Over the years, practitioners in Nollywood have participated in different film festivals in and outside the country. However, the concern now is whether these festival have impacted on Nigeria's movie sector even as India and Nigeria plan a maiden film festival January.

The Nigerian film industry has been regarded as the fastest growing film industry in the world. Not without pride, Nigerians have found their parallel to the American Hollywood and India's "Bollywood". In Nigeria, it is "Nollywood". The phenomenon of Nollywood" attracts further "global media attention" for Nigeria's new industry.

Indeed, government is heavily promoting the festival hoping to gain international attention for Nigeria's growing film industry. The organisers indicate that the work will be crowned with success. Recently, one of the promoters announced that about 10,000 delegates, professionals and film investors from various parts of the world would participate.

As the festivals grow, political support is only increasing. Indian and Nigerian governments have concluded plans to host a joint film festival for Bollywood and Nollywood to commemorate the 60th and 50th independence anniversaries of both countries respectively. The festival, which is scheduled to take place in Nigeria by January 2010, is expected to serve as a vehicle for strengthening the cultural and economic ties that have existed between the two countries over the years.

Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mahesh Sachdev, said this during a visit to the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, that the two countries were the largest film producers in the world, adding that the result of the partnership would benefit 1.1 billion people in India and 140 million Nigerians.

He said that apart from collaborating with the audio-visual media in Nigeria, the Indian government has concluded plans to invest in Nigeria. The envoy observed that the Indian government through its technical and cooperation programme recently trained some Nigerians on information and communications technology and suggested that the training be extended to other sectors.

Akunyili, who observed that the two countries have maintained long-standing cordial economic and cultural relationship, commended Indian government for the successful conduct of the recent election in the country. She said the film festival is expected to boost the development, provide a platform for the development of a hybrid approach to tackling issues relating to the development of the motion picture industry in the country.

The Nigerian film industry, has exploded in the last years and most popular cinema in all of West Africa import Hollywood or Bollywood films. The Nigerian film industry has distinguished itself by shooting all films on digital video. This has allowed production schedules to be compressed and immediately brought to market. The sheer volume of Nigerian video films is staggering.

Nollywood is now the second largest film industry in the world, generating $286 million per year for the Nigerian economy and yet this vibrant, profitable industry is virtually unknown outside of Africa. The film looks into this newly emerging film industry, exploring its peculiar inner workings, economic challenges, and diverse array of colorful films. Traveling to the country's chaotic capital, Lagos, each different in personality and style, as they shot their films about love, betrayal, war, and the supernatural.

The big question is, are Nollywood really benefiting from film festivals? Some movie makers have endorsed the film festival and other ones. Head, Directors Guild of Nigeria, Bond Emeruwa in one of the film festival organisers, said Nigeria filmmakers have built "something out of nothing." He added that "film festival is an opportunity for film-makers to experience what is obtainable round the globe."

Zeb Ejiro shared the view that "film festivals are an opportunity for networking and packaging our products for other people to see." Amaka Igwe said "It's really hard to know the economic impact of film festivals. "We don't see this as a money-making avenue, we see it as a way of enhancing publicity." she said. Stephanie Okereke equally endorsed the festival as did Lancelot Odua Imasuen and Kanayo O. Kanayo.

"It is a fantastic thing that could happen to Nollywood. It is time to rebrand, open up to other people so there could be an exchange," Okereke said. Nigeria have film festivals like, Zuma Film Festival, Enugu Film Festival Lagos Film Festival, BOBTV, Niger Delta film festival, Lowveld International film festival, African video expo. We also have Gospel Film Festival currently going on in Ibadan. So if we have all these Film Festivals coming up in Nigeria then you know there is hope in this industry.

It also means Nollywood practitioners can sit down and plan and even plan for a festival close to Cannes. Nevertheless, the fundamental problems Nollywood have in Film Festival are lack of focus and strong ability to utilise the means. This festival in Nigeria are still very young, Nollywood just started the oldest of the festival few years ago. There is a fundamental challenge for Nigeria Film Festivals in the sense that if government does not come into this business now, if the distribution network angle is not visible, there should be other area that can be used to attract foreign investors.

Again, government can ask how many foreign delegates are Nollywood expecting?, if government says 'we will fund and bring them to Nigeria for you', that way Nollywood is beginning to bring people to the country then when you bring them the interest begins to generate.

That means if government is your budget, they should be able to put Nollywood plan for the year and this is a platform where government can really harness the tourism potential of the country.