Screened to movie enthusiasts at this year’s Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) on Wednesday, the documentary on Amaka Igwe takes it viewers into the minds of female movie directors and the challenges they have had to live with.
A sombre ambience that drew nostalgia, viewers were reminded of one of Amaka Igwe’s famed mantra; “I will give to you what I have, added to what you have so that you can be more than me.”
The documentary chronicles women directors and the peculiar challenges they have had to deal with. From difficult cameramen to unreceptive cast members, one thing they all agree on is that moviedom is a difficult turf to foray.
However, women in the movie industry have refused to let their guard down as is evident in such film festivals as AFRIFF, Light’s Camera Action, and the Africa Movie Academy Awards, all floated by women.
As the documentary puts it, “Amaka Igwe stood as a lone but very strong voice in the Nigerian movie industry.” Her film credit tells it all; from Checkmate, Fuji House of Commotion to Rattlesnake, Igwe charted a course that is hard to follow.
As Omoni Oboli puts it, she’s been a force to reckon with. Even in death, she’s still there.”
Mildred Okwoh, on the other hand, opines that “it is because of the sacrifices that people like Amaka Igwe made that I can stand here today.”
Among other film directors who were interviewed in the documentary are Belinda Yanga-Agehda, Adeola Osunjoko, Patience Ochre Imhobio, Blessing Effiong-Egbe, and Stephanie Linus.
