The University of Media, Arts and Communication – Institute of Film and Television (UniMAC-IFT) were filled with anticipation on Monday, August 25, 2025, as two film students from Germany’s prestigious University of Television and Film Munich (HFF München) arrived in Accra to continue a groundbreaking collaboration. Their arrival marks the second phase of the African Dialogues@HFF initiative, an ambitious exchange programme designed to connect African and European student filmmakers in a spirit of equality and creativity.
The students, Kokutekeleza Musebeni, a budding documentary filmmaker, and Leander Hartung, a cinematography student, are in Ghana for a six-week residency that promises to immerse them in local culture, expand their storytelling horizons, and foster international friendships through film.
UniMAC-IFT’s management, faculty members, and students, including Joanna Nhyira Adu-Amoani and Kekeli Joachim, the pioneering Ghanaian participants who spent six (6) weeks at HFF Munich earlier this year, warmly received the German Students at the UniMAC-IFT campus in Cantonments.
Welcoming the students, Dr. Lawrencia Agyepong, the Director of the Centre for Global Education and Collaboration (CGEC) at UniMAC, who represented the Rector of IFT, Prof. Samuel M. Yirenkyi, described the partnership with HFF München as “the beginning of a long journey.” She noted that, “UniMAC is excited about this partnership with HFF Munich. “It is the first step in a series of collaborations that would strengthen Ghana’s film and television industry. For our Institute of Film and Television, this is especially advantageous because it gives our students exposure and access to global platforms,” she said. The Director of GCEC also advised the students to unlearn what their thought they knew about Ghana and experience things first hand for themselves.
At the welcome reception, Kokutekeleza commented that, the programme is more than just an academic exchange. It is a creative journey that builds on the work already started in Germany. “In Munich, we collaborated with Joanna and Kekeli to bring their vision to life. Being here in Accra, gives us the chance to share our own perspective, while continuing that same spirit of teamwork and cultural exchange. The welcome has been so warm, and I’m excited about the experiences that will shape our film,” she said.
Leander also described the exchange as a rare opportunity for growth. “This collaboration is a gift. It allows me to engage in real international dialogue and broaden my horizon. Meeting Joanna and Kekeli in Germany inspired me deeply, and now I’m eager to learn from the Ghanaian culture and explore new ways of visual storytelling;” he commented.
The partnership between UniMAC-IFT and HFF Munich is steeped in history. The German institution specifically sought out Ghana for collaboration in honour of legendary filmmaker King Ampaw, the first Black student to study at HFF. Ampaw’s groundbreaking career not only influenced generations of Ghanaian filmmakers but also symbolized the bridge between African and European cinema. Today, Kokutekeleza and Leander’s presence in Accra is seen as a continuation of that legacy.
During their six-week stay in Ghana, Kokutekeleza and Leander would join forces with UniMAC-IFT students to develop and produce a short film that reflects their encounters and experiences in Accra. The project would challenge them to draw inspiration from the rhythms of everyday Ghanaian life, blending local stories with their own perspectives as filmmakers. Shot entirely in Ghana, the film would not only be a creative exercise but also a cultural dialogue and an artistic journey that captures the spirit of collaboration across continents.
The arrival of the students from Germany has generated excitement across the UniMAC-IFT campus. For the students studying at IFT in Ghana, this opportunity provides a chance to showcase their culture, share knowledge, and learn new approaches to film. For Kokutekeleza and Leander, it is an invitation into the vibrant world of Ghanaian cinema.
As the African Dialogues@HFF unfolds, the vision remains clear: to create a generation of filmmakers who can tell authentic stories across cultures, challenge stereotypes, and redefine global cinema. What began with the journeys of Joanna and Kekeli to Munich now continues in Accra, a cinematic handshake across continents, uniting young storytellers under one shared mission: to give voice to stories that matter.
Drafted By Makida El Husseini
Level 400 Broadcast Journalism Student