By Ibrahim S. Bangura
September 9, 2025: The Sierra Leone Film Council (SLFC) has issued a strong statement clarifying its founding history and organizational structure, amid what it describes as widespread misconceptions regarding the role of the Film Guild in its creation and activities.
In a statement signed by Director General Alfred Harun, the Council emphasized that while the Film Guild was among the original signatories, it was neither the sole founder nor the exclusive owner of SLFC. Harun noted that the current Film Guild differs in name and structure from the entity that participated in SLFC’s formation, and therefore cannot claim founding status.
“How can one body claim ownership of the Council?” Harun questioned. “If one body chooses to step aside, that cannot mean the entire Film Council should dissolve.”
Harun stressed that SLFC was established through a collaborative effort involving regional unions, film bodies, and other industry stakeholders—all of whom held equal rights in its formation. He pointed out that regional unions existed prior to SLFC and had functioning guilds, which were later dissolved in good faith to promote unity—an initiative originally proposed by the Film Guild itself.
Further sacrifices were made when the Sierra Leone Film Federation dissolved and merged its executives into SLFC, creating co-chair positions to ensure inclusivity. Despite these efforts, Harun lamented that the Film Guild later began opposing SLFC’s initiatives.
Disputes Over Identity and Oversight
Harun also recalled that the renaming of regional unions into SLFC regional bodies—such as SLFC West-East and SLFC Western Rural—was a collaborative decision initiated by the Film Guild. However, tensions escalated when the Guild rejected SLFC’s proposal for a joint interim executive and later withdrew from the compromise that birthed the Salone Film Union (SaFU).
He accused the current Film Guild of straying from its original mandate of protecting filmmakers’ interests, instead attempting to oversee unions, entities, and industry administration. Harun cited the Guild’s unilateral attempt to establish a new union in the North-West region as an example of overreach.
“The Film Guild has never involved SLFC in its meetings, elections, or activities. Yet they expect the opposite from SLFC. This contradiction is unfair,” Harun asserted.
Observers say the ongoing dispute reflects broader challenges within Sierra Leone’s creative industry, where overlapping structures and competing interests often hinder progress. Many filmmakers continue to call for stronger collaboration and clearer governance.
Harun concluded the statement by emphasizing that the clarification was not intended to deepen divisions but to preserve historical accuracy and honor the sacrifices made to build SLFC.
“We want the record to be clear. This is about fairness, truth, and respect,” he said.