Ghana's filmmakers have a lot of stories to tell and not nearly enough money to tell them. That was the message from National Film Authority (NFA) Executive Secretary Kafui Danku at the opening of the EU Film Festival Ghana 2026.
Speaking at the festival's opening on October 5, 2026, at the EU Ambassador's Residence in Accra, Danku shared new figures on the demand for the country's Film Development Fund, according to Ameyaw Debrah.
Danku said the fund's first call for applications drew 83 applications from film businesses. Together, the applicants were seeking more than GH¢95 million, well above the size of the fund.
The Film Development Fund was launched with GH¢20 million, according to Pulse Ghana, which reported that applications opened on July 29, 2026.
"This is not an oversupply of hope. It shows how much talent waits for capital," Danku said, as quoted by Ameyaw Debrah.
The fund is managed by the NFA under Section 29 of the Development and Classification of Film Act, 2016 (Act 935), Pulse Ghana reports. It is a revolving fund that can cover up to 60% of a project's budget, with applicants expected to raise the remaining 40%.
It supports seven areas:
To qualify, applicants must belong to an NFA-accredited professional association, such as the Ghana Actors Guild or the Film Producers Association of Ghana, and be tax compliant.
Danku also spoke about the Cinema Train, an NFA initiative designed to bring films to communities that do not have traditional cinemas.
"Geography or absence of cinema shouldn't determine if Ghanaians experience Ghanaian film," she said, according to Ameyaw Debrah. She even suggested that future editions of the EU Film Festival could be streamed through the Cinema Train platform, helping European and Ghanaian films reach audiences outside Accra.
The EU Film Festival Ghana is back after a five-year break, according to The Herald Ghana. This year's edition runs under the theme "Peace, Tolerance and Inclusivity" and brought together EU officials, diplomats, filmmakers and creatives at its opening.
Danku used the moment to call for more investment, wider access and stronger international partnerships for Ghana's film industry. "Storytelling gives us opportunity to enter another person's world and see life through their eyes," she said.
With demand far outstripping available money, the NFA will have to make tough choices about which projects to support first. How it selects projects, how transparent the process is, and how quickly funded films reach audiences will shape confidence in the fund. If the first round produces successful films, it could strengthen the case for more government and private investment.
Danku is best known to many Ghanaians as an actress and filmmaker who starred in numerous Ghanaian and Nigerian films before moving into production and, more recently, leading the NFA. Her experience on both sides of the camera gives her a close view of the funding struggles facing local producers.
Lack of finance is one of the biggest obstacles facing Ghanaian filmmakers. Many productions rely on personal savings, small sponsorships or loans, which limits quality, scale and the ability to compete with larger industries such as Nollywood.
The gap between the GH¢20 million available and the more than GH¢95 million requested shows both the size of the challenge and the ambition in the industry. Recent successes, such as Ghanaian films reaching global streaming platforms, suggest what could be possible with more support.
Talk Talk will follow the Film Development Fund's first awards and further plans for the Cinema Train.
