FOFAN wants a share of FG’s Nollywood N3b

Having followed recent events in the nation’s motion picture industry keenly, the board of trustees and executives of Federation of Film Festivals and Events of Nigeria (FOFAN), recently rose from an extraordinary meeting with a firm resolution.

They also kicked against the neglect of film festivals in Nigeria, and insisted that festivals must be properly funded.

They also argued that being a legitimate part of the Nigerian film industry, they deserve a share of the N3bn intervention fund from the President.

Announcing this in Lagos, National President of FOFAN and Chair of African Network of Festivals (AFRIFESTNET), Mr. Fidelis Duker posited thus.
“After exhaustive deliberations, we realized that we are probably the most marginalized group in Nollywood. All over the world festivals have served as the most important platform for the development of the film industry and the economy through tourism and employment generation.”

 Duker, the founder of Abuja International Film Festival, argued that global cinema of today would have been dead without Venice International Film Festival founded since 1937, Cannes Film Festival, Toronto, Berlin and several others, respectively.

“Can you imagine African cinema without FESPACO or Festival de Carthage? Yes we know our festivals are lacking in a lot of things but so also is Nollywood lacking in a lot of things…even Nigeria our great nation has its shortcomings. We submit that a lot of the gaps noticeable in our festivals can be filled with proper finance.”
Duker urged the government to support and engage home grown festivals to succeed as they are veritable platforms for distribution of Nollywood films.

 “If properly funded and supported they will attract foreign content buyers and distributors with a view of boosting the tourism industry”.
Founded at the Inshort International Film Festival in 2012, the pioneer members are: Abuja International Film festival, Lagos International Film Festival, Inshort Film Festival, African Student Film festival and Eko International Film Festival. Other members include: BOBTV and Film Market, iREP International Film Festival, Africa International Film Festival, Port Harcourt International Film, Gospel Film Festival, Tinapa Film Festival, African Movie Academy Award, Kano Film Festival, Eko Film Festival, Edo Indigenous Film Festival among others nationwide.

Another member of the board and founder of Leap International Film Festival, Madu C. Chikwendu declared that the National Film Policy clearly recognizes the important role of festivals in the orderly development of the Nigerian film industry.

“We intend to hold the government to account on this. As we speak we have forwarded a position paper to the appropriate organs of government.”