Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has announced his commitment to helping filmmakers produce films capable of competing at global standards. He also promised $35,000 prize for the upcoming edition of the Edo State International Film Festival (ESIFF).
At an industry mixer organised by Edo Creative Hub at Eko Hotel in Lagos last Sunday, the governor disclosed his plans to Nollywood’s top stakeholders, explaining: “The strategy is to make sure we develop Edo as a hub for production by making it easy for producers to come and work there — make it more convenient and cost-effective. What do you need as a producer? You need talent, and to be able to manage your costs”.
The industry mixer is a prelude to the second edition of ESIFF, which holds from 30th November to 2nd December in Benin City, the state capital.
Hosted by media personality, Osikhena Dirisu (popularly known as Osi Suave), the event brought top Nollywood stars and filmmakers together in celebration of arts, culture, and film. The exclusive guest list included Alibaba, Mary Njoku, Carol King, Victor Sanchez Aghahowa, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Ibrahim Suleiman, Nobert Young, and Teco Benson.
Obaseki further said: “When you come to Edo, we’re training people across the spectrum as cinematographers, sound engineers, and all sub-aspects of production, so that you can find somebody who is experienced and talented enough to support your work”.
The Executive Director of Edo Creative Hub, Violet Okosun emphasised his group’s goal to make an impact on the Nigerian film industry by nurturing local talents and providing opportunities for filmmakers in need of a platform. She said that that mission birthed the first edition of ESIFF in 2022.
She said: “This initiative started in 2021 after the Edo Youth Mega Concert, where the Governor realized the creative industry in Edo State was not really being supported. This birthed the Edo Creative Hub. What we started doing was signing MOUs with external producers to come to Edo to shoot films while also encouraging the local producers to also do that”.
Based on the success of last year’s ESIFF edition, this year’s edition has already attracted more than 3,000 film submissions from 126 countries, with the most entries coming from Nigeria, Iran, India, the United States, and Brazil.
Suleiman, who was unveiled as one of the ambassadors of the festival alongside an actress, Victory Idahosa, spoke on the importance of film in keeping culture alive in today’s society.
The actor said: “One of the things we need to remember is the world is no longer as delineated as it used to be. There’s now a serious merging of culture. We have to do the best that we can to represent our culture in a more modern way that’s easier for the rest of the world to consume”.
