FOR the Chairperson of iThekini Filmmakers Association, Andile Buwa, not only have his colleagues put aside the criticisms that have trailed Nollywood, they have evolved a micro budget model that has been accepted by the government and has led to the creation of the Mzansi Magic channel on DStv. “Circumstances have forced me to get involved again on the side of mobilizing other filmmakers,” he said. “Since 2006, we started this movement which is inspired by the Nollywood model of film making. We started making films basically out of nothing. And it is that movement that led to the establishment of Mzansi Magic channel (DStv) that has employed a lot of people as we speak. We started that movement out of the need to tell our stories, and the fact that we can’t continue to wait for government or financiers to come on board. It’s a very long time to wait, and the waiting has not been fruitful.
So, we just got our hands on the ground and we started making films, and we have seen the success. We came up with what we call a micro budget model; which is one thing we have been advocating for, particularly here in Durban. I can safely say that there has been wide spread criticism generally of Nollywood, but we believe here in Durban that it’s high time we put aside criticism and take ownership of Nollywood as ours in the continent, and ascribe the successes of Nollywood to ourselves because we seems to have something in common.
Now, what led to the Mzansi Magic is along the model of the micro budget films where the filmmakers are commissioned by Mzansi Magic with the budget of 300,000 to 500, 000 Rand to make films. We are happy to have this Nigerian delegation, and what we are trying to establish is of mutual benefit to both sides because I think we have started a model that is taking the direction that Nollywood has actually gone, and we have managed to mobilize our government to our support. So we can see that that positive side that our government is on this model that we have started and having a delegation from Nollywood, it can only get better.”
The AFRIFF delegation includes its Founder/CEO, Chioma Ude; its Advisor and Chairman of AVRS, Mahmood Ali-Balogun who was also an official guest of DIFF; AFRIFF’s Artistic Director, Keith Shiri; Programmes Director, Afie Braimoh, and Project Manager, Chioma Onyenwe.
Others are award-winning filmmakers, Kunle Afolayan and Mildred Okwo; actors Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, OC Ukeje, Hilda Dokubo and Uru Eke; Julian Nwagboniwe, Ikenna Ezenyirioha, Anthonia Nwajiugo, Ayorinde Ojo, Ihuoma Nwigwe, Charles Novia, Joe Hundah and Sam Onyemelukwe of Trace TV.