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Tag: Chioma Ude

  • More prospects for film business as AFRIFF 2017 opens in Lagos

    More prospects for film business as AFRIFF 2017 opens in Lagos

    The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF,) began its 7th Season with a prospect of more support for film business, as government representatives, business leaders and developmental agencies made exciting speeches, at a glamorous ceremony held Sunday night, at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, The Palms, Lekki, Lagos.

    The Opening Night films; ‘Waiting for Hassana’, a Short on the abducted Chibok girls, directed by Ifunanya Maduka,  and ‘I am not a Witch’, a Zambian film by Rungano Nyoni, were a befitting food for thought, as they highlight topical social issues relating to African children.

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who welcomed all delegates to the festival, expressed his administration’s willingness to support the creative industry through grants, tax breaks and funding opportunities.

    He said: “I will re-iterate a few of the initiatives we are pursuing:

    “We are pushing for a single-digit interest on loans for infrastructural developments for the Industry. We are supporting the building of 100 community cinemas to be evenly spread across the country. We are close to having world-class pre- and post-production facility using the current NTA infrastructure with a few additions. We want to ensure that in the focus on studio facilities, we ensure that one is located in every geo-political zone of the country. And on the back of the DIGITAL SWITCH-OVER of our television, we are ensuring that the set top boxes are enabled to allow our 24 million TV households to buy our movies with and without the need of data. This way, the home goes digital!”

    It was a night of great promises for AFRIFF and the Nigerian film industry, as Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, whose bank returns as lead sponsor of the festival, pledged more support for filmmakers, especially through the AFRIFF/Accelerate Filmmakers Project, an initiative set up to help burgeoning filmmakers to nurture their ideas. Wigwe, who is also the patron of AFRIFF, stressed the importance of film as a powerful tool for Africans to tell their stories, different from the usual story of poverty, often projected by the Western media.

    Representing the Governor of Lagos state, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, welcomed delegates to the centre of excellence and positioned AFRIFF as ‘’one of the leading creative platforms in Africa that has been consistent, truly awe inspiring and which has found the Lagos arty landscape compatible with its own vision.’’

    Introducing the opening night films, former governor of Akwa Ibom state and current Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio gave a lengthy account of his efforts to bring the exaggerated problem of witchcraft, associated to children in the state to an end. According to Akpabio, his administration had succeeded through education, convictions and rehabilitation in halting the dangerous trend.

    Also speaking at the event, French Consul General, Lagos, Mr. Laurent Polonceaux said; “This is a great opportunity for us because this is the first time that the French government is involved with Africa. We will be having two days at the festival for French films, with possibility of co-production with Nigeria and Africa.” He noted that it was good that the festival will be closing with the French film, ‘Felicite’, and disclosed that arrangement has been made to have about 70 film students for further training in France as an exchange programme with AFRIFF.

    The opening ceremony started with a red carpet show that had celebrities like Wale Ojo, Hilda Dokubo, Uche Jombo, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Judith Audu, Linda Ejiofor, Hilda Dokubo and Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi.

    Others dignitaries include star filmmakers and film entrepreneurs such as Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Biola Alabi, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Fred Amata, Zick Zulu Okafor, Kunle Afolayan, CJ Obasi, Belinda Yanga, Kenneth Uphopho, as well as media personalities like Fidelis Anosike, CEO of Daily Times, Shaibu Husseini of The Guardian, and Ameyaw Debrah from Ghana.

    AFRIFF is an annual week-long, all-encompassing world class showcase running from October 29 to November 4, 2017.

    About 200 carefully curated feature length, short, documentary and student films will be screened this year.

    The festival also encompasses talent development classes, industry workshops and inspiring creative discussions.

    Photos: Adeolu Adeniyi

  • AFRIFF 2017 announces festival activities

    AFRIFF 2017 announces festival activities

    …As French Embassy, British Council launch exchange programmes

    Organisers of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) have announced the return of the festival for 2017.
    The stars come out for AFRIFF 2017

    The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF,) the biggest film gathering this side of the Atlantic, kick-started its 7th Season in spectacular style, at a ceremony heavy on star wattage, Sunday night, at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, The Palms, Lekki, Lagos.
    This year, there was a double dose of films, as the opening night selection consisted of one short film, ‘Waiting for Hassana’, an ode to the missing Chibok girls, abducted from their secondary school in 2014, directed by Ifunanya Maduka, and the Zambian entry, ‘I am not a Witch’, helmed by Rungano Nyoni. Both films were selected on the strength of their merits, as they highlight important topical social issues relating to African children.

    Kemi Lala Akindoju, Wale Ojo, Uche Jombo, Linda Ejiofor, Hilda Dokubo and Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi were some of the A-list stars who made their appearance on the red carpet.
    Others dignitaries include filmmakers and film entrepreneurs such as Biola Alabi, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Fred Amata, Zick Zulu Okafor, Kunle Afolayan, CJ Obasi, Belinda Yanga, Kenneth Uphopho, as well as media personalities like Shaibu Husseini and Ameyaw Debrah from Ghana.
    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who welcomed all delegates to the festival, expressed his administration’s willingness to support the creative industry through grants, tax breaks and funding opportunities.
    He said: “I will re-iterate a few of the initiatives we are pursuing:
    “We are pushing for a single-digit interest on loans for infrastructural developments for the Industry. We are supporting the building of 100 community cinemas to be evenly spread across the country. We are close to having world-class pre- and post-production facility using the current NTA infrastructure with a few additions. We want to ensure that in the focus on studio facilities, we ensure that one is located in every geo-political zone of the country. And on the back of the DIGITAL SWITCH-OVER of our television, we are ensuring that the set top boxes are enabled to allow our 24 million TV households to buy our movies with and without the need of data. This way, the home goes digital!”
    It was a night of great promises for AFRIFF and the Nigerian film industry, as Managing Director of Access Bank, Mr. Herbert Wigwe, whose bank returns as lead sponsor of the festival, pledged more support for filmmakers, especially through the AFRIFF/Accelerate Filmmakers Project, an initiative set up to help burgeoning filmmakers to nurture their ideas. Wigwe, who is also the patron of AFRIFF, stressed the importance of film as a powerful tool for Africans to tell their stories, different from the usual story of poverty, often projected by the Western media.
    Representing the Governor of Lagos state, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, welcomed delegates to the centre of excellence and positioned AFRIFF as ‘’one of the leading creative platforms in Africa that has been consistent, truly awe inspiring and which has found the Lagos arty landscape compatible with its own vision.’’
    Introducing the opening night films, former governor of Akwa Ibom state and current Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio gave a lengthy account of his efforts to bring the exaggerated problem of witchcraft, associated to children in the state to an end. According to Akpabio, his administration had succeeded through education, convictions and rehabilitation in halting the dangerous trend.
    Also speaking at the event, French Consul General, Lagos, Mr. Laurent Polonceaux said; “This is a great opportunity for us because this is the first time that the French government is involved with Africa. We will be having two days at the festival for French films, with possibility of co-production with Nigeria and Africa.” He noted that it was good that the festival will be closing with the French film, ‘Felicite’, and disclosed that arrangement has been made to have about 70 film students for further training in France as an exchange programme with AFRIFF.
    The Africa International Film Festival is an annual week-long, all-encompassing world class showcase running from October 29 to November 4, 2017.
    About 200 carefully curated feature length, short, documentary and student films will be screened this year. The festival also encompasses talent development classes, industry workshops and inspiring creative discussions.

    Scheduled to run from October 29 to November 4, 2017, the annual event marks AFRIFF’s 7th season of celebrating African cinema in Nigeria.

    At a glitzy media launch which took place at British Council, Ikoyi, Lagos, Tuesday night, the atmosphere tells of how eager industry players are, for another week of cinematic experience, business networking, movie premieres, film screenings, industry sessions, master classes, workshops, the Globe Awards, and other events that have become the hallmark of the AFRIFF journey since it made debut in 2010.

    It is a season of international collaborations for AFRIFF with the French government coming in to strengthen its commercial and artistic exchanges with Nigeria.

    “The importance of AFRIFF, that is growing year after year, is a wonderful showcase for us,” says French Consul General, Lagos, Mr.. Laurent Polonceaux, who described the annual event as “one of the most important film festivals in Africa.”

    Interestingly, AFRIFF 2017 is dedicating two days – November 2-3, 2017 to French films

    This is just as British Council, UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities is bringing the London BFI (British Film Institute) into a new partnership with AFRIFF.

    Tagged ‘Film Connections’, the British Council’s partnership also aims to share knowledge and give pep to co-production opportunities between filmmakers from Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

    AFRIFF Founder/Executive Director Ms. Chioma Ude announced ‘Waiting for Hassana’, a short film by Ifunanya ‘funa’ Maduka (Nigeria/US) and a feature, ‘I Am Not a Witch’ by Rungano Nyoni (Zambia) as the opening night films while ‘Felicite’, an Oscar contender by Alain Gomis (France/Senegal) is the closing night film.

    Ude said AFRIFF is well prepared to host filmmakers and actors from around the world this year, noting that the festival continues to attract interests with a record of 3,232 film entries received this year alone.

    She announced the films in competition which include 24 shorts, 11 documentaries and 14 feature length films, while all the films in official selection will be uploaded to the festival website on October 9.

    According to British Council Head of Arts, West Africa, Ojoma Ochai, “As part of the Film Connections project, the 2017 AFRIFF will open with the screening of the Rungano Nyoni film ‘I Am Not a Witch’, on the 29th of October. There will also be screening of several acclaimed British feature and short films during the festival – showing for the first time in Nigeria, including ‘Whitney ‘Can I Be Me’ by multi-award winning British Documentarian, Nick Broomfield; ‘Under the Shadow’ by Babak Anvari, winner of the 2017 BAFTA award for outstanding debut by a British writer, director or producer; and ‘A Moving Image’ by Shola Amoo.”

    “During the two days devoted to French cinema,” says Polonceaux, “we will welcome here in Lagos, high level professionals working in the production and distribution, and last but not the least, because it is a fundamental element in the funding of the cinema industry, I particularly would like to mention the participation of David Kessler, the Managing Director of Studio Orange and the Director of Orange Content. He’s a leading figure in the French cinema industry. He was among other important positions, the former director of the CNC.”

    He noted that, for the first time in France, “two Nollywood movies (The Dinner and 10 Days in Sun City) have been commercially released two weeks ago. That’s a first step, but I am sure it will intensify in the coming years.”

    The five French movies that will be screened during AFRIFF include ‘Step by Step’, an emotional movie about the physical reconstruction of a man after a serious accident; ‘Wulu’, a Franco-Malian film, ‘Boarders’, a road-trip between Bamako and Lagos; French Blockbuster ‘Valerian’ by Luc Besson, and ‘He Even Has Your Eyes’, the story of Paul and Sali, a married couple who have been struggling to adopt a child for a long time.

    Photos: Adeolu Adeniyi

  • How we select film students for scholarship, by AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude

    How we select film students for scholarship, by AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude

    Founder/ CEO of the popular Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Ms Chioma Ude has shed light on the process of selecting film students as beneficiaries of the festival’s annual scholarship scheme overseas.

    Ude, while addressing a press conference at the new AFRIFF office at CBC Building, Lekki, Lagos last Wednesday said the segments of the festival are run by experts  from different fields, making the selection of 20 students from the 200 who attend the annual Talent Development Workshop a thorough and professional exercise.

    “AFRIFF is not a one-man show. We have different people and organizations handling different segments of the festival. For the training segment, the teachers handling the courses are involved in the selection. Last year, we had about three thousand entries and we had to select two hundred for the training.”

    To underscore the democratic nature of the selection, Ude said, “The selection of the 20 students who get further training abroad is done by the different lecturers, some of them provided by Ford Foundation, some provided by other sponsors like Africa Magic. The lecturers choose a student based on their own professional criteria. That way, the festival team has nothing to do with the selection. However, because this is my brainchild, they always leave three spots for me. So, I come, watch these students on the last day of their training, interact with them, ask some questions and then pick three of them that I find exceptionally brilliant. Most of the times, I ended up picking students that the lecturers already selected. For example, last year, the three names I chose had been chosen by the lecturers.”

    Ude disclosed that while some of the teachers came from abroad, some are Nigerians with proven record of achievements in their fields. They include Script Writer Tunde Babalola and actor Segun Arinze. “For script writing, I know there is a template internationally, but the students connect better with the Nigerian teachers. So, we had to find one with very good repute and we stuck with Tunde Babalola. For the acting class, we started off with Segun Arinze and later paired him with a foreign teacher. Then, last year, popular actress, Hilda Dokubo who has a training and vocational school in Port Harcourt took over the Acting class from Segun Arinze. For the Cinematography class, last year, we had Cannon bring in their experts to handle the classes.”

    On her staying power despite the challenges of organising the festival and seeking sponsorship yearly, Ude said, “For AFRIFF generally, my staying power has been the training. And the training, for me, is just knowing that a complete package for the ecosystem is here. We train them in different aspects of filmmaking. It’s important we do this because we need our films to improve, we need our stories told well. When we were coming out with the plan, we hoped that we will impact on the industry and the society at large and move from that to actually seeing them make such impact.”

    Out of the 20 film students on scholarship at CineF’Abrique, a film school in Lyon, France, Ford Foundation will cater for 10. How does the festival make up for the remaining 10.

    “AFRIFF has other sponsors. We have other people and institutions backing us. They include Access Bank, Air France that will be flying the students, Alliance Francaise that will be offering the requisite intensive tutorial in French language before they travel, and several others. It is important to know that this French lesson is pertinent to the students even though they will be taught in English language when they get to Lyon. The French are very big in art and culture, so for them it goes beyond just training in the classroom. They’ve created a two-week program for them. They will also go on a tour of Paris and its beautiful sites,” she explained.

  • How we select film students for scholarship, by AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude

    How we select film students for scholarship, by AFRIFF Founder, Chioma Ude

    Founder/ CEO of the popular Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Ms Chioma Ude has shed light on the process of selecting film students as beneficiaries of the festival’s annual scholarship scheme overseas.

    Ude, while addressing a press conference at the new AFRIFF office at CBC Building, Lekki, Lagos on Wednesday said the segments of the festival are run by experts  from different fields, making the selection of 20 students from the 200 who attend the annual Talent Development Workshop a thorough and professional exercise.

    “AFRIFF is not a one-man show. We have different people and organizations handling different segments of the festival. For the training segment, the teachers handling the courses are involved in the selection. Last year, we had about three thousand entries and we had to select two hundred for thye training.”

    To underscore the democratic nature of the selection, Ude said, “The selection of the 20 students who get further training abroad is done by the different lecturers, some of them provided by Ford Foundation, some provided by other sponsors like African Magic. The lecturers choose a student based on their own professional criteria. That way, the festival team has nothing to do with the selection. However, because this is my brainchild, they always leave three spots for me. So, I come, watch these students on the last day of their training, interact with them, ask some questions and then pick three of them that I find exceptionally brilliant. Most of the times, I ended up picking students that the lecturers already selected. For example, last year, the three names I chose had been chosen by the lecturers.”

    Ude disclosed that while some of the teachers came from abroad, some are Nigerians with proven record of achievements in their fields. They include Script Writer Tunde Babalola and actor Segun Arinze. “For script writing, I know there is a template internationally, but the students connect better with the Nigerian teachers. So, we had to find one with very good repute and we stuck with Tunde Babalola. For the acting class, we started off with Segun Arinze and later paired him with a foreign teacher. Then, last year, popular actress, Hilda Dokubo, who has a training and vocational school in Port Harcourt took over the Acting class from Segun Arinze. For the Cinematography class, last year, we had Cannon bring in their experts to handle the classes.”

    On her staying power despite the challenges of organising the festival and seeking sponsorship yearly, Ude said, “For AFRIFF generally, my staying power has been the training. And the training, for me, is just knowing that a complete package for the ecosystem is here. We train them in different aspects of filmmaking. It’s important we do this because we need our films to improve, we need our stories told well. When we were coming out with the plan, we hoped that we will impact on the industry and the society at large and move from that to actually seeing them make such impact.”

    Out of the 20 film students on scholarship at CineF’ Abrique, a film school in Lyon, France, Ford Foundation will cater for 10. How does the festival make up for the remaining 10.

    “AFRIFF has other sponsors. We have other people and institutions backing us. They include Access Bank, Air France that will be flying the students, Alliance Francaise that will be offering the requisite intensive tutorial in French language before they travel, and several others. It is important to know that this French lesson is pertinent to the students even though they will be taught in English language when they get to Lyon. The French are very big in art and culture, so for them it goes beyond just training in the classroom. They’ve created a two-week program for them. They will also go on a tour of Paris and its beautiful sites,” she explained.

  • Chioma Ude, Ali Baba, Joke Silva to represent entertainment industry on FG/TEF partnership

    Chioma Ude, Ali Baba, Joke Silva to represent entertainment industry on FG/TEF partnership

    SEQUEL to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the federal ministry of information and culture and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) at the National Theatre, Lagos last Tuesday, minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has appointed three representatives from the entertainment industry to join the TEF team on the best way to engage stakeholders on the actualisation of the partnership.

    They include founder and CEO of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), Ms. Chioma Ude, foremost comedian, Mr. Atunyota Alleluya Akporobomerere, aka Ali Baba and veteran actress, Joke Silva.

    The trio, who are independent entertainment promoters, will work closely with TEF towards a wider parley, and produce a blue print on the structural support and policies needed for the growth of the creative sector.

    The minister was optimistic that the partnership with TEF will help to reposition the creative industries in Nigeria.

    “The MoU contained details of how we will work together to execute our partnership,” he said.

    “More specifically, the areas of collaboration will include the creation of an enabling business environment for the creative industries with such incentives as easy access to finance; the structuring of the creative industries to enable it generate independent revenues locally and also boost exports to increase Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings; and comprehensive statistics about the creative industries, including its size and projections, to guide potential local and foreign investors.”

    The minister noted that Nigeria currently has creative industries but no creative economy; hence, the partnership will “leverage the experience of the private sector to help the creative

    Also speaking at the event, CEO of TEF, Parminder Vir, OBE, noted that the future of the creative industry in Nigeria is bright.

    “Nigeria has an abundance of creative excellence, talent and cultural IP in film, television, music, fashion, ICT, performing arts and this partnership is designed to support the growth of this sector for leading businesses, facilities, entrepreneurs and institutions engaged in the fast growing sector,” she said.

    The event was attended by major industry players, including Nollywood and music stars and comedians, as well as beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme, which aims to identify, over 10 years, a total of 10,000 African start-ups and entrepreneurs with ideas that can generate at least 1,000,000 new jobs and contribute at least 10 billion dollars in new annual revenues across Africa.

  • CHIOMA UDE AMONG TOP NDI IGBO MAKING NIGERIA PROUD

    CHIOMA UDE AMONG TOP NDI IGBO MAKING NIGERIA PROUD

    FOUR years since promoting African cinema, accolades have not stopped pouring in for Ms Chioma Udeh, founder/CEO of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF). Recently, her kinfolk conferred on her the title, Ola Ndi Igbo (Jewel of Igboland), at a biennial summit organised by a group of volunteers in Nigeria and the Diaspora who promote values-driven change in Igboland.

     The event with the theme of the summit ‘Leveraging the power of entertainment, media, technology and education for changing paradigms and future realities,’ held on October 17, at De Dome Event Place, Enugu.

     Ude, an America-returnee and entrepreneur, was among the 700 sons and daughters of Igboland who convened for another celebration of Igbo culture, music, poetry and dance. The AFRIFF boss was celebrated for what organisers described as a remarkable player on the African arts and entertainment scene. She shared the category with the likes of Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Bright Chimezie, Chika Chukudebelu, Brian Ezeike, Ifeoma Fafunwa, Casmir Igbokwe, Chude Jideonwo, Charles Igwe, Mary Ikoku, Nkem Ifejika, Nnenna Kalu-Makanjuola, Adaora Nwandu, HRH Onuora Nwuneli, Paul Nwulu, Sandra Obiago, Chioma Omeruah (Chigul), Jemie Onwuchekwa and Bene Uche.

     Others that were celebrated in other categories include Kelechi Deca, Kevin Ejiofor, ChuuKrydzIkwuemesi, Onyekachi Wambu, EnumaOkoro, George Okoro and Michael Ugwu (Literature, Arts & Music), Paddy Anigbo, Maduka Emeliefe, Kingsley Eze, Gerald Illukwe, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Chika Nwobi, Mike Ogbalu, Jerome Okolo, Uche Onwudiwe, Felix Oragwu, Nkemdilim Uwaje-Begho and EloUmeh (Technology), Ifediora Amobi, Chima Ibeneche, Ike Ilegbune, Frank Nneji, Frank Nweke II, Patrick Okigbo, Mark Okoye and Nnaeto Orazulike (Economic Development) and Nneka Eze, Oby Ezekwesili, Chika Okafor, Ijeoma Ononogbu, Una Osili and Chioma Ugochukwu (Education/Change Agents).

     The organising committee for 2015 was chaired by Nkem Ogbuaku, and supported by Ndidi Nwuneli, Nkiru Okpareke, Ndidi Obioha, Yvonne Mbanefo, Chidi Afulezi, Innocent Chukwuma, Chinyelu Ogene, Nwanneka Okolo, Godwin Nnanna, Emeka Okafor and Chinwe Okoye.

    The plenary session featured Professor Una Osili who spoke on Global Giving from Diaspora Population and Lessons for Ndi-Igbo, Ichie Nnaeto Orazulike who spoke on Entrepreneurship, Innocent Chukwuma who spoke on Transforming Secondary Education and Skills Development in the South East, Chude Jideonwo who spoke on Leveraging the Media and Changing Mindsets, Chika Chukudubelu who spoke on 5 Lessons from Hollywood, and Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili who spoke on Changing Paradigms: Practical steps for Ndiigbo and roles of key stakeholders.

     Winner of the Innovation Marketplace Competition was Obinna J. Ukwuani, founder of the Makers Initiative. Leading sponsors of the event included NB Plc.’s Life Beer, Diamond Bank, and MTN.

  • I SEE GREAT POTENTIAL IN NIGERIAN, S/AFRICAN FILM SECTORS –CHIOMA UDE

    I SEE GREAT POTENTIAL IN NIGERIAN, S/AFRICAN FILM SECTORS –CHIOMA UDE

    FOR Chioma Ude, it was not all about talk. It was obvious the AFRIFF CEO was content with the number of people that participated at the DIFF-Nigerian day: “Welcome everybody and thank you for finding time to be here. Uncle Mahmood has said it all. For me, I see this as a great beginning, and there is so much the two countries can come together and do. And for those that are not from these two countries, there is a lot you can also feed from what is going on.

    So I came here in March, and I learnt a lot. It was like an eye opener for me. What this side of Africa has to offer, we don’t have and what we have to offer, I don’t think they have either. So merging the two countries, I see great potentials.   And at the end of it all, there is also the tourist aspect. And we hope to achieve all that through this partnership.” She said.

    Pundits have expressed an open mind at the current development, arguing that Nigeria is already playing along the cultural and political line of the Durban film festival, while positing that Nigeria’s institutions such as AFRIFF and Afrinolly who are brokering such deals should be commended.

  • How AFRIFF is growing African movies – CHIOMA UDE

    How AFRIFF is growing African movies – CHIOMA UDE

    As this year’s edition of the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) draws near, the Chief Executive Officer( CEO) of the festival, Chioma Ude, speaks with OVWE MEDEME on sundry issues, including her other dreams. 

    COULD you share with me the circumstance surrounding the birth of AFRIFF?

    I’ve always loved films. I believe I have a great organisational skill and I am very creative. I was the local producer for the ION, the international travelling festival. When it ended, Marcus, who was exceptionally key to making sure this film festival is realised, was a commissioner at the time. I was on my way to work when he called me to say that I am blessed with what is called people’s skill. He, therefore, advised me to put a film festival together and bring it to him, promising that he would push it. I did the work and it was Marcus who carried my proposal to the Governor whom I had never met before then. He fought a great battle for that thing to happen.

    So, how has the journey been, four years after?

    It has been awesome. It is hard in the background for me, but I will say that this year has been phenomenal, in terms of goodwill.   A lot of people are coming on board, saying the vision has been improving beyond some levels and beyond film producers, thereby making them have a different experience. When you situate this against what we want to do as a company, I believe we are on a path to better things.

    To me, it all starts from the structure, particularly when you do things well. I can’t own a film festival and think that I can run it on my own.  So, I have other brains, like a media person. Besides, I am not the Creative Director. There is so much grace, but we all bring everything of what we have together to make it huge. AFRIFF is not about me. Many minds came together working actively to make it what it is today. Whenever you run something solely, it will all be your mind and your vision; so, it doesn’t grow bigger than you.

    What are your expectations for this year’s festival?

    That question should be for the people coming. Nevertheless, I know what I have in mind.

    In that case, what are you offering?

    I am offering a lot. I am very happy with the coming in of Relativity Studio. To me, that is huge. Things like this make me very happy. So, we have a big studio coming on board to say they want to be part of us. They want contents, so they came to the continent, chose three festivals to run it and we are one of them because we are structured. Apart from this, they believe they can get things and run them through us.

    They want to buy contents, they want to meet actors and actresses and they want to be a part of the film industry here.  So, who is benefiting?  It is the film industry. From next year, there will be a film and content market. So, it is a huge export platform for people. TV stations are going to be involved. Then, my wonderful young students, whom I love so much, are going to be trained and the best set will be selected. They are students who probably haven’t travelled out before, but who will be going to America to study.

    What is the training all about?

    This year, I know we have directing classes- we always have directing classes. We also have Master classes, though I don’t know what this will be this year. As I said, we run this festival as a huge family, so everybody with a specialty comes on board. We have three people who are working on developing the content market. So, these are the aspects of training that will be happening. I know that scriptwriting and acting will be a part of it because the foundation sponsoring that beat has contacted certain people.

    Your Creative Director, Keith Shiri, is widely read. How did you get him to be part of AFRIFF?

    He tracked me down every year, saying he wanted to work with me. Finally, we met last year in South Africa. The lady who normally does the job for the festival had called to say she had some other commitments. At that time, he was just there trailing me and the lady also suggested him. She gave me two names and I gave the job to him. The lady called back about a week later to say she wanted the job back, but I told her I had already given it out. He directed it last year and I would say I am so lucky to have him.

    The opening film last year was Of Good Report…

    (Cuts in) Because of that film, Cannes Film Festival tweeted to us and Toronto Film Festival also did a full page on AFRIFF.

    How did you discover Xolile Tshabalala whom you appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for the festival?

    Her name was suggested in one of our meetings by the director of Ije, Chineze Anyaene. So, I called her and we spoke like we had known 100 years ago. I couldn’t make the Durban Film Festival, but those who met with her said she was awesome. She is very much like Rita Dominic, who is awesome and beautiful.

    How have you been funding the festival?

    Last year was the first time I actually got to watch the closing ceremonies because we brought in a company to handle that. It is a lot of work, as I said. When you open it up to a lot of people and you don’t see it as a money-making venture, the money will come, sometimes down the road. From next year, we will start taking registration fees. For now, we don’t do that. It is the only festival in the world that does not take registration fees. We will start it on a low scale. But for now, I spend everything and more, just to teach people and let them know what the festival is about as well as its benefits. There is so much connection and networking done in the festival.

    In what ways would you say the festival has contributed to the growth of the movie industry in Africa?

    You know what made me exceptionally happy last year? When the festival ended, a lot of people sent messages to say a Nigerian film has opened a festival. For a Nigerian film to open a festival, it has to be of a certain standard.

    With structure comes standardisation. A guy, who came from Canada, said that when he got back, the first thing he would do was a short film because he wanted to come back for the festival. So, we have people wanting to do more; we have better films and we can see how it impacted on the people in Calabar, even if it is just those selling recharge cards. On a larger scale, the festival itself has been awesome.

    Are you thinking of sponsoring a film project?

    No, I am very tired. I always get that, but no. I’ve helped a few people source for funds for their films though. I am not into filmmaking, but we hope we will be the ‘back-enders’ that help improve the industry. It doesn’t mean that I will not have the urge to do it one day. I’m never going to direct a film; I’m never going to act. In fact, I’m the lousiest person on stage. One thing bothers me: the two or three minutes I have to climb on the stage and give a speech.

    Are there plans to institutionalise the festival?

    It’s already being done and that is why it is taking so much. When you put some processes and strategies in place, then, it works. Something can happen to me today. The only missing gap is that none of them can raise funds yet and I don’t know why they always look to me for that. But in contents and putting other things together, everybody has a role to play. And it is not like I pay them much.

    Mahmood Ali-Balogun is very angry that we are not calling him enough. Yet, he gives his services free and that is because he understands. Most of them recognise the fact that it will help the film industry.  So, it is not about one person.

    With various sections in the Nigerian movie industry, how does AFRIFF negotiate ethnic affiliations?

    Remember it is an African international film festival.  So, that we are calling it African means that ethnicity does not come into play. It is just about submitting movies, hoping it is done well and has been part of the competition.

    What is your field of study?

    I studied marketing and I have a logistics company

    How do you maintain your beauty?

    Am I beautiful? I don’t know how. I exercise four times in a week. I have a gym guy, Howard, who comes to the house- he was at the festival last year. If I don’t exercise for some days, I will fall sick. But then, let’s not deceive ourselves. If I open my phone and show you my sisters and brothers, we are all skinny. It is also in the genes. My brother is 45 years old and he looks younger than me.

    Are there plans of making it a touring festival?’

    Never! It is our own. Tinapa is God’s blessing to us. When we went to Durban, we saw this big outdoor screen, so we bought one. It is humungous and it will be there.

  • 4th AFRIFF: 250 movie buffs register in first week

    4th AFRIFF: 250 movie buffs register in first week

    There are indications that the record of attendees for this year’s Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) will surpass that of previous editions, with 250 applications already received within the first week of registration.

    Feelers from the festival secretariat has it that the ongoing registration exercise has recorded an impressive number of requests from filmmakers in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Senegal, Mali, Malawi, Uganda and several other African countries.

    Reports say the pack received so far also includes requests from Africans in the Diaspora as well as individual filmmakers and film companies in Europe, United Kingdom, United States and Canada.

    For the festival which is in its fourth year, the success story is unprecedented, even as organisers say the best is yet to come.

    Since its first edition in 2010, AFRIFF has provided free training and talent development opportunities for young people and aspiring filmmakers. Interestingly, another aspect of this year’s edition which has swelled traffic on the festival’s website is the hands on training and workshop on scriptwriting, cinematography, acting and directing for aspiring filmmakers in Africa.

    Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AFRIFF, Chioma Ude, noted that from this workshop, AFRIFF is planning to take 10 students to a prestigious university in the United States of America for further training in various aspects of filmmaking. She explained that through this initiative and several others, the festival plans to change the economic horizon of the African film industry.

    “We believe we can use this model for a social revolution that will change the economic horizon of the African film industry, by providing technical knowledge and skill to enhance the abundant talents in our film community,” she said.

    This time, beneficiaries of the training will be expected to shoot a short film after their course abroad, in fulfilment of their training billed to be entered into the festival’s students’ short category for the subsequent AFRIFF in 2015, Ude added.

    According to the festival guidelines, registration for the workshops which opened at the new AFRIFF website, www.afriff.com on September 15, will close on October 17, while general registration will end on October 31.

    AFRIFF 2014 is scheduled to take place at the popular Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State from November 9 to 16.

  • AFRIFF to sponsor 10 students for training in US

    AFRIFF to sponsor 10 students for training in US

    As part of its plans to further grow the film sector, the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) is planning to sponsor 10 students to the United States for practical training in various aspects of filmmaking.

    According to Ms. Chioma Ude,  the founder and CEO of AFRIFF,  the top 10 students, who display exemplary aptitudes at the forthcoming AFRIFF training/ workshops scheduled to hold between November 9 and November 16, at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State, will be eligible for the programme.

    The proposed training in short film at one of the American universities, which is a reward scheme for the would-be lucky students, is a collaborative effort with a key AFRIFF partner.

    Ude further explained that the planned training is in line with the vision of providing opportunities for graduates of the festival’s programme tagged ‘AFRIFF Talent Development Workshops’, which include training in acting, scriptwriting, directing and cinematography.

    She said: “AFRIFF has, since its first edition in 2010, provided free training and talent development opportunities for young people and aspiring filmmakers. We have provided ground-breaking education in Sound for Film, Cinematography and Screen Writing for over 500 students. We have done this in partnership with Sound & Motion Technical College and City Varsity, Cape Town, South Africa. We have also worked directly with students of the National Film Institute, Jos, the Creative Arts Department of University of Port-Harcourt, PEFTI Film Institute, Lagos as well as other aspiring young film makers.

    Aside the training for film students, she noted that AFRIFF also organises master classes for more established filmmakers and professionals in the industry.

    “We believe we can use this model for a social revolution that will change the economic horizon of the African film industry by providing technical knowledge and skill sets to the abundant talents in our film community.

    “AFRIFF 2014 team is currently resourcing for this year’s talent development training workshops in association with top industry partners who will also be announced later.”

    The beneficiaries will be expected to shoot a short film after their course abroad, in fulfillment of their training billed to be entered into the festival’s students’ short category for the subsequent AFRIFF in 2015.

    According to the organisers, interested candidates for this year’s workshops should register at the new AFRIFF website, www.afriff.com.

    “Only registered candidates will be eligible for short-listing for the workshops. Registration for participation in all aspects at the festival begins from Monday, September 14,” she added.