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
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.
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.
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.
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.