Atim Ikpeme — Bollywood, the largest producer of movies in the world will, for the first time in Nigeria, meet with Nollywood, the second largest producer of movies in terms of titles.

The meeting of these great institutions of filmmaking is made possible by producers of IONIFF (ION International Film Festival) Port Harcourt 09, Omcomm, who have appointed Parminder Vir OBE as programme consultant to produce a section of the programme on "Connecting Bollywood to Nollywood."

Parminder Vir OBE is an award-winning film and television producer of drama, documentary, current affairs and entertainment with over 20 years experience, who has worked with BBC, ITV, Channel Four and Carlton Television. Her credits include Babymother, a reggae musical, with acclaimed documentaries such as Algeria Women at War, The Sex Warriors and The Samurai.

She is also the Managing Director of PVL Media Consultants which specializes in accessing multi-cultural markets and raising private equity finance for film and media businesses and a non executive director of Goldcrest Films, advising on investment of an EIS Film fund, former manager in charge of Ingenious World Cinema, an equity fund set up by Ingenious Media Investment, investing in feature films from the emerging markets.

In a chat with Weekend Circuit, Parminder said she was pleasantly surprised at the positive reception Bollywood movies had enjoyed in Nigeria for over 50 years with audiences embracing the songs, fashion and stories of the Bollywood films.

"I am always amazed at the ease with which Nigerians will recall the names of the Bollywood stars, the dialogue and even sing the songs, given that this is not their language or culture. Over the years, I have become a great admirer of the Nollywood film industry, which is very similar to the Bollywood film industry with their "can do" attitude. In the absence of government support, both have created an industry, which contributes substantially to the wealth of the nation," she said.

A regular speaker and panelist at International Film Festivals and media conferences on international film finance, co-productions and emerging media opportunities in India, China and other emerging markets, Parminder is also on the board of several organizations working in various capacities as director or non executive director.

Some of the organizations include Screen Writers Festival, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Patron of Skillset, Young Vic Theatre, UK India Business Council and TiE Charter.

As part of the programme for the IONIFF, leading Bollywood producers will be invited to share their experience of the industry, its cultural and economical value, and explore collaboration opportunities for Nollywood producers to work with the Indian film industry.

There will also be a panel discussion on new models of financing media in terms of developing creative and financial partnerships and accessing new market.

The synergy between both movie industries will also be buttressed by celebrating the stars of the world's largest film industries by inviting a major Bollywood celebrity to attend the festival as guest of honor.

Meanwhile, in a bid to empower the emerging talent during the IONIFF Port Harcourt 09, the organizers of the festival have announced the opening of entries for the workshop series scheduled during the International Film Festival in Port Harcourt.

According to Caterina Bortolussi, Creative Director Omcomm, the workshop series registration started October, 1 and will close October 30 to allow interested individuals submit entries for the workshop on Omcomm website.

The 3-day workshop, which will be led by international recognized instructors in the world of cinema are open to filmmakers, students and creative minds from all over Nigeria. The workshops will focus on Screen-writing, Digital Cinematography and Lighting, Sound Composition, Budgeting, Networking and Financing.

In the spirit of promoting intellectual development and participations of young talents, the organizers have waived the course fee while interested participants are expected to pay a token of N2, 500 as registration fee for the workshop that is bringing Julie Dash, John Demps, Kennard Ramsey and Brenda Doby-Flewellyn as facilitators.

Julie Dash, one of the facilitators of the screen writing session is an accomplished African American, the first woman to have a full length general theatrical release in the United States.

Her work, Daughters was listed in O magazine among its 50 greatest Chick Flicks, and in 1999, the twenty-fifth Annual Newark honored her and her film Daughter of the Dust as being one of the most important cinematic achievements in Black Cinema in the 20th Century.