Fred Iwenjora
28 February 2004
The Filmmakers Cooperative of Nigeria (FCON) and the Filmmakers Association of Nigeria, USA (FAN-USA) have signed an agreement that will sound the death knell for film piracy in the United States. The agreement will also ensure that Nigerian films are distributed legally in the United States and Canada with royalties repatriated to Nigerian film makers.
Speaking at an impressive ceremony in Lagos which was witnessed by Nigerian film makers and other stakeholders in the film industry, Caroline Okolo, Operations Manager of FAN-USA who signed on behalf of her organisation, said the event signified victory for Nigerian film makers. "We are signing a physical agreement with FCON, its affiliates and independent film makers in Nigeria to make a statement that we have been empowered by them to monitor and police all copyright infringements of their intellectual properties in the United States and Canada," she said, adding: "No longer will it be tolerated that Nigerian artistes will work and not get paid for their toil and labour."
According to her, the key thing for FAN, USA is that all royalties that are due the artistes will be repatriated to them in Nigeria. She said the only way to achieve that is to stamp out piracy and install a good distribution network that will feed the 50 states of the USA and Canada.
Praising the deal, Peace Anyiam-Fiberesima, the Executive Director, Finance and Head, Business Committee of FCON, who signed on the body's behalf said the good thing about it is that it is not just for FCON members. "That is the beautiful thing about it. The Association of Movie Producers (AMP) is part of this. All the guilds' presidents sat and discussed this agreement before it was fine-tuned. Even the Idumota G8 is in it," she said.
She said copyright infringement of Nigerian films is an everyday occurrence in the United States, but with the agreement with FAN, USA, this will no longer be the case. "With this agreement, people can actually start making money on shelf copies or catalogues."
Other Nigerian film makers who commented on the agreement had good things to say. Tomi Ani, a film maker and National Secretary of FCON said it is something "we have been praying for to help us sanitise the industry. With this coming on stream, it will go a long way to make us more serious knowing that we now have a channel of distribution in the United States and Canada. The challenge for us is to come up with high quality films."
To Charles Novia, a film producer/director, it is a fulfilling moment because now, there is a chance of getting remunerations wherever Nigerian films are sold abroad. "It is going to encourage us in the industry" he added.
Tony Abulu, President FAN, USA and a Nigerian film maker based in the United States, sums it up: "On our part we have set certain things on the ground and we feel that those things will result in the quality of what our projections are - that Nigerian films are distributed in the United States legally and the royalties will come to the film makers who make the films."
For Nigerian film makers it is good times as their royalties would be paid directly to their banks through Standard Trust Bank (STB) in hard currencies. And through virtual banking, each film maker can monitor how his or her title is doing."The bank (STB) has access to how your title is doing at anytime. So it is an open sasame, "explained Anyiam-Fiberesima. "STB has agreed to open your domiciliary account in dollars and you can cash your money in dollars," she revealed.
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