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Beyond the Lens: Empowering Women Filmmakers in South Sudan
The initiative reflects South Sudan’s commitment to the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and stands as a concrete follow-up to national cultural policy priorities.
Unlocking Potential: Gender Equality in South Sudan’s Film Sector
Gender inequality remains a major challenge. According to UNESCO report (2021), women remain underrepresented across the continent’s audiovisual sector. In Central Africa, 98% of surveyed practitioners estimated that women make up less than 10% of the industry workforce. The report also underscores the vast potential of the industry across the continent, projecting it could create over 20 million jobs and generate USD 20 billion annually—benefits that must be equitably shared.
South Sudan’s film sector is gaining momentum, with growing interest from young creatives and platforms like the annual Juba Film Festival offering space for artistic expression. Yet access to formal training remains limited, with no dedicated film schools in the country. Most learning opportunities come through short-term workshops led by civil society or international partners. As part of its national commitment to enhancing its cultural and creative sectors, South Sudan’s 2024 Quadrennial Periodic Report (QPR) on the implementation of the 2005 Convention identified “engaging women and youth in cultural life” as a key priority for the next four years. The training served as a direct follow-up to this recommendation, illustrating how national reporting can drive concrete action at the local level.
Hands-on Training: Building Skills and Stories
Held in Juba from 12 to 26 February, the capacity-building programme offered a comprehensive curriculum combining theory with hands-on practice, giving participants the chance to engage in the full filmmaking process—from concept to camera. “I have been passionate about filmmaking since I was young, and this training was an opportunity to grow. We have learnt so much—from producing and scriptwriting to acting, directing, and cinematography” one participant expressed.
The training was led by expert instructors, including storyteller and journalist Jabob Nyang, and filmmaker, graphic designer, and photographer Dir. Matiop, amongst others. Facilitated by GOGO Play and held at the University of Juba, the sessions provided participants with personalized guidance in key technical areas such as lighting, sound, and post-production, while also exploring the power of storytelling through a gender-informed lens.
By the end of the training, all 25 participants received certificates of completion—marking not only new competencies, but also a renewed sense of purpose and professional identity. The programme also fostered peer learning, mentorship, and emerging networks among South Sudan’s filmmaking community.
Framing the Future: Women Behind the Camera
By centring young women, the programme actively addresses gender disparities in South Sudan’s creative industries and affirms the right to cultural participation for all. More than a technical course, it marks a step toward dismantling structural barriers and amplifying underrepresented voices.
We have contributed to innovation, creativity, and new thinking in South Sudan’s creative industries. The idea is to bring together passionate, talented young women to transform their storylines and bring more to the screen. This initiative empowers women from all backgrounds to become creatives, leaders, and the best versions of themselves in everyday life.
The initiative also contributes to broader policy development goals. As South Sudan continues to advance legislative frameworks for its cultural and creative sectors—including the draft national cultural policies and copyright bill—investing in women’s creative capacity becomes both symbolic and strategic.
By equipping women with the skills, tools, and networks to tell their own stories, it is helping to build a more inclusive film industry.
South Sudan is a partner country to the project Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity and Artistic Freedom initiative, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The initiative supports countries in developing their quadrennial periodic reports through participatory dialogue, capacity-building, and follow-up activities to implement policy recommendations.
