The Program of African Studies’ Nollywood Working Group has partnered Northwestern University’s Block Museum of Art to sponsor a Nollywood Film Festival.
Set to run from October 26–27, 2017, the event will highlight the work of acclaimed filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi.
Long recognized as a film industry leader in Nigeria and beyond, Odugbemi has served as president of the Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria, ITPAN (2002 to 2006). He also chaired the Lagos International Forum on Cinema, Motion Picture, and Video in Africa.
He has been an Emmy Awards juror and served on film festival boards and juries in South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana.
Born in Lagos in 1963, Odugbemi traveled to the United States in 1979 to study film and television production at Montana State University. After receiving his BS in 1984, he worked as a producer at a local TV station but grew increasingly uncomfortable with the derogatory representations of Africa and African culture that he saw in US media.
Determined to counter these misrepresentations, Odugbemi returned to Nigeria, convinced that he must “live [the African] experience, not just carry its identity.”
After his mandatory year in the National Youth Service Corporation, Odugbemi joined the staff of the Nigerian Television Authority, gaining experience in producing and directing a wide variety of programs.
Since 1999 he has worked as an independent producer and director, and in 2008 he co-founded and co-produced Tinsel, a long-running Nigerian TV drama that remains one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most popular programs.
He has also produced commercials and noteworthy Nollywood films, including Maroko (2006) and Gidi Blues (2016).
Tag: Femi Odugbemi
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Festival to highlight Femi Odugbemi’s work
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Femi Odugbemi captures Lagos in Gidi Blues
one of Nigeria’s most celebrated filmmaker, Femi Odugbemi, last Saturday, brought together everybody who matters in the entertainment industry for the premiere of his feature film, Gidi Blues, at Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
Featuring a stellar cast made up of Gideon Okeke, Bukky Wright, Tina Mba, Lepacious Bose, Nancy Isime, Banky W and others, Odugbemi said that the movie promises high-quality entertainment with humour, music and drama, as it dwells on the unpredictability of Lagos city where anything can and often does happen.
In putting the movie together, Odugbemi captures Lagos in all its essence as it portrays iconic Lagos locations like Idumota market, Makoko, Victoria Island, Isale Eko, Lekki, Freedom Park and Broad Street.
The movie tells the story of Akin, played by Gideon Okeke, an indulged playboy from an affluent family who accidentally meets an interesting beauty, Nkem, in an unpredictable place.
Introducing the movie to the audience, Odugbemi said that making Gidi Blues was exciting as it was challenging especially as he started the journey without funds.
“The movie deals with the famous spirit of Lagos, the resolve within every Lagosian that confronts every challenge with the belief that all is surmountable. Gidi Blues is also a love story which seeks to inspire young people to give back through community volunteer work. For example, Makoko, the fishing slum under the Third Mainland Bridge, is where the lead characters find meaning in their lives as they volunteer as teachers and also start initiatives that support and empower the disadvantaged in the community.”
Also speaking, Regional Director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu said “Gidi Blues is the result of inspiring creativity, innovative filmmaking and exciting storytelling. At Africa Magic we take pride in bringing to life the best of film and television content out of Africa through partnerships with some of the best talent out of the continent and Femi Odugbemi’s work as a filmmaker is very well renowned.”
The premiere also served as an opportunity for the producer to screen Futures Afloat, a documentary on Makoko, one of the locations where the film was shot.