NFC outlines plans for 2020, affirms commitment to excellence

THE Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has outlined its plans for the New Year and assured of its commitment to the accelerated growth of the film industry.

NFC’s Managing Director, Dr Chidia Maduekwe, gave the assurance in a statement issued in Jos, Plateau State on Thursday.

He said that the film industry would perform better in 2020 and continue to create jobs because of factors including expansions in the film production value chain, especially the explosion of digital platforms.

Maduekwe further highlighted strategies the NFC has mapped out to tackle impediments to the growth of the film industry. These include robust NFC – industry stakeholders’ engagement “so that the needed synergy required in leapfrogging the industry, from its present state can be achieved seamlessly.”

Others include the provision of training opportunities for filmmakers through an increase in professional and entrepreneurial training across the country. “We will deploy the vast resources of the National Film Institute across the nation to train as many young Nigerians in film production,” he said.

On the international scene, Maduekwe disclosed that the NFC would accelerate the signing of outstanding co-production agreements, beginning with that between Nigeria and France taking place in Paris in the third week of January.

He said efforts are on to re-engage with South Africa, China, Germany and Morocco to fast track the signing of film co-production agreements. The MD added that the Corporation had developed a “robust strategy that would support some select Nigerian film and stakeholders’ participation in specialized international film festivals and markets.”

On the collaboration between it and the Defence Headquarters, Maduekwe assured that it is set to yield tremendous fruits for industry stakeholders and the nation. He said that filmmakers have started benefitting from the NFC-Defence Headquarters relationship and that before the end of the first quarter, NFC will solidify the partnership with the Nigeria Police.

The MD also disclosed that it had developed a Travelling Film Festival in addition to its ZUMA Film Festival. He explained that the new festival to be hosted by different states “would contribute immensely to the development of the culture and tourism ecosystems of the states of the federation, create employment and generate revenue for the Nigerian economy.”

Maduekwe further said that the NFC would strengthen its equipment and physical facility support services for easy access by filmmakers. Efforts would also be intensified to establish other NFC cineplexes in film production centres in the country to support film exhibitions. The NFC, he added, would continue working with other key regulatory agencies to develop a mobile app for film distribution.

On achievements of the outgone year, Maduekwe listed them to include the resuscitation and sustaining of ZUMA Film Festival last held in 2014, the revival of the SHOOT! Professional Training Series, the establishment of the ultra-modern NFC Cinema in Lagos, relocation of the National Film Institute to its permanent site and securing NUC approval for an increase in students’ intake.

Others are commencement of the expansion of academic programmes of the Institute; the full digitization of the film ‘Shaihu Umar’ and installation of digital scanners at the National Film Video & Sound Archive, Jos through the support of the German Government; the introduction of a Master Degree Program in Film Culture & Archival Studies in conjunction with the University of Jos and other international partners with a support grant of over 400million Euros.

Maduekewe also listed provision of financial and technical support to filmmakers, development of international co-production agreements, the institutionalization of a reward system for filmmakers through its Rock of Fame and Life Time Achievement Awards and entrepreneurial training and capacity building for over 3000 youths across the country as part of its achievements.

He assured that the NFC would continue to leverage on the goodwill it enjoyed last year and deliver quality service to players in the film industry in 2020.