Apparently dedicated to showcasing, celebrating and empowering filmmakers committed to social change in movie production, the Africa Film For Impact Festival (AFFIF) is set to host a 3-day Master Class & Workshops for 90 movie producers drawn from the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
The Film Festival which will hold between 27-30 May, 2020 in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will screen select films with purpose for the 3day period, and also hold panel discussions, pitching session with donors and then climax with an Impact Award Ceremony.
At a press briefing in Abuja, Founder and President of AFIFF, Mr Wonder Obasi said the training is an upgrade of the training previously held on filmmaking, adding that this aspect will centre on behavioural change, monitoring and evaluation and theory of change.
“We want these fellows to also meet with donor organisations, CSOs, NGOs that work in the field to hear their stories. Based on what we hear from them, their organisation’s vision and interventions on what they do in Nigeria and how they intend to create impact and change. What they hear from these organization will inform the stories we will be telling.
“We want stories that will get to the heart of Nigerians, because these people deal with Nigerians in different spheres across the six geopolitical zones, it’s something that will background these fellows with necessary knowledge to create the stories we want to tell.”
Mr Obasi who also commented on Nigerian films and the impact over the years, said; “Nigerian films is evolving greatly and is one of the best thing that has happened to the continent of Africa. Currently you have FOX, NETFLIX coming into Nigeria to make original TV series and other organisations. If Nollywood is not evolving greatly they won’t be coming in, because they realise Nigeria is a big market and great in making films. This is the best time to be a filmmaker in Nigeria.
He however called on government for more support in order to create more viable distribution network and to tackle issue of piracy.
Also speaking, National Programme Officer of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Adaora Nwajagu in her address called for creative ways by filmmakers to project gender equality in their movies.
She decried the percentage of women representation in leadership position, saying; “We want active participation of women in the affairs of politics, education, business. We want to see women have control over issues that concerns them. Women should have 50percent representation.”