Factors determining annual trend of documentary film production in the country

Most of the documentaries produced in the country are by the national broadcaster, RTD. There are no independent broadcasters in Djibouti. There was a documentary made by a Djibouti filmmaker on q’aat, but she lives in Canada. It is not clear whether Civil Society commissions any documentaries, so the trend is heavily determined by RTD. These kinds of documentaries are therefore mostly public information documentaries. Another important factor is the availability of skilled personnel locally.

The cost of living in Djibouti is quite high, and the average pay amongst locals is therefore accordingly high compared to other countries in the eastern Africa region. It follows that the cost of documentary film production will reflect this situation.

Producers’ funding methods

Because many of the documentaries made in Djibouti are through the RTD, they are usually entirely funded through it.

Producers’ documentary film production budget estimation methods

The budget of independent producers are estimated differently from those produced in-house by the national broadcaster in that some cost items will not really apply, particularly the cost of permissions, and cost of some of the personnel who will be under the permanent employ of the RTD.

Most successful producers

Ahmed Dini is a Djiboutian filmmaker of repute. He is now Deputy Director at the RTD.

Local documentary production funding sources

• Self-funding
• RTD
• NGOs

Funding eligibility criteria used by local documentary funding sources

This depends on the RTD’s and the NGO’s requirements.

Submission requirements used by local documentary production funding sources for funding consideration

Broadcast formats are employed by the RTD.

Ownership issues in documentary film production

Copyright law is in force in Djibouti.

Documentary film production ownership issues resolution methods and experiences

These are usually ironed out in the terms of agreements.

Revenue allocation issues in documentary film production

These are summarised as “who gets how much, and when” and are usually ironed out in the terms of agreement.

Documentary film production revenue allocation issues resolution methods and experiences

Failing negotiation and arbitration, judicial processes can be resorted to.

Agreements between fund sources and producers in documentary film production in the country

Standard film industry contracts may be used in reference to the copyright law of Djibouti.

Deliverables in documentary film production in the country

DVD, DV Tapes, and Multimedia files are all used by the RTD for broadcast.

Reporting requirements during documentary film production in the country

In the case of NGOs these are stated in the terms of the commission contract and will usually involve progress reports and financial accounting for monies disbursed.

Current professional development methods in the country

• In-house training at the
• There are courses that members of the profession take abroad which are in the main, technical courses related to equipment RTD may be thinking of

Professional development service providers for the filmmaking community in the country

These do not exist in Djibouti.

Professional development needs in documentary film production in the country

Professionalism in documentary production is quite different from TV production in general.

The RTD is a TV broadcaster first, and content producer by default. Therefore, its in-house training programmes and sponsored programmes abroad may not be quite suited to the skills necessary for quality documentary production.

Potential funding partners in the country, Africa

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Culture has been active in encouraging cultural expression in the Horn of Africa – Somalia and Djibouti.

Film schools in the country

There are no Film schools in the country.

Documentary film production training programmes in the country

There may be some in-house training at the RTD from time to time.

Film festivals in the country

• China Film Festival Week
• European Film Week

Business management schools in the country

University of Djibouti

Journalism schools in the country

University of Djibouti only recently has set up a school of journalism. Most of the graduates will be looking for work at the RTD.

Technical schools in the country

University of Djibouti.

Professional and peer mentorship in the filmmaking community

Professional mentorships can be found in the RTD.

Kassim Ramadhan of the Fest’Horn mentions a group of young filmmakers who peer-mentor themselves taking advantage of new mobile phone video technology and low cost digital cameras to make short documentaries about their experiences.

A command of language is very much respected among the peoples of the Horn of Africa. With strong oral traditions, the written word holds as much importance amongst the literate of the citizenry. Journalists make a living, day in day out, reporting on issues affecting society. The Association of Journalists in Djibouti offers a forum in which such mentorships can begin.

Categories of relevant tech-related companies in the country and their numbers

There are several computer and computer accessory shops in Djibouti.

Film sales companies operating in the country and services offered to local documentary filmmakers

There are no film sales companies operating in Djibouti.

Film distribution companies operating in the country and services offered to local documentary filmmakers

Since filmmakers can access the Internet in Djibouti, it follows that they are able to access all online VOD (video on demand) film distributors, but otherwise no film distributors operate in the country.

Filmmaking community advisory groups in the country

No film advisory groups were to be found.

Local advocacy groups operating in the country

There are several NGOs in the country. Most are co-options of the government and will co-produce documentaries with the RTD.

Documentary and news archives in the country and its volume

The RTD is a good repository of stock footage they have accumulated over the years.

Method of archive access and use by documentary filmmakers

For RTD in-house productions this is straightforward.

Existing forms of documentary film distribution in the country

• TV
• DVD
• Internet
• Theatrical

Distribution options taken by local documentary filmmakers

TV mostly, as there is no independent TV broadcaster in Djibouti and the few theatrical outlets have fallen into disrepair and closed. The Institute Arthur Rimbaud has a screen which they use to show documentaries sometimes, but not for local documentaries as such.

Educational film distributors operating in the country and their capacities

The RTD

Non-profit film distributors operating in the country and their capacities

There are no non-profit film distributors in Djibouti.

Laws and regulations governing the distribution of documentary films in the country

Copyright laws are in effect.

Laws and regulations governing audience-building for documentary films in the country

Media laws are in effect since any effective audience building strategy will want to take advantage of radio’s reach.

Experiences of documentary filmmakers with legal framework governing distribution of and audience- building for local documentaries

Most filmmakers work for the RTD so their experiences of the legal environment, as far as documentary filmmaking is concerned, are within a corporate body

Audience-cultivation strategies used in the country in descending order of effectiveness

• Radio
• TV
• Word of mouth
• Flyers

Revenue generation strategies for local documentary films in each distribution channel in the country

Since most of the documentaries made in Djibouti are through the state broadcaster RTD, revenue for such productions is not high on the list of priorities.

Social movements in the country

The most pressing social ill in Djibouti is the chewing of quat, so any social movement would be centred on its eradication, but if there are any of those in the country, none were visible. There was a documentary made by a Djiboutian filmmaker about q’aat, but whether it was in conjunction with a social movement of any sort has not yet been determined.

African civil society groups in the country

There are many NGOs in Djibouti such as the Association des Jeunes Unis contre l’Ignorance.

Potential ADFF partners in other activist groups in the country and the nature of engagement with local documentary filmmakers

Potential partners are yet to be identified.

Issues concerning distribution rights in each distribution channel and their resolution

These are normally dealt with in the contractual stage of any production. There are copyright laws in Djibouti under which any distribution agreements will be subject.

Securing and administration of distribution rights in the country

Copyright law is in effect.

Prevalence of copyright piracy of film in general and documentary works in particular in the country

• With production levels quite low the levels of piracy are commensurately low.
• Measures are in place to deal with copyright piracy in the country and their
• There are copyright laws in force in the country: Law 154/AN/06 of 23 July 2006 on the Protection of Copyright and Neighboring Rights.

Internet penetration in the country

• Population – 810,000
• Internet users – 26,000
• Internet Penetration – 2%

Potential subscribers for an online local documentary library and/or Internet channel for locally produced documentaries

At 5%, the subscriber rate would be only about 1000. Djiboutians in the Diaspora would probably double this number.

Internet usage by local documentary filmmakers

• Uploading some video on to
• Djiboutians in the Diaspora can now watch their local TV stations, Radiodiffusion Télévision de Djibouti, online with AfricanTV24, a new platform showing Djibouti TV to audiences worldwide.

Political sensitivities

• Opposition politics
• Arab causes such as Palestine
• Q’aat consumption
• Foreign military presence

Modes of communication between local documentary filmmakers and funding sources

Communication is achieved by telephone, posted letter, email, and by face to face meetings.

Channels of communications that allow private exchange of information in the country

This is best achieved by face to face meetings.

Information sources used by local documentary filmmakers on various aspects of documentary production in the country

Sources include informal and ad hoc networks.

Kinds of information that local documentary filmmakers would benefit from being in a directory or guidebook

 As neither such a directory nor guidebook exists, all kinds of information to do with the process and resources of documentary film production would need to be assembled.