The 6th edition of the Nollywood Creative Minds Forum (NCMF) seminar and short film screening with the theme; ‘In Pursuit of Better’ held amidst pomp and ceremony.
The event which took place at Four Points by Sheraton, Lagos had top players in Nollywood which include Kayode Freeman (Vice president) Emeka Okoye (National Coordinator) Stella-maris Nnaji, Femi Odugbemi, Victor Okhai (DGN President) Carol King, Kingsley Omoefe, Joy Osawaru (CDGN President), Perekeme Odon, John Jiang, Kalu Ikeagwu, Chidi Nwokeabia, Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, Kelechi Deca, Fidelis Duker, Jude Chukwuka, Chioma Nwosu among others.
Welcoming the gathering, President of NCMF , sultry actress Ijeoma Richards said that the forum has been in existence since 2015 and that with determination, dedication, and professionalism, they have come this far.
She said: “In our quest for professionalism in the industry, we looked around, realised we can do better, that’s what gave birth to NCMF, So we set forth, and here we are still waxing stronger and better 8 years on. We are thoroughbred professionals.”
In his keynote address, the Director General, National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) Dr. Shaibu Husseini congratulated the leadership of the forum and urged them to continue to facilitate discussions on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities, with a focus on shaping the future of Nollywood.
He said: “But as we strive for excellence, we must focus on developing a better filmmaking tradition that prioritizes: Quality storytelling, professionalism, innovation and collaboration.
“Our stories should be authentic, engaging, and reflective of our diverse experiences. We must adhere to industry standards, best practices, and ethical guidelines.We should embrace new technologies, techniques, and ideas to stay ahead of the curve.We must foster a spirit of cooperation, mutual respect, and knowledge-sharing. To achieve this vision, the NFVCB is committed to providing support and resources to filmmakers.”
Some practitioners received merit awards in recognition of their excellent service and commitment to the creative industry among whom were: Tolulope Odebunmi, Vivian Nicholas, Stella- Maris Nnaji, Chioma Nwosu, Lilian Chilee-Kolawole, Ojie Eniola, Kayode Freeman, Emeka Okoye, Chioma Nwosu, Florence Sunday Otu, Richard Amechi, Angelina Ibe , Juliet Obafemi, Irene Omolara Akinsola, Stella Samugana.
Ijeoma Richards also received a surprised award.
Head coach, The Audacity, Hajara Pitan encouraged practitioners to be authentic and use their voice to their advantage, citing the cerebral Hollywood actress, Tabitha Brown who also does other creative stuff to her advantage. Pitan said: “Your limelight is fueling your twilight. You are the product.”
International filmmaker Femi Odugbemi, who said he got inspired to go into the industry by legendary actor Amitabh Bacchan, advocated for more meaningful films to be produced.
“Creatively we are going somewhere. We need to make movies that make more meaning. There are many places to look for stories not only from our heads. we have an incredibly rich literary culture. There are books that we need to turn into films. Those who are doing animation in Nigeria have become huge, and now they are getting funding. My biggest project in life is to turn the stories of my uncle, G.O Fagunwa, into films. Every country that changes is actually forward leaning in the content of their film, television.”
Kalu Ikeagwu moderated a panel discussion of young filmmakers, with a view to tapping into the possibility of utilizing the AI option.