- Leila Djansi is not enthused about the potential of the government instituting a fund to support filmmakers
- According to her, filmmakers were only going to make movies and put them on YouTube, which would not generate enough
- Leila Djansi predicted that YouTube’s revenue structure would soon collapse because of oversaturation
Acclaimed filmmaker Leila Djansi has issued a stark warning to fellow filmmakers about relying on YouTube as their primary distribution platform.
In a recent interview, she described the video-sharing site as both unproductive and unreliable for serious film business.
Speaking on Accra-based Hitz FM’s morning show, Daybreak Hitz, Djansi expressed deep scepticism about YouTube’s long-term viability as a revenue source for filmmakers.
Source: Instagram
“I’m sorry, YouTube is gonna collapse very soon. There is so much congestion on YouTube, and they are always changing their policies,” she stated.
The Sinking Sands director argued that the platform’s over-saturation has created an environment where earnings are inevitably being reduced, questioning how much filmmakers could realistically expect to earn from simply uploading their content to the site.
“If you over-saturate it, they’re gonna reduce the earning. So how much are you gonna earn if you just put your film on YouTube,” she challenged.
Leila Djansi‘s comments extended beyond YouTube to broader concerns about Ghana’s film industry infrastructure. She expressed particular scepticism about government-backed film funds, arguing that such initiatives would be premature without proper distribution channels in place.
“Personally, I don’t believe the film fund. I really don’t. I think it is premature because there is no distribution. If you give the film fund how are they gonna [make profit],” she explained.
Source: Instagram
She made the point while contributing to a conversation about the government’s intention to establish a movie fund.
In her opinion, providing funding to filmmakers who would then resort to YouTube distribution would essentially waste government resources, as the platform cannot provide sustainable returns on investment.
Beyond saturation concerns, Leila Djansi cited piracy as another significant factor undermining YouTube’s effectiveness as a distribution platform for serious filmmakers. She also pointed to the platform’s frequently changing policies as a source of instability for content creators trying to build sustainable businesses.
Djansi further announced plans for a networking event aimed at strengthening the country’s film production capabilities.
Dubbed the Film Crew Networking Fixer, it is scheduled for Sunday, September 24, 2025, at 6:30 pm at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra, and it aims to provide a platform for professionals across the entire film value chain to connect and collaborate.
The filmmaker highlighted the lack of a qualified film crew in Ghana as a pressing issue that needs addressing before the industry can reach its full potential.
Rather than relying on YouTube, Djansi urged filmmakers to explore more viable distribution channels that could provide sustainable revenue streams and professional growth opportunities.
Watch Leila Djansi’s interview below:
Leila Djansi shares Dumelo’s near-death experience
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Leila Djansi had shared how actor and politician John Dumelo once escaped death through stabbing following a mistake during a movie shoot.
According to her, a production designer gave out a real knife for a stabbing scene in which Dumelo, now the Deputy Agric Minister, was featured.
Djansi shared the story as part of a recent criticism of the Ghanaian movie industry, which she described as a joke.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
