Ghana, the opportunity lies in turning creative talent into sustainable businesses, exportable intellectual property and employment across the wider production chain, including directing, cinematography, acting, writing, editing, sound, production management, distribution and digital platforms.
The UniMAC-HFF programme addresses part of that challenge by allowing students to learn within different production environments while building professional networks that can potentially extend beyond graduation.
Its most tangible outcome was the production of two short films on foreign soil. Sound of Home, written and directed by Bernice Nsiah and shot by Bless Tawiah, was produced in Munich with support from HFF students. Dream to Wake, written and directed by Mirabelle Bryld and shot by Aleksandra Dyja, was produced in Accra with support from UniMAC-IFT students, faculty and staff.
Ghana’s challenge now is to ensure that international exposure translates into long-term economic opportunities. This requires stronger links between film schools, producers, financiers, broadcasters, streaming platforms, festivals and technology companies, alongside improved intellectual property protection and mechanisms that enable filmmakers to monetise their work.
Ghana has already revised its National Cultural Policy, with UNESCO reporting that the process was completed in 2024 and is intended to support a more sustainable creative economy.
The second Africa Dialogues exchange therefore offers more than an academic partnership. It presents a practical example of how investment in skills, international collaboration and creative intellectual property can help position Ghanaian filmmakers for a global market, while strengthening the country’s capacity to turn storytelling into sustainable economic value.
