TITLE:
Sudanese Cinema: Past, Present and Future
AUTHORS:
Abubaker Elsiddig Ahmed Elmustafa Elsheikh Hayaty, Chenji Yin, Zakir Ullah, Safia Yahya Hamed Ahmed, Tian He
KEYWORDS:
Cinema History, Culture, Film in Sudan, Cinema in Sudan
JOURNAL NAME:
Art and Design Review,
Vol.9 No.3,
August
26,
2021
ABSTRACT: Although the Sudanese Cinema started with the British colonization of Sudan, but it is still considered as undeveloped industry. The first film produced was Alarming Queen’s Company of Grenadier Guards in Omdurman Battle in 1898. The history of Cinema in Sudan could be categorized into three periods according to the colonization and present cituation: colonial (1898-1956), post-independence (Mid 1950s-Mid 1980s), and recent (Mid 1980s-2010) history. Films were produced under the supervision of the General Liaison Office of the British Government till 1949; then, the Sudan Film Unit (SFU) was established to serve and highlight the progress achieved by the government and to show the development of the British Empire. Similar units were installed in different parts of Africa with other names. The 1960s-1980s witnessed the emerging of Sudanese filmmakers, directors, actors and the most famous Sudanese films. The gradual collapse of Sudanese Cinema started in the mid-1980s. The paper also highlighted the pioneer Sudanese in filmmaking, directors, actors, producers, the essential feature films directed by Sudanese directors and their awards. Governmental and private institutions related to film production since 1898 and the role played by the USA, India, European and Arab countries in Sudanese Cinema were discussed. The present Challenges facing Cinema in Sudan and the deplorable state of cinema theaters were also documented. After the 2010s active private associations, independent filmmakers, young actors and armature, who are actively engaged in filmmaking, have been trying to revive the film industry in Sudan and design its future.