Theme: " Post Covid-19 Funding Policy Framework Partnerships between the Federal Capital Territory (FCTA) and the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) for the Nigerian Film Industry through Rebates, Location Incentives, Tax Credits and Film Grants".

Chairman: 
Dr. Garba Abari
DG
National Orientation Agency(NOA)

Keynote Speaker: 
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu 
Honourable Minister of State
Federal Capital Territory (FCT )

Discussants:
MR. John Ugbe
Managing Director
Multichoice Nigeria

Mal. Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, DG NBC Abuja 

Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta EVC NCC

Mal. Bello Shehu Illela, DG NBC Abuja 

Mal. Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, DG NTA

MR. Abubakar A Bello, MD, NEXIM ABUJA 

MR. Olukayode A Pitan, MD/CEO Bank of Industry

Mr. Francis Duru. Nollywood Practitioner

Mr. Victor Okhai President DGN Abuja Chapter 

Anchor/Moderator: 
Prof. Hyginus Ekwuazi
Prof. Femi Shaka

MD/CEO NFC Opening Remarks:

This edition of the NFC Annual Lecture Will not depart from its expectations, intent and purpose. The NFC shall continue to use the series to bring out policy documents that will form the nexus for development of impactful policy framework that will aid the Nigerian Film Industry focusing on challenges, impediments, opportunities and connections between content creators and content consumers and location issues.
In placing a framework that will offer safety nets and windows that will help them better.
This journey to our development is being partnerd by the FCTA accepting to present this lecture. We expect a robust discussion on this with industry key operators in order to speedily produce a document that will ensure that these policy and incentives are put in place.

Keynote Lecture Summary:

FCTA is ensuring that these facilities are easily assessed by provision of incentives such as pioneer starters income incentive.  
Granting relief from income tax for 3 to 4 years and 
helping them to stabilize by covering production in form of: 
1. Location Incentives.
2. Reduction or exemption from taxes on imported equipment.
3. Preference loans e.t.c.

The MOU between NFC and FCTA will serve as the catalyst to further grow Nollywood as FCTA is poised to provide all necessary assistance to attract the Film Industry into FCT, bearing in mind that over a million jobs have been created by Nollywood .

Fidelis Duker submitted that sustainability has been a major concern of Nollywood because even when such incentives are put in place they are never sustained.

Such funding he added "should trickle down to infrastructure since policies and infrastructure should go hand in hand". FCTA should also consider bringing in a government owned cinema.

According to Madu Chikwendu, the initial intention of Nollywood was to attract the attention of government, then they became occupied with improving the quality of films rolling out of the industry. At present what is needed he insisted is to put structures in place to facilitate film production.

There should be some form of coordinating office, a place to relate and cordinate all these. 
There is need to activate a film and entertainment hub, a film and a Secretariat for Nigerian Film Festival Association.
Furthermore, he added that incentives should be put in place that will encourage people to build more cinemas as the Abuja film Village is revived. 

Apolline Traure spoke about Coproductions between Nigerian filmmakers and their foreign counterparts.
This will make it easy for foreigners eg from Burkina Faso and other Francophone African Countries to shoot films in any Nigerian City. Thus sharing experiences and exposing them to each other. 

Vickor Okhai stressed the need for security and hospitality so that film production would thrive. Customs should also make it easy for filmmakers who come with equipments for shooting he further stressed.
He concluded by calling on service providers like MTN et al to set aside some funds in support of Nollywood, and that FCTA should also provide land for the Director's Guild Secretariat.

Prof. Daniel emphasised more on the provision of infrastructure and called for the actualization of the Abuja FilmVillage and provision of road links around Kuje. 

Francis Duru called for more theatres in Abuja and emphasized the need to build capacity for Actors in Abuja.
Speaking further, he stressed the need for a strong liaison office that will prevent all the usual bottlenecks and facilitate the growth bringing in culture and tourism in Abuja through films.

Samuel Atang reaffirmed that this administration has come to turn things around for the Abuja Film Village and project it as a private entity devoid of any beaurecratic bottlenecks. He added that the village is expected to spring up and live up to it's name.
Speaking further, he added that the scenery of Abuja landscape is very suitable for film shots.

The Keynote Speaker responded that Abuja is a well designed 21st Century city, and that the present administration is determined that the Film Village will serve the poupose for which it was conceived. She added that the Abuja Film Village is the reason for the MOU between NFC and FCTA. Assuring that government interference and beaurecratic bottlenecks must be reduced to such extent that the Abuja Film Village will be self sustaining, and ensuring that security challenges will be tackled.

FCT is secured and Filmmakers are assured of their safety while shooting even in the suburban areas she further assured, pointing out that security challenges is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. It is expected that quality of productions will increase she projected. 
The Minister also urged Filmmakers to come up with stories that impact positive virtures on our youth and portray the nation in admirable lights.

Goodwill message from the DG National Gallery of Arts. Represented by the Director, Special Duties Marcus E William. We appreciate NFC because of the massive socio-economic value it has been giving to the nation. This festival will help to push and boost the frontiers of Nigerian entertainment industry.

"Film Distribution: Connecting Films with Audiences".

Chairman: 
Mr. John Momoh
Chairman
Channels TV.

Keynote Speaker:
Executive Secretary
Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board 

Discussants:
Mr. Stephen Osezua-Imobhio.  

Alex Eyengho 

Agility Onwurah

Mal. Abdulkareem Mohammad 

Victor Okhai 


The focus of this discussion is to highlight how to connect the content, which has already been made to the to the audience. 

Madu Chikwendu submitted that a Filmmaker connecting to his audience depends on how the film has been made and on the target audience.  
He advised that the filmmaker should not throw away the channels of distribution that he already has simply because he wants to embrace the new, e.g. DVD and VOD, which are still huge markets. However, emerging filmmakers should look out for other distribution channels to explore he advised. 

Victor Okhai pointed out that in the present dispensation, an innovative filmmaker could shoot, edit colorgrade and disribute his film with the use of only smartphones and tablets. 
Speaking further, he added that there is a paradigm shift in the distribution process and pattern, showing that film distribution must not necessarily be on the cinema or Netflix. Filmmakers should start with what they have first he concluded. 

Alh. Abdulkareem added that once a filmmaker is developing the content, he is already crossing the boarders , and therefore, should track his audience and develop the lowest common denominator that will connect his content to the audience. 

According to Stephen Osezua-Imobhio, connecting with the film audience before making the film, knowing your objective and the demography of your audience will help you understand your audience personae. The habits and preferences/interests of your audience is very vital knowledge. He concluded by adding that the filmmaker should not write for himself, rather, he should target an audience. 

For Theo Akatugba, making the movie available in various languages (localization) is the key to optimal distribution. Explaining further, he said that with one great internationally relevant movie produced from the Nigerian standpoint, a Filmmaker could make an amazing impact. He concluded by re-emphasising the potential in localization and dubbing. Urging filmmakers to think about expanding the reach of their audience.

Inauguration of Nigerian Film Festivals Association (NFFA) 

FCTA is ensuring that these facilities are easily assessed by provision of incentives such as pioneer starters income incentive.  
Granting relief from income tax for 3 to 4 years and 
helping them to stabilize by covering production.
In form of: 
Location Incentives.
Reduction or exemption from taxes on imported equipment.
Preference loans e.t.c.

The MOU between NFC and FCTA will serve as the catalyst to further grow Nollywood as FCTA is poised to provide all necessary assistance to attract the Film Industry into FCT, bearing in mind that over a million jobs have been created by Nollywood .

Fidelis Duker submitted that sustainability has been a major concern of Nollywood because even when such incentives are put in place they are never sustained. Such funding he added should trickle down to infrastructure since policies and infrastructure should go hand in hand. 

FCTA should also consider bringing in a government owned cinema.

According to Madu Chikwendu, the initial intention of Nollywood was to attract the attention of government, then they became occupied with improving the quality of films rolling out of the industry. At present what is needed he insisted is to put structures in place to facilitate film production.

There should be some form of coordinating office, a place to relate and cordinate all these. 
There is need to activate a film and entertainment hub, a film and a Secretariat for Nigerian Film Festival Association. Furthermore, he added that incentives should be put in place that will encourage people to build more cinemas as the Abuja film Village is revived. 

Apolline Traure spoke about Coproductions between Nigerian filmmakers and their foreign counterparts. This will make it easy for foreigners eg from Burkina Faso and other Francophone African Countries to shoot films in any Nigerian City. Thus sharing experiences and exposing them to each other. 

Vickor Okhai stressed the need for security and hospitality so that film production would thrive. 
Customs should also make it easy for filmmakers who come with equipments for shooting he further stressed.
He concluded by calling on service providers like MTN et al to set aside some funds in support of Nollywood, and that FCTA should also provide land for the Director's Guild Secretariat.

Prof. Daniel emphasised more on the provision of infrastructure and called for the actualization of the Abuja FilmVillage and provision of road links around Kuje. 

Francis Duru called for more theatres in Abuja and emphasized the need to build capacity for Actors in Abuja. Speaking further, he stressed the need for a strong liaison office that will prevent all the usual bottlenecks and facilitate the growth bringing in culture and tourism in Abuja through films.

Samuel Atang reaffirmed that this administration has come to turn things around for the Abuja Film Village and project it as a private entity devoid of any beaurecratic bottlenecks. 

He added that the village is expected to spring up and live up to it's name.Speaking further, he added that the scenery of Abuja landscape is very suitable for film shots.

The Keynote Speaker responded that Abuja is a well designed 21st Century city, and that the present administration is determined that the Film Village will serve the poupose for which it was conceived. She added that the Abuja Film Village is the reason for the MOU between NFC and FCTA. Assuring that government interference and beaurecratic bottlenecks must be reduced to such extent that the Abuja Film Village will be self sustaining, and ensuring that security challenges will be tackled.

FCT is secured and Filmmakers are assured of their safety while shooting even in the suburban areas she further assured, pointing out that security challenges is not peculiar to Nigeria alone. It is expected that quality of productions will increase she projected. 

The Minister also urged Filmmakers to come up with stories that impact positive virtures on our youth and portray the nation in admirable lights.

Goodwill message from the DG National Gallery of Arts. Represented by the Director, Special Duties Marcus E William. We appreciate NFC because of the massive socio-economic value it has been giving to the nation. This festival will help to push and boost the frontiers of Nigerian entertainment industry.