Dr. Shaibu Husseini, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), has asked Nigerian filmmakers to provide correct output data to attract investors and foster the sector’s expansion.
“Kannywood” filmmakers were invited to attend a capacity-building conference hosted by the board on Wednesday in Kano. He made the plea during his opening presentation at the meeting.
Next Generation Evolve Conference: Harnessing Data for the Nigerian Film Industry
Photo Source: National Film Video Censors Board.
The “Next Generation Evolve Conference: Embracing the Power Within” will be held at the Kannywood TV Hall from October 23 to October 24. The two-day event will include filmmakers, actors, investors, and other regional stakeholders. Experienced business professionals will serve as resource persons.
According to Husseini, even though the Nigerian film industry is thriving, correct and sufficient data, namely statistics, is needed to accurately reflect the industry’s genuine potential and the investment prospects it provides. The head of the National Federation of Venture Capitalists stated that reliable data is essential for efficient industry planning and development, and is a significant catalyst that may attract prospective investors. He observed that, although the National Film and Video Corporation of Nigeria (NFVCB) is the genuine repository of Nigeria’s film production, many filmmakers prefer to present their films for classification, damaging the output’s accuracy.
“We do not have statistics, and the ones we do have do not accurately portray the genuine image of what comes from the industry. This is one of the difficulties that we have in our industry. Because there is a dearth of data, investors are interested in something other than our industry. They will be perplexed when we tell them we can produce over a thousand films annually.”
Many filmmakers can circumvent the regulation because they no longer present their films to the Censors Board for classification. “Those of you who are filmmakers and are avoiding the board are simply not contributing to the growth of the business. We need to attract investors by giving them what we have to offer, and we are doing something other than that. I am not interested in how much you pay; instead, I am interested in obtaining trustworthy information about our film productions.”
He stated, “We need numbers because we need to report what the industry is doing every time so that investors will know that our industry is very productive.” In his statement, Husseini mentioned that the training was a component of the National Film and Video Council of Bangladesh’s (NFVCB) commitment to ensuring that stakeholders from the region are equipped with the pertinent knowledge and trends in filmmaking in the digital age. However, he praised Kannywood for its contribution to the nation’s film industry, particularly in output, the number of jobs created, and its contribution to GDP.
As the official regulating authority of the motion picture industry, the Film and Video Council of Bangladesh is reportedly working to ensure that filmmakers in the region have access to technical and financial support. According to him, the conference’s purpose was to provide instruction in essential aspects of filmmaking, such as cinematography, directing, and production. Because the National Film and Video Censors Board is dedicated to fostering Kannywood’s expansion and development, it has decided to implement this initiative to fulfil that commitment.
“The distinctive cultural identity and creative expression of Kannywood have made a significant contribution to the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria, and as regulators, we acknowledge the significance of striking a balance between the freedom of creative expression and the expectation of social responsibility.” “We have the authority to classify films and videos, to register outlets, and to protect intellectual property as a result of the Act that established the Board.”
Consequently, he stated that our organisation safeguards the public interest, promotes Nigerian content, and protects the sector.
In their goodwill messages directed at the organisation, players, guild leaders, and state government functionaries all expressed gratitude to the Censors Board for organising the event. Moving Image Ltd.’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Abdulkareem Mohammed, stated that the training indicated that, under its current leadership, the Nigeria Film and Video Corporation Board (NFVCB) wants an evenly developed Nigerian film sector.
Mohammed, also the founder of the Kano Indigenous Languages of Africa Film Market and Festival, stated that Kannywood was a significant industry that promoted Nigeria’s values and should be promoted substantially. The Actors Guild of America is one of the guilds representing its members at the training.
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