Chinyere Okoye
26 November 2009
analysis
Lagos — Film making technology across the world in its early stage was difficult, especially in the area of setting up the equipment. In some places it was virtually non-existent, until change started when the government of Nigeria begun to pressure local television and radio stations to broadcast more local content and less foreign productions.
Today, Nollywood have a number of things going for it and that can be picked out as factors that have led to its success. The global and continental synergy platform which African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) have created for the film makers in Africa has diversified and intensified creativity of the practitioners.
To set a record, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the chief executive officer (CEO) of AMAA, said the award has created vast opportunities for linkages, networking and interfacing within and outside the continent and made a significant impact on the motion picture industry in the continent. As part of its strategies to raise the bar in cinematography and filmmaking, AMAA has specifically focused on capacity building.
AMAA focuses on a series of actions directed at helping in the development process to increase knowledge, skills and understandings and to develop the attitudes needed to bring about the desired developmental change. In its broadest interpretation, capacity building, it encompasses human resource development as an essential part of development based on the concept that education and training is in the heart of development efforts and interventions will be ineffective, she said.
According to Anyiam-Osigwe, fundamental goal of capacity building is to enhance the ability to evaluate and address the crucial questions related to policy choices and modes of implementation among development options, based on an understanding of environment, potentials and limits and of needs perceived by the people of the country concerned".
Apart from AMAA that took some Nigerians to Cannes Film Festival to acquire skills, Nigeria's presence would not have been noticed even though UNESCO described Nollywood as the second in the world, though not in quality, but by numbers of flicks churned out daily I the sector in Nigeria.
At many international film festivals, AMAA has represented Nigeria very well and has become a major advocacy platform to project an industry in dire need of help in area of funding, capacity development and partnership.
In a recent interview, Ms Peace Anyiam-Osigwe noted that apart from the Federal Government through the Ministry of Information, every state in the country should use the opportunity that the pavilion lends to market their tourist and film potentials. In Lagos, AMAA train guilds, supports creative designers to acquire skills in Enugu. AMAA had also supported Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN).
However, filmmakers, who are interested in participating in the 2010 edition of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), can send in their entries. In a chat with journalists last week in Lagos, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe said "I encourage our filmmakers to submit their work early enough and avoid last minute rush which usually puts undue pressure on the screeners."
She called on filmmakers across the continent to visit the organisation's website or contact regional coordinators for the guidelines. She added: "I look forward to welcoming African filmmakers to Nigeria next year when our country will be celebrating its 50th anniversary."
And in a bid to avoid any litigation arising from copyright issues and other creative infringements, filmmakers submitting their works will sign an indemnity form to protect AMAA from any lawsuit. Also, all the supporting materials listed on the submission forms for all categories must among other requirements; accompany completed entry forms, the organisers said.
Each completed entry form for all the award categories must be accompanied by all the supporting materials listed on the submission forms, including the synopsis of the film, the list of credits and marketing skills of the film, filmographies of the main crew, film directors and producers to be precise, 10 DVD copies of the film must be provided and proof of right to submit.
"I encourage our filmmakers to submit their work early enough and avoid last minute rush which usually puts undue pressure on the screeners. I look forward to welcome Africa filmmakers to Nigeria next year when our country will be celebrating its 50th anniversary," she emphasised.
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