Archive for the ‘Africa Industry News’ Category
Korean Film Festival showcases ‘Hallyuwood’
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, Asia Industry News on September 6th, 2010
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/ArtsandCulture/Film/5613549-147/story.csp
The first ever Korean Film Festival in Nigeria which started in Abuja, as part of the Korean Embassy activities celebrating the 30th anniversary of Korea’s diplomatic relationship with Nigeria, ended on the evening of Friday, August 22 with a screening of the movie, Le Grand Chef (The Grand Chef).
During the week-long festival, no fewer than 2000 Nigerians, members of the diplomatic corps, and friends of Koreans resident in Abuja, were treated to the best of Korean movies, carefully selected by the Korean Cultural Centre for the delight of their guests.
Featured films
The festival, which opened on Monday, August 16, and was attended by an average of two hundred people in a day, featured films like ‘Take Off”, ‘Rough Cut’, ‘Hwang-Jin-Yi’, ‘The King and the Clown’ and Jeon Yoon-Soo’s acclaimed ‘Le Grand Chef’ which most of the audience described as the star film of the festival.
The Grand Chef is a culturally rich movie which tells the story of a special cooking knife. The last Korean Royal Chef of the Chosun Dynasty, in brazen display of his loyalty to his king and patriotism to his country, cut off his right arm to avoid being forced to cook for the Japanese bureaucrat of the time. Years later, deeply moved by the Chef’s conviction, the Japanese decides to return the special knife to Korea, and to whoever who deserves to own it.
To determine the rightful owner of the royal knife, the bureaucrat’s son announces a cooking contest to find the best cook for this knife. Thus, the predestined cooking contests between two grandsons of the two apprentices of the royal chef.
The high point of the movie, which drew applause from the audience, is the manner in which the movie uses food recipes to discuss such national issues as internal democracy, as represented by the recipes the eventual and rightful winner uses to cook the ‘secret king’s soup’ during the final of the cooking contest.
The Korean Wave - Hallyuwood
America has Hollywood, India has Bollywood, and Nigeria has Nollywood. Likewise, Korea has its own ‘Hallyuwood.’ This newly-coined word combines the meanings of the word “han (hal),” for Korea, and “ryu (lyu),” which means ‘wave’. When these two Korean syllables are put together, it gives us a new word meaning “Korean Wave.”
The Korean Wave is a trend of increasing popularity for Korean pop culture, including television dramas, films, and music in Asia and around the world. This phenomenon began in the latter half of 1990s and is still growing and spreading worldwide, including the Middle East and South America.
Some Korean TV dramas have also been introduced to Nigerian audiences. “Jewel in the Palace” aired on AIT; “The Painter of the Wind” is now being shown on the same channel every Sunday morning; while “Winter Sonata” is also being broadcast by the National Television Authority (NTA).
Silent motion pictures were first introduced to Korea in 1903, and the first movie with sound was produced in 1935. During the 1950s, the government made great efforts to promote the film industry and later introduced a screen quota system to ensure that domestically produced films had the opportunity to be shown widely. In the 1960s, Korea witnessed its first golden age of the film industry. After a setback in the 1970s caused by the widespread penetration of television, the film industry rebounded with even greater strength, thanks to increased investment by large companies into film making and distribution in the 1980s. With the emergence of young, talented film directors and the liberalisation of the market, Korean movies began to occupy a major share of the domestic market and Korean film exports started to grow. All these have laid the foundation for the Korean Wave and the subsequent popularity of Korean films all over Asia; and lately Africa and the rest of the world.
In his remarks at the opening of the festival, the Korean Ambassador to Nigeria, Park Young-Kuk said, “Korean films have developed on the strength of incessant creativity, despite challenges from international film markets like Hollywood. I hope you will be able to see and appreciate the different styles and merits of Korean films, and enjoy what they have to offer.”
A reward for friendship
As a means of engaging the interest of festival goers, 20 Nigerians received various prizes, ranging from Satellite TV decoders, wristwatches, footballs, phones and other valuables as a reward for their friendship with the Korean Embassy in Nigeria. One recipient, 28-year-old Amarachi Amunabu, commended the Korean Cultural Centre for present and also commented on the featured movies. “I have watched all of the five movies featured and I must say that I am impressed at the quality of creativity and positive projection of the ways of life of the Koreans. The quality also is superb and commendable. I have always thought Asian movies are all about kung fu. This is the first time I am watching a subject-based Asian movie and I am very happy to have had the opportunity.”
In his speech, Suh Jeong Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in Abuja, indicated that the festival is to become a yearly event. “The Korean Film Festival in Nigeria will hold every year. The 2011 edition will take place in Lagos and Sierra Leone while the 2012 edition will return to Abuja,” he said For Abuja residents whose interest may have been sparked by the festival, Mr Sun had this announcement: “If you love Korean movies, you can visit the Korean Cultural Centre’ studio every first and last Fridays of the month for a free show of Korean movies.”
Tunisia unveils stimulus package to boost film industry
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, State/Government Production Incentive News on August 22nd, 2010
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90778/90860/7113169.html
The Tunisian government have recently set up a national committee and unveiled a stimulus package to boost the ailing film industry of Tunisia, a country boasts Africa’s oldest film festival and enjoys one of the most liberal cinemas in the Arab world.
The government set up the National Committee for the Reform and Development of the Audiovisual Sector, and decided to provide more money for cinematographic productions, calling on TV stations, internet services providers and DVD vendors to make financial contributions, at a time when fewer movies were made, and the number of cinemas was down to 20 from the over 100 in the 1960s in Tunisia.
Meanwhile, the Cultural Ministry will increase the film allowance, currently standing at 4 million dinars (about 2.72 million U.S. dollars) per year, on a regular basis, making it possible to finance more films. In 2010, only nine long feature movies received funding from the ministry.
Besides, the state will also encourage diversification of partnership involving private investors, and to build modern cinemas in tourist destinations and shopping malls.
Source: Xinhua
Youth urged to make careers out of film-making
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, Training & School News on August 22nd, 2010
http://showbiz.peacefmonline.com/news/201008/73118.php
Ho, Aug. 21, GNA - The deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku, (Rtd) has urged the youth with the requisite talents to start careers in film acting.
He said the film industry is vibrant and offers a big market for now and the future.
Col. Necku was addressing a group of 28 young film actors from the Volta Region, who have completed three months training at the Prampram based GallyWood, under the auspices of the National Youth Employment Programme.
They were presented with some working tools.
Col Necku urged them not to joke with the new opportunity offered them but become big stars in the film industry.
“The Stars are making it big,” he pointed out.
Nana William Akufo, director of Gallywood, urged them to work as a group to produce films in Ewe to portray the rich culture and physical attractions of the region to the rest of the world.
He expressed the hope that in a few weeks the group would be out with films to captivate film lovers in the region.
Nana Akufo appealed to the Volta Regional Coordinating Council to engage the group to do documentaries about the region.
Madam Edith Okoh, Patron of the Actors Guild in the Volta Region, said movies are not only about entertainment but commentaries on life and society and a reliable source of employment so the film industry requires the support of the government.
Women agenda for Nollywood
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News on June 27th, 2010
http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/sunday-magazine/arts-life/3664.html
The need for the Nollywood film industry to produce more movies that reflect the socio-cultural and artistic aspects of the nation’s life was highlighted at a film forum in Lagos recently. The forum, convened by Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, Executive Director, the African Women Development Fund (AWDF) and organised by the Lufodo Academy of the Performing Arts (LAPA), had as theme ‘Nollywood: Women and the dynamics of representation. It attracted prominent movie practitioners and members of the academia as discussants in various sessions of the two-day event. Various discussants noted the power of the film medium and stressed on the need for filmmakers to be careful about the type of messages they pass to their audience. It also stated that the need to make money should not be exclusive of the need to make decent films ‘that will stand the test of time.’ The forum further assessed the role films can play in cultural imperialism with particular reference to Hollywood and how that industry has helped shape the world’s view of America.
As talkshow host, Agatha Amata noted: “Nobody can tell your story better than you. America has sold us the hype of being the most powerful country in the world through Hollywood and people here now think there’s no poverty in the U.S. It’s when they get there that they see beggars on the streets and they are shocked. If America can use the media to sell you a hype that’s not true, then it shows the power of the media. So, we should be careful about the messages passed to the audience especially young people who erroneously believe that everything they see on TV is right.”
It was in this light that another discussant, Abena Busia in her paper titled, ‘Women and the Dynamics of Representation: Of Cooking, Cars, and Gendered Culture’ expressed concern about the manner in which African women are portrayed in the movies. According to her, Nollywood had become a force due in part to, “the existence of such a mass of films, now available, and watched in every corner of the globe.” Busia, who is an Associate Professor of English, Women’s Studies and Comparative Literature at Rutgers University, New Jersey, United States added that, “How women are presented to audiences in a number of media has been of concern for a number of women and women’s movements around the world. As human beings, we all become concerned about how we are seen by others, how we are re-presented to the world, especially by others who do not count themselves as one of our member. And when we do not see ourselves reflected, or reflected as we would like, the need for redress, to challenge the discrepancies between how we see ourselves and how you know ourselves to be seen, becomes a powerful driving force, and not just for women.”
Resultantly, Prof. Onookome Okome, a Canada -based teacher of English and Films studies stressed the need to have rounded female characters, instead of one dimensional ones in order to avoid monotony.
Not just whores and witches
It was such monotony that made another discussant, Pastor Biodun Ibitola, broadcaster and marketer to stop watching films. “I got tired of seeing women portrayed in the same way in the stories/films,” she complained during day two of the forum which kicked off with a discussion on Saints, Whores, Nags and Witches - three major stereotypes of women in Nollywood movies. Filmmaker Emem Isong gave the lead presentation during the session, moderated by TV talkshow host Funmi Iyanda which focused on society’s perception of women generally. To the TV presenter, ‘every single successful woman worldwide is called a witch or whore,’ adding that the impression foreigners who watch Nigerian movies have of Nigerian women is that of being ‘stupid, money-grasping and prostitutes.’ “These are the stereotyped images of the Nigerian woman which Nollywood is passing to the rest of the world through the movies. This is an issue which needs to be addressed,” she stated. While comparing Hollywood’s portrayal of American women to the way the Nigerian woman is represented, she noted: “ The white, blond American woman is at the highest level of womanhood to the American man. You can never see her raped, maltreated or abused in a Hollywood film unless she has done something really bad to deserve it.”
Countering this view of women in films, Ibitola noted that it was time script writers began to write stories that tapped into women’s traditional role in society. “Women play various roles in the community as mothers, grandmothers, aunties, sisters and so on”, she said, noting that African women have moral standards and societal mores which need to be portrayed in the movies. Supporting this view was Dion Jemide who noted: “Film is art and not just about making money. It’s time Nollywood started making more artistic movies.”
However, top filmmaker Amaka Igwe, posited that the Nollywood film industry was fashioned out to entertain and not to teach anything. “These films are made just to sell. They don’t teach anything.” Igwe, who called herself an ‘unrepentant commercial film maker’, stated that filmmakers should not take the audience for granted because they are much more intelligent than the filmmakers think. As she put it: “They analyse the films and want to know why certain things happen the way they do.”
However, the need to draw a line between stereotyping and proper representation so it does not become propaganda was also highlighted. On this issue, Busia said: “ Where do we draw the line between demanding socially responsible art and policing the artist? Besides, can we police morality or demand, as opposed to desire, socially responsible art forms; and again, as I asked before, must our art be required to be what we consider positive, for then when does it become propaganda, why not be content with reflecting what is, however discomforting that may be?”
Josephine Effah Chukwuma, a women’s rights activist supported this view stating that its ‘not about glorifying women as saints but films should show that for every action there’s a reaction.” And for actress Dakore Egbuson, who revealed that she had to turn down a lot of scripts because of her concern for the quality of her work, actors should be more selective in the roles they choose and not think about the money alone.
Film clips on various themes and issues concerning women’s roles in society were shown at the event. These include Rifle Road and Jesus and the Giant, two films by Akin Omotoso, a South African-based Nigerian filmmaker which focused on gun control and domestic violence. There was also the Hollywood film, The Secret Laughter of Women, starring Joke Silva, Nia Long and Colin Firth which boasts an array of strong women in an immigrant community in France who were ‘vehicles of tradition’ even while away from home.
Movie practitioners, TV personalities, writers, arts and cultural activists and others who attended the event which was graced by Lagos State First Lady, Mrs Abimbola Fashola include Tunde Kelani, Mahmoud Ali-Balogun, Bibi Bakare-Yusuf, Emem Isong, Amaka Igwe, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Kunle Ajibade, Biodun Ibitola. Others include Bimbo Oloyede, Agatha Amata, Toyin Akinosho, Reuben Abati, Funmi Iyanda, Iretiola Doyle and Emma Isikaku.
Also in attendance were Nollywood stars including Chioma Chukwuka, Bimbo Manuel, Dakore Egbuson, Omoni Oboli, Uche Abriel Macaulay, Monalisa Chinda, Doris Simon, Saheed Balogun, Rose Odika, Carol King, Ego Boyo, Bhaira Mwizu, Moyo Lawal and Dupe Jaiyesimi.
Cinematograph Board To Deal With Pornographic Films In Ghana
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News on June 21st, 2010
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/artikel.php?ID=184597
Mr John Tia Akologu, Minister of Information on Friday inaugurated a 25-member Cinematograph Exhibition Board of Control and charged it to look out particularly for and deal with pornographic, violent and culturally unacceptable films in the country.
The old Board was dissolved owing to the public outcry about its inability to avert objectionable material being shown on the television, public cinema and video theatres even though Act 76 of the Cinematograph Act of 1961 authorised it to censor films.
Mr Akologu said the new Board “will constitute a preview and classification committee. Until the passage into law, the development and classification of a Film Bill to provide the machinery to deal with the production, previewing, distribution and marketing of films.”
He called on producers of audio-visual materials and television companies to produce films that were sensitive to the concerns of the Ghanaian public.”I wish to urge the industry practitioners to produce educative and positive films instead of films full of violence, pornography and other offensive sounds and images that are harmful to our minds especially the fragile minds of our children,” he said.
Mr Augustine Abbey, President of the Film Producers Association of Ghana and member of the new Board, on behalf of his colleagues, expressed the Board’s commitment to partner with government to bring sanity to the film industry through strict censorship. “I also hope that by the censorship, the move would not send creativity to exile,” he said.
Why I’m More Active in Nigeria Than My country– Van Vicker
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News on June 21st, 2010
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/artikel.php?ID=184594
His mother is half Ghanaian and half Liberian while his father is a Dutch. But Van Vicker has become one of the faces that dazzle in Nollywood.
He tells ‘NONYE BEN-NWANKWO why he stays more in Nigeria than his home countries, and explains his relationship with actresses Nadia Buari and Tonto Dike.
You are almost always in Nigeria. What is the reason for that? Producers in Nigeria book me ahead of time. Apart from that, when you get into the country, people get to know that you are around and they bring their scripts. Those scripts, of course, will not be shot immediately; you will have to wait for three months or thereabout, and it keeps rolling over. You will end up spending a little more time in the country than you had expected.
So, you don’t work for the Ghanaian film industry again?
With regard to that, I would love to work in Ghana. It brings back a lot of memories like we had in the early days we started. I miss that so much. But the problem I am facing is the lack of planning with regard to my schedule. They don’t call me ahead of time.
You can’t call me today and expect me to shoot tomorrow or next week. They fail to realise that my schedule is quite tight. That is the problem I have been facing for the past two years. I have not shot in Ghana for about two years, apart from the one I shot in November last year. The guy I shot for had planned it since July of that year. I was in the US then. That is what I wish Ghanaian producers would do.
Some people could think you have problems with the producers in Ghana…
Fortunately or unfortunately, some of us are quite busy. We only need ahead-of-time booking. It is not as if I have any personal problem with any producer. It is not as if I don’t want to work with them any more. It is also not because people say that the pay is poor. It has nothing to do with that. It is simply because the timing does not work for me.
If you don’t meet them half way, don’t you think the movie industry in your country may not advance like Nollywood has?
No way. I want to believe that Gollywood is not about that. With or without my input, work will still go on, even though I would love to add my quota. But I don’t think Gollywood is about Van Vicker. It is bigger than me. My contribution will add to its advancement, I agree. But it is still bigger than me.
To whom do you owe your rise in acting?
I owe an obligation to Gollywood. But I have paid my dues, I think. I can liken my case to an international footballer who was in a local league before he went international. Would we say he does not owe his success to the local league because he doesn’t play for them any more? I have not abandoned Ghana. I would love to work in Ghana. I miss them so much. It all has to do with timing.
How come you are yet to move your family to Nigeria?
It is not possible. My wife does a nine-to-five job in Ghana. My kids are in school. What if I move my family to Nigeria and I start doing a lot of production in Cameroun? Will I move them again? I just think they should stay where they are. We have established Ghana as my home and my base.
How come people say you are very arrogant?
When I hear the word ‘arrogant’, I cringe. I hate the word. You have met me. Do I look arrogant? Do I sound arrogant? I don’t think I am arrogant. It is the last thing I will ever be. Even before I became the ‘star’ Van Vicker, I have been humble. I believe in humanity. What you have is not what makes you.
Did you expect to hit stardom the way you did?
The whole acting thing was just an accident. I wanted to be a medical doctor. But when I was done with school, my wife, who was my girlfriend then, saw the advert in the papers. They were looking for a presenter for a new TV programme that was coming up. I tried it out and got the job. I have been in showbiz since 1997. I did radio alongside.
How did movies come about?
One thing led to another and to another before I landed here in 2007. Venus Films came and said they had a role for me in a movie. The producers of Beyonce said they wanted the movie to be released in Nigeria. Their strategy was to introduce Nadia and I to the Nigerian market. They felt that people fell in love with us and they had to release the movie. From there, everything went rocket high. It was by accident that I got into the movies. But I know it was ordained and it is a blessing.
Now that you mentioned Nadia, is it true that you guys once dated?
No. No disrespect. It is just like somebody saying that Genevieve and Ramsey Noah are dating. The gist came up because Nadia and I have done many romantic movies together. We never dated, but people speculate.
We learnt you said that you are bigger than RMD and Ramsey Noah when it comes to acting…
I think somebody is trying to be mischievous. It is impossible for me to say that. I am in a foreign land. Will it not be stupid of me to come into somebody’s land and not say well of their topmost stars? That is the most stupid thing I would do. Even if I want to say so, I must be dumb to say it publicly. To me, the whole rumour does not make sense. There is no way I could have said that.
I must really be brave to say that. These guys can get pissed off with me and say I should not come back to Nigeria. What will I do then? The rumour does not hold water at all. I respect RMD and Ramsey a lot. These are guys who have been in the industry for a long time before I came in. I cannot disrespect them.
We learnt Majid, your fellow Ghanaian actor, is your greatest rival.
I don’t see Majid as my rival, I see him as my colleague. He is into acting. He is following his path and so am I.
Is he your friend?
Yes. I was directing a series sometime ago and I asked Majid to play in it. The series never came out though. I had to stop somehow. I may not really call him my friend because we don’t hang out and we don’t call ourselves on the phone. But when we meet ourselves, we greet very well. I don’t remember having any fight with him. I have not had any problem with Ramsey or Desmond as well, unlike what people have speculated. Nobody has tried snatching my wife for me to fight the person.
We heard you are not friends with some Nigerian actors.
I don’t know about them but I don’t have any problem with anybody. I have heard a lot of stories which I don’t want to believe. I have made a lot of efforts to call those individuals and ask them what happened so that we trash it. I was able to reach one. I learnt he didn’t want to work with me. I called him and asked him what the problem was. He told me about the rumour he heard and I told him I never said such. We sorted it out and we did that job together. There are others though. I have been trying to reach them. It is not as if they began acting before me. But here in Nigeria, they are ahead of me. It is only cool and polite if we sort everything out.
We hear you and Tonto Dike were caught in bed. There is an intimate picture of you guys circulating on the Internet.
We were not caught anywhere. I saw the article on the Internet. Please, the picture on the net was a movie picture. I was in bed with her in that movie. The story was very stupid. It just doesn’t make sense. There is no way that picture could have been taken without us seeing the photographer. That was a close up shot. If I am in bed with my colleague, would I be wearing my jeans and shirt?
Do all this rumour get to you?
I understand that being a celebrity comes with a lot of scandals. It is a price to pay. I can’t help it.
How does your wife take it?
It is tough for her. If I were in her situation, I could do worse. I totally understand when she complains. It is tough. It even gets tough with me, then I imagine what my wife is facing. Her friends call her and tell her how Van was kissing one girl in a movie and such things. I understand the way she feels at times. She is human.
Have you ever thought of quitting?
No. I have not. As much as it was an accident, I am enjoying it. I have found a passion for the arts and I think I will be in it for a long time. I might stop acting but I don’t think I can stop directing and producing.
We hear you also abandon movie sets and take off most times even when you have been paid for the job.
From the way you asked the question, I would say it is not true. It has happened only once. But then, I didn’t abandon that set as they put it. I had an arrangement with the marketer of that movie that I would leave at a particular day. He agreed. It got to the day, the movie hadn’t finished. I even added three more days to the day I was supposed to leave and they still hadn’t finished the movie. I had something really urgent to do in Ghana and so I had to leave. The day I thought we would finish the movie, a colleague of mine also left the set to attend to something else. I had to leave as well. Regardless, I came back and we have completed the movie.
How was it like growing up without a father?
It has been tough. I wish I was old enough to remember who my father was. I don’t have a good memory of him. I still wish I had somebody I call father the way my son calls me. But it has taught me a lot of things. It made me tough and it made me make a lot of decisions I might not have made if he were alive.
I learnt a lot of things on my own. People say people of my complexion are heart breakers, flirts and Casanova. But I tried to stand out. I didn’t want to be in that category. That was one of the reasons I never smoked or drank. I still don’t. That was one of the reasons I got married early. I wasn’t under any peer pressure.
We hear your long lost brother has been found…
What a joke. I asked my mother if she and my dad had another son somewhere and she said no. I think the guy needed some help. He wanted to get into the movie industry. He is a Liberian. He heard I have got some Liberian background so he wanted to take an advantage of that. The first time he approached me, he told me he wanted to get into acting. I told him to work on his accent if he wanted to go international.
He decided to change his plans by claiming he was my brother. Even a blind mine would know that I and that guy are not related in any way. My father was already dead going by the year he said he was born. He was trying to play a fast one on me thinking I would panic. He has been calling me since then, begging me to forgive him. I have forgiven him but I have told him to stay away from me. He was trying to use my name to get popular.
Do you intend to get a university degree since you don’t have one yet?
I have decided to further my education but not getting a university degree. I have decided to advance my education. I don’t have to go to school to learn certain things. I don’t think I have any intention of going to the university. I will advance myself in the profession I have found myself.
Xingwana signs a film coproduction treaty with Australia
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, Australia/New Zealand Industry News on June 20th, 2010
http://www.webnewswire.com/node/544861
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Ms Lulama Xingwana signed a film coproduction treaty with the Australian Minister of Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Sports, Ms Kate Ellis in Pretoria today.
The purpose of the treaty is to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the area of film.
The treaty will assist generate the much-needed resources from both countries. It offers film makers, actors, distributors and marketers from both countries to access benefits such as subsidies, tax incentives, co-productions and other financial benefits allowed by the two countries or national funding institutions.
In this way the co-producing countries are able to share the risks and costs of productions, whilst increasing the output of high quality films.
It will also facilitate the cultural, creative and economic exchanges between the two countries. Such exchanges contribute to the enhancement of relations between the two countries.
In addition to financial benefits, film provides invaluable opportunities for the development of a vibrant civil society mobilise political and social change and unlock the potential of the tourism industry by marketing the country abroad while educating its own citizens.
As South Africa, we know that the Australians will benefit a lot from our scenery and natural landscape which has already proved to be popular with film makers.
Our country has already been a location for many successful international films such as Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamonds, Invictus, etc.
Our own film industry has also been very successful in recent years despite the fact that our film makers work with small budgets. We are proud of achievements of films such as Tsotsi, Jerusalema and many others, said Xingwana.
The National Film and Video Foundation will continue to facilitate funding and the general conducive environment for our local industry.
Government will continue to support this important vehicle for our nation to tell its stories and preserve its culture. We value the importance of international collaborations in our effort to grow the local film sector.
This will also help contribute to the gross domestic product of our country.
Enquiries:
Mack Lewele
Cell: 082 450 5076
Tel: 012 441 3083
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
18 June 2010
South Africa
SA, Australia sign film co-production agreement
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, Australia/New Zealand Industry News on June 18th, 2010
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=552&fArticleId=5519669
Streamlining administration and funding issues for filmmakers will allow greater co-operation and the pooling of resources between South Africa and Australia, Australian Sports Minister Kate Ellis said on Friday.
Signing a film co-production agreement with Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana, Ellis said: “Our two countries have long competed and co-operated in the sporting arena and I am delighted to see our connections are expanding in the cultural sphere as well.”
The agreement would allow access to funding, tax benefits, simplified immigration requirements and duty free importation of equipment for use in co-productions.
A special co-production by filmmakers would also be treated as local content under domestic television broadcast quotas.
Xingwana said it was hoped the agreement would enable the training of young artists and skills transfer.
“I hope that this is the beginning of greater cooperation,” she said.
Ellis said that, from the outset, it was evident that the agreement was a good reflection on South Africa’s film industry.
“We have not taken this decision lightly. There are only eight other countries that we have signed a film agreement with,” she said. - Sapa
South film industry to boycott those who attend IIFA
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News, India Industry News on May 30th, 2010
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/South-film-industry-to-boycott-those-who-attend-IIFA/626912
The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce (SIFCC) has taken the protest against the latest edition of the International Indian Film Academy’s (IIFA) awards to another level, resolving not to cooperate with any member of the film fraternity who attends the ceremony scheduled to be held in Colombo from June 3-5.
An emergency meeting of SIFCC held on Friday decided that the ‘non-cooperation’ would include a boycott of the concerned personality’s films by the Exhibitors Association of South India, technical staff and junior artistes.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Andhra, Karnataka and Kerala, apart from Tamil Nadu. According to sources, the total market in South India where over 500 movies are released every year is much bigger than the North, and contributes a much greater share towards the box office collection of Bollywood movies.
Condemning the decision to hold the awards function in Sri Lanka, the Chamber said it was opposed to the venue, not IIFA. “The entire world is aware of the genocide of innocent Tamils by the army of the Sri Lankan Government. It is still in the minds of millions of Indians, and at this juncture, they are holding an award function inblood-stained Sri Lanka,” said a resolution by the Chamber.
Chairman of the media and entertainment wing of FICCI Kamal Haasan had already announced his decision to stay away from Lanka, while director Mani Ratnam, actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya, too, are not taking part in the event. Even Amitabh Bachchan, the IIFA brand ambassador, has not confirmed his participation.
Nigeria: Democracy, Rewarding to Entertainment Industry -Kosoko
Posted by: admin in Africa Industry News on May 28th, 2010
http://allafrica.com/stories/201005280470.html
Anthonia Soyingbe
interview
Jide Kosoko, a leading name in the Nigerian film industry, is the immediate past president of the Association for Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP). Kosoko, who has been in the industry for over three decades and has featured in over 200 films, speaks with REPORTER, Anthonia Soyingbe, on the effect of democracy on the film industry, among other issues. Excerpts:
What will you say are the effects of civil rule in Nigeria on the film industry?
They have affected each other. The practitioners and the stakeholders in the movie industry have also affected the industry. Our works are vehicles which are veritable tools in exposing the values of democracy. There is no doubt that democracy has affected the industry because we are able to air our views without fear of being arrested or killed by government officials. As you are very much aware, we have our own objectives of educating people and giving them necessary information aside entertaining them. During military era, you had to personally censor your films yourself because of fear of the authorities. In this democratic dispensation, we are free to air our views through films and correct wrongs in the society through movies. We say things the way we want to say them and this has in no small measure affected the government too. Most politicians watch our films and the wise ones adhere to the lessons in the films. If you check them out, the few who are doing well are those who adhere to the lessons from the films. We have the responsibility of checkmating the affairs of those involved in championing the affairs of the people.
There is no doubt about it that we have benefited from democracy since its re-birth in 1999 and the government on the other side has benefited from us through our views. We have also contributed our quota to the sustenance of democracy through our films. I will also not fail to mention it, irrespective of whatever has happened in the past. I want to give kudos to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo regime. Obasanjo was, perhaps, the first president that showed interest practically in our industry. The first N100 million that officially came into the industry was during his regime. The money was meant for developmental purposes in the industry and lots of practitioners benefited from it not through cash but through seminars, workshops, trainings and symposium. The money was not given to individuals or parastatals. Rather it was given to government parastatal and offices responsible for regulating the industry.
Others might have different opinions as regards that but I strongly believe that the stipend he gave out was part of what the regulatory bodies used in organising developmental programmes that gave us the opportunity to further express ourselves. The follow-up to this has not been good enough but it gave us a direction and I know that some of the practitioners benefited by gaining some exposure and experience. I personally benefited by participating in some of the developmental programmes. This to me is part of the dividends of democracy to the movie industry.
Government’s effort, undoubtedly, is not good enough but the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has intensified efforts in the fight against piracy. Their efforts are not enough but we must encourage them to do more. The censor board also came with a new distribution policy.
Do you have any case where a filmmaker was threatened by a politician for harping on a particular issue that points to maladministration in the society?
I have not heard of any case yet and this is part of the dividends of democracy. We have countless number of films that are in that genre. No matter how bad a storyline is, you will always see an element of advice to people in power.
Aside self-censorship during the military era, were there other features of that era that have changed since the present democratic dispensation?
I had been invited by military men during their era to stop a particular production and so many other things happened then. We were always invited by the garrison.
Most films currently dwell on ills and traditions in the society and some have argued that films like these are not portraying Nigeria well in the international community neither are they promoting our culture and tradition. What are your views on these?
These are the complex areas. We had been branding Nigeria before Prof. Dora Akunyili came up with her re-branding project. It is part of branding Nigeria that has made the Nigerian film industry popular around the globe. We really need to show more interest in branding Nigeria but that is not to say we don’t have responsibility of correcting societal ills. We will not encourage and conceal anything that is bad because we want to re-brand Nigeria. We should also not forget that those films are not meant for international markets alone. They are also meant for us. Must we run away from telling ourselves the truth? If we are re-branding Nigeria, we should also tell ourselves the facts irrespective of our status. Democracy has helped people in government to know that films are vehicles that can drive home any point. Lots of government agencies have employed the services of our people to use films to propagate issues because they know that we are closer to the people and people listen to us.
We now have some of the movie practitioners in government.
I am also going into politics.
But, you once told us that you would not do anything aside acting because acting is your life. Are you planning to abandon acting?
No, by going into politics, I am going on vacation. Going into politics doesn’t stop me from participating in the entertainment industry. It will just be a vacation because I will still come back into acting.
Which of the offices are you vying for?
I will tell you that later because I am still strategising. We artistes are needed in politics because we are well experienced and we know the intricacies of it. We know the implications of doing bad and we know that there are great rewards in giving dividends of democracy to the people. Our participation in every aspect of life is very important. We have a duty to the people because politics is the reality in acting. To come out of politics can never be hard for me because I am not going into politics because of money; rather I am going to serve. To me, politics is secondary while acting is my primary assignment.
As a prince of Lagos, one would have expected you to be eyeing the throne instead of going into politics.
It is only a foolish prince that will be thinking of ascending a throne that is not vacant. We have an Oba we are all praying for to live long because he is still young, though older than me. If he gets to the age someone like me is praying for, definitely I can never be installed because by then I would be so old and I don’t want to be a monarch in my old age.
Police authorities recently warned movie practitioners not to portray the police in bad light again. They even vowed to sanction any errant movie practitioner. How would you react to that warning?
They have their duties while we also have ours. There are some areas we will make adjustments but they don’t have to dish out things to us. We are not portraying them in bad light; rather we are reporting happenings in the society. We have a duty to mirror the society and checkmate everybody.