Why Smartphone Filmmaking is Shaping the African Film Industry
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Why Smartphone Filmmaking is Shaping the African Film Industry
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By Gerald Kilimo, Botho Researcher
July 27, 2023
A SHIFT TOWARDS SMARTPHONE FILMMAKING: A CINEMATIC REVOLUTION UNLEASHED
Stepping away from the confines of traditional film production, mobile filmmaking might just be the next big thing in the African film industry. The revolutionary impact of using smartphones as a filmmaking medium in the African film industry is propelled by the increased accessibility of mobile phones, a surge in internet connectivity, and the allure of reduced production costs. This shift has gained traction among African content creators and filmmakers, who increasingly turn to smartphones for their vlogs, short films, and other productions. The rise of modern mobile devices with their impressive camera quality and enhanced resolution has facilitated the shift.
THE POWER OF ACCESSIBILITY: A SMARTPHONE IN EVERY HAND
A recent GSMA Intelligence report showed that smartphone adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa was at 51% in 2022, and is forecasted to reach 75% by 2025. The report ranks Nigeria as the leading African country in smartphone ownership, with 163 million smartphone owners, which is 74% of the country’s population. South Africa ranks second, with an estimated 89 million smartphone users. Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco, and Tanzania are also featured as leaders in smartphone ownership on the continent. Smartphone accessibility in Africa has been championed by factors like affordable prices, which can be as low as US$35 in Kenya.
It is no surprise then that the 2022 UNESCO report on Africa’s film industry highlighted that affordable digital film equipment including smartphones is giving rise to African storytellers who can bypass traditional norms of making films. This is because they can now not only shoot, edit and upload their short films on the internet but also monetise content via social media platforms, such as Youtube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Smartphone accessibility has equally seen the launch of the African Smartphone International Film Festival (ASIFF) in 2019. ASIFF holds the distinction of being the first smartphone film festival in Africa, providing a platform for professional, amateur, and aspiring filmmakers to showcase their talents and narratives captured entirely on a smartphone.
THE WEB OF CONNECTIVITY: WHERE STORIES FIND A GLOBAL STAGE
Compared to the rest of the world, Africa lags in internet connectivity capacity, according to the International Finance Corporation. Nonetheless, the growth has been quite significant in the last two decades, from 1% internet connectivity in 2001 to 30% in 2022. With improved internet, aspiring African smartphone filmmakers can leverage a broad range of smartphone video shooting and editing tutorials, research and guides. Secondly, the internet enables the distribution and uploading of films to social media and online streaming platforms, which has the potential to reach a global audience. For instance, the Critics Company based in Kaduna, Nigeria has caught the eye of international media organizations like BBC, Reuters, Al-Jazeera and the Indie Film Fest following their award-winning movies shot on mobile phones. One of their works, “Chase,” has amassed over one million views on YouTube.
DEMOCRATIZING CREATIVITY: THE BEAUTY OF LOW BUDGETS
In traditional filmmaking, financial barriers often loom large, presenting hurdles that many aspiring creators struggle to overcome. This is because the cost of pre-production, production, post-production and distribution is significantly higher in traditional filmmaking compared to smartphone filmmaking. As the African continent grapples with economic sluggishness, lingering inflation and high debt, smartphone filmmaking is gaining traction among African content creators, who may not be able to afford the high costs of regular filming equipment.
According to Insignia Productions, a Kenyan film company, movie production costs in the country can be as high as US$4,100, which can be broken down into script development, salaries (for producers, directors, big-name actors, crew and so on), licensing, marketing, distribution, and so much more. With smartphone filmmaking, filmmakers only require one device, which is quite affordable, and good editing applications, most of which are available for free. The production of over 2,500 films annually in Nigeria can be attributed to the low budget requirements for these films. This compelling factor substantiates the argument that low budgets in smartphone filming serve as an attraction for emerging filmmakers to embrace smartphone filming and eventually contribute to the overall sector's substantial growth.
THE GRAND TAPESTRY OF POSSIBILITIES INTO THE FUTURE
Smartphones may not be fully replacing digital filmmaking cameras anytime soon, but they have certainly changed the industry and how it operates. With the ever-growing number of content creators and filmmakers, the future of smartphone filmmaking is quite promising for Africa. Its accessibility, affordability, and continually -evolving camera quality have forged an avenue for African filmmakers to express their unique perspectives and touch hearts around the globe. While the traditional methods may persist, smartphone filmmaking beckons us into an era where the power to create, share, and inspire lies within the palm of our hands.
Gerald Kilimo is a Researcher at Botho Emerging Markets Group.