With the annual Abuja Film Festival scheduled to hold from next month, decision of the Remedel Optimum Communications Limited to announce the flagging off of this year’s edition of Behind the Screen Festival of Indigenous African Film from 23rd of August through 28th in Akure, Ondo State capital signals a season of festival of films in Nigeria.
The first two editions of the programme holding at Owena International Hotel, were held in form of capacity building workshops.
With the huge success it recorded, having translated into the establishment and commencement for formal training of BSN Arts Institute in Akure, the festival has come to stay as a platform to promote indigenous films.
Speaking ahead of the festival last Friday, Mrs. Biodun Ibitola, Managing Director, Remdel Optimum Communications said this year’s programme, with the theme, “Impact and Survival of African Indigenous language in films” has been further repackaged to assume the status and trappings of a full film festival.
Mrs. Ibitola stressed that in the area of skills acquisition, clinics as specialised areas of film production, will be the high point of the festival, which will witness the premiere of the organisation’s latest film entitled, “Ofinga.”
She added that each participant will have the opportunity to choose an area of interest in which they will be trained as the clinics will be handled by the best brains in each field, including Acting/Speech, Directing, Cinematography, lighting, costume, make-up and production management amongst others.
With Don Pedro Obaseki as the moderator, the lecture, ‘The Impact and survival of indigenous languages in films” is said to be delivered by CBAAC Director-General, Professor Tunde Babawale, while his counterpart, Mr. Emeka Mba of the National Film and Video Censors Board(NFVCB), will chair the business session.
Among discussants at the film makers forum are veterans such as Dr Ahmed Sarai, Prince Jide Kosoko, Mr. Dan Jacobs and Dr. Foluke Ogunleye. Expected to exhibit their products are manufacturers, broadcasting companies, production companies, post -production companies, film marketers, dealers distributors, TV stations and advertising agencies amongst other.
