About

The SLFILM Guild (Sierra Leone Film Industry Labour & Marketing Guild) is the first legally registered and government recognised national trade union organisation of its kind. As a result, its formation represents an important and historic landmark in the development and recognition of Sierra Leone’s film industry. It is the result of a long and arduous process to gain official recognition of the existence of a growing national filmmaking industry, as well as the importance of recognising the rights of all workers within this industry sector.

The Guild’s primary purpose is to promote the interests of those working in the film-making sector. How do we do this? By organising professionals and using our collective influence to persuade employers to treat their staff fairly, be they employed or freelance. Improvements to pay, conditions of employment and the proper protection of the workforce through a commitment to improving health and safety, equality and training define the SLFILM Guild.

Actors Guild Sierra Leone

AIMS

As the country’s first internationally recognised organisation of its kind, the formation of the Guild has established Sierra Leone’s embryonic film industry’s credentials as a serious and legitimate player amongst the wider international filmmaking industry.

The SLFILM Guild now aims to :-

  • Bring Sierra Leone’s film professionals – individuals and groups – together to define and pursue common and mutually beneficial policies for the benefit of Sierra Leone
  • Lobby the Government to implement policies that will benefit all people at work, especially those in the film, media and other related sectors
  • Campaign on relevant economic, social and cultural issues
  • Represent working film professionals on appropriate public bodies
  • Carry out research on film industry labour and productivity issues
  • Reduce professional or industry conflicts by providing mediation and arbitration
  • Collaborate with training and education programmes for Guild representatives
  • Help develop new services for members
  • Build links with other professional and trade union bodies worldwide
  • Represent Sierra Leone’s film workers in international bodies

HISTORY

The Guild was originally conceived by the National Film Workshop in 2007 as part of the industry proposals published in the Whitepaper, ‘Putting Sierra Leone In The Picture, The Guild was important in order to ensure that the rights of all those working in the newly-emerging film industry could be recognised and protected alongside other recognised workers in the national economy. In 2010, intense work and research was conducted that including gaining support from international organisations such as BECTU (UK) and UNI (Europe). Legal documentation was also prepared and submitted to the appropriate national authorities including the Sierra Leone Labour Congress and the Ministry of Trade & Industry.

In 2012, the Guild finally received its formal accreditation as a Trade Union. By this time, other groups around the country had emerged to help represent their own niche interests. It was therefore seen as appropriate to recognise the diversity and strength of these various groups and offer all their members the collective protection and representation afforded by coming under the umbrella of the SLFILM Guild.

Through this considered process of democratic organisation, everyone working in the film industry – in front of, or behind, the camera; on set; in offices, or in the market (irrespective of their role, gender, race, religion, disability or geography) – can enjoy all the benefits of belonging to a union that protects their rights and gives them all an equal voice in the development of Sierra Leone’s film industry.

The Founding members of the SLFILM Guild:-

The Guild was originally conceived by the National Film Workshop, a project of the SL Film Foundation, as part of the industry proposals published in the Whitepaper, ‘Putting Sierra Leone In The Picture’, in 2007.

Ernest Mannah
Ian Noah

The Founding Working Group Members of the SLFILM Guild:-

To help establish the Guild, a number of key individuals came together to create a Working Group.

Ernest Mannah
Mohammed Foday Kamara
Papa Edwin Pshaw
Brima A Sheriff
Sulaiman Stephens

Dennis Nelson Streeter
Ayouba Sidibay
Sulaiman Kamara
Idriss Kpange
Ibrahim Sorie Samura

Kadie Sesay
Sallematu Kamara
Benjamin Dominic
Adeyemi Lardner

Interim Executive Committee

Following the merger of Sun Valley Film Union, and pending formal national Guild elections, the administration of the SLFILM Guild is managed by an Interim Executive Committee, comprising of the following members:-

Brima Sheriff (Chair)
Abu Sankoh (Vice-Chair)
Ernest Mannah (Secretary)
Michaella Sallu (Ass.Secretary)

Arthur Pratt (Co-ordinator)
Barber Sesay (Treasurer)
Sulaiman Stephens (PRO1)
Yusuf Chan (PRO2)

Abdul Fortypound (Organising)
M.J.Sessy Kamara (Capacity)
Papa Edwin Pshaw (Advisor)