All is now set for the Nigerian Film Corporation, Script house, Scenario Films and Playfilm driven Babylon International Workshop on film which gets underway in Abuja, the nation’s capital from April 26th – May 1, 2010. Babylon International is backed by Media International of the European Union, and Tricom (Nigeria).
Over thirty (30) film makers from Europe, the Caribbean’s, America and Africa are expected to converge on Abuja for the workshop which is tagged EU-Babylon Europe Meets Africa Initiative.
The objective of the workshop, the Film Corporation says, is to bring to Nigeria and indeed Africa, high level project based training and mentorship for Producers, Writers and Directors seeking to broaden their access to the international film industry, through sustainable partnership.
The workshop will also offer participants the opportunity to work together on script, story development, production techniques and access to the international market place and distribution through Babylon’s network of industry consultants, funders, international sales agents and distributors.
From the script workshop which began late November 2009, through February 16th-20, 2010 in Berlin, to another and final leg in Abuja from April 26- May 1, 2010, the five day part training workshop will lead to the shoot of a 3minute/ one scene promo of each of the projects (6 Group Projects) and presentation during this year’s ZUMA film festival, holding in Abuja, May 2-6, 2010, and thereafter pitch for global marketing/funding and production.
Resource persons for the workshop, drawn from participating continents include Thierry Lenouvel (France),Lina Gopaul(UK), John Afomfrah(UK) and Oswald Anthony (UK) .Others are Nigeria’s Femi Odugbemi, Jurgen Seidler of Scripthouse(Germany), Nathalie Valentin of Playfilm(France), Gareth Jones (UK), Fiona Howe (UK) and Johannes Gwinner (Germany).
Afolabi Adesanya, Managing Director, Nigerian Film Corporation says, the workshop initiative is also part of the Corporation’s efforts at leveraging on international platforms, goodwill and the renewed interest of foreign film cultures in Nigeria’s motion picture industry. “Nigeria’s motion picture has continued to draw accolades at international film festivals”, Adesanya said, and a way to sustaining the feat is to among others, collaborate with world class agencies whose activities greatly support cross continental partnerships.
The NFC boss commended all partners, participants and the various government agencies for making Nigeria host the workshop, again just before the kick off of this year’s edition of the nation’s premiere film festival- ZUMA film festival with the theme: Global Images, Global Voices, holding at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja; May 2-6, 2010.
Brian Etuk
Head, Public Affairs
