The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has been commended for the state of preparedness for the second and final stages of the 2010 Babylon International Workshop Initiative on Film organised by the Nigerian Film Corporation, Jos in collaboration with Scripthouse, Scenario films, Playfilm, Media International and the British Council scheduled for April/May 2010 in Jos and Abuja.
The commendation was made after a two day (January 17th-18th, 2010) facility visit to the Nigerian Film Corporation, and the National Film Institute, Jos venue for the April/May 2010 workshop in Nigeria by representatives of the international partners of the Babylon Workshop Initiative, Jurgen Seidler (of Scripthouse) and Nathalie Valentin (of Playfilm).
The two officials in a post facility tour said they were impressed with the state of art equipments; 16mm and 35mm cine cameras, lights, the Sound stage complex, the editing suites, the processing laboratory, the new digital celluloid printer, the 350seat terrace auditorium, the facade, and other facilities at the Nigerian Film Corporation and the National Film Institute which they said met the requirements for the workshop initiative.
According to the officials, foreign participants are eager to be in Jos, April-May, 2010 to work with film makers from Nigeria, in Nigeria and that from all indications, Nigeria was set to host the second and final stages of the workshop initiative.
Afolabi Adesanya, Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation informed the international partners that Nigeria and indeed film makers from Nigeria would continue to leverage on platforms that would promote cross-continent exchange of experiences in motion picture production through strategic partnerships and collaborations. NFC, Adesanya further said, will continue to provide opportunities and offer assistance to Nigerian film makers in her quest to sustainably develop the motion picture industry.
The first leg of the script workshop, which has the British Council Berlin office, as the venue takes place from February 16- 20, 2010.
Four Nigerians are among the over sixty (60) film makers participating in the workshop. They are Didi Cheeka (“Red Light District”,), Chike Ibekwe (“Letter to the Prof”), Siberia Diete-Spiff (“The Land”) and Jide Bello (“My Brothers Sin”).
The Berlin workshop will feature plenary sessions and informal film screenings of past productions of participants for the purpose of familiarisation. However, participants will be required to provide a synopsis/treatment for their entries under the general principle of the workshop, which also includes screenplay analysis in groups and individual sessions for each project with consultants of the workshop.
The five (5) day production lab at the national Film Institute, Jos scheduled for 27th April-2nd May, 2010, will consolidate the script development of each project and provide filmmaking teams the opportunity to watch scenes from their films, or produce promotional short films based on their feature film materials.
The highpoint of the 2010 programme will be the presentation of projects and review of promotional materials at ZUMA FILM FESTIVAL taking place in Abuja, the nation’s capital from May 2-6, 2010, to be followed by onward mentoring and promoting all Babylon projects.
Nigerian and other African filmmakers during the various stages of the workshop will have the opportunity to work with European colleagues on script and story development, production techniques and broadened access to international materials placed through Babylon’s network of industry consultants, Funder, International sales agents and Distributors.
Brian Etuk
Head, Public Affairs
