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More doors of opportunity opened for the local film industry during the first Nigerian International Film Festival held from August 26 to August 29 at the National Black Theatre and the Nigeria House in midtown Manhattan.
More doors of opportunity opened for the local film industry during the first Nigerian International Film Festival held from August 26 to August 29 at the National Black Theatre and the Nigeria House in midtown Manhattan.
The industry distinguishes itself from others in the continent through its predilection for the new digital revolution. Churning out a whooping 1,5oo video titles a year, it arguably ranks as the biggest producer of video films in the world.
According to Tony Abulu, the president/CEO of the US-based Filmmakers Association of Nigeria USA, "The first Nigeria International Film Festival, New York, was created as an annual event to expose the Nigerian film industry to a more global market. Nigerian movies hold the enviable position as the social and entertainment mainstay of Africans all over the world."
The idea behind the festival was to expose Nigerian films, personality and culture to the rest of the world. Among the special guests at the festival were the Hollywood actor Danny Glover, Madu Chikwendu (the president of the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria), Diara Spech (a co-director African Diaspora Film Festival), actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Regina Askia (a former Miss Nigeria), Jaheed Ashley of the HBO, Yemi Fawaz (a modelling doyenne), Kingsley Ogoro ( a film producer), Tunde Alabi (a film producer), Ed Dessisso ( a Hollywood Director) and Ferman Lee (a world-acclaimed director of photography).
The festival also drew such key players of the African film distribution as Africast Cable TV, Diaspora Cable TV, Pax TV, Africa Movies Mall, Black Ivory Communications and Bethesda Inc. The festival was sponsored by MoneyGram, National Black Theatre, Nigerian Consulate in New York, BVD Films,WBAI Radio, African Profiles Magazine, African Abroad, African Eye Newspapers and Naijarules.com.
In his inspiring address at the opening ceremony hosted by the Nigerian Consul General Prince Ralf Aderele, Danny Glover encouraged the Nigerian filmmakers in attendance to persevere to tell the African story as only they could. Said he: "The world awaits your vision, the African story needs to be told in a positive respectable light."
The Nigerian Consul-General in his address thanked the respected actor for his great support of the Nigerian film industry, recalling his visit to Nigeria's Bayelsa State for the African Academy Awards.
There was also a panel discussion on the distribution of Nigerian films in the US. The panel featured Madu Chikwendu (the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria's director), Diarah Spech, Ed Dessisso, Ferman Lee and Tony Abulu (FAN USA's president and CEO).
Films screened at the festival included Back to Africa (directed by Tony Abulu), 419 (directed by Don Okolo), Osuofia in London (directed by Kingsley Ogoro), This America by Oliver Mbamara and Bethel Agomouh, Abiku and Forbidden Love (an animated short story by Andy Abulu), One Dollar by Amaco Investment. The audience demanded for more Nigerian films with many people booking tickets for the next year's edition billed to hold in Washington DC by 2006.
Altogether, the festival paved the way for more joint venture productions for the Nigerian film industry. According to FAN USA director of operations, Caroline Okoro: "The future of the Nigerian film industry is [in] joint venture productions with American film companies. The budgets are going to increase dramatically and new Nigerian films meant for the US must be shot on 24p or Hi-def to enable FAN move distribution to the next level." In his contribution, Rabiu Mohammed, the FAN's Director of Quality Control and Production, said: "The coast is clear for the industry. FAN has secured the next wave of distribution activity in the US."
The next FAN activity in the US holds on Saturday, October 22 in Washington DC, which hosts the top 40 Nigerian film producers in a practical workshop in the million-dollar special effects facilities at the BVB Films.