43rd IFFI: Nigerian, foreign stakeholders exchange ideas on censorship, distribution of films

From interactions with the organisers of the event, Nigerian delegates were gained new knowledge on censorship measures as obtainable in India. For the Nigerian team which partook of the event, it was more than appreciating the films screened. It was connecting with the Indian film industry as it could be beneficial for Nigeria’s film industry. […]

From interactions with the organisers of the event, Nigerian delegates were gained new knowledge on censorship measures as obtainable in India.

For the Nigerian team which partook of the event, it was more than appreciating the films screened. It was connecting with the Indian film industry as it could be beneficial for Nigeria’s film industry.

In an interactive session with the IFFI Director, Mr. Shankar Mohan, the delegation expressed its intentions to partner with the Indian film industry to establish a similar one in Nigeria.

With Nigeria not yet producing films on celluloid despite its UNESCO rating as the second largest movie industry in the world, Mrs. Fatima Sa’adu, Director Of Operations, Nigeria Films and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) who spoke on behalf of the delegation said it was necessary to collaborate with India to enhance the Nigerian film sector.

Speaking onthe NFVCB’s role in the Nigerian film sector, she said  “as a censorship body, our purpose is to check obscenity and   ensure that nothing stands in the way of the integrity of viewers and the nation at large.” The censorship rules in Nigeria, she said, are similar to what exists in India. “The NFVCB regulates the film business in Nigeria working with distribution and as a licensing body,” she said.

Sa’adu said, “like in India, Nigeria has different languages and cultures. Therefore many of the films are subtitled to allow a wider audience to appreciate them.”

Interacting with Indian film makers, members of the delegation learnt how the Board of Film Certification works in India and how movies are distributed across the country.

Head, Corporate Affairs Department of the Board, Mr. Yunus Abdullahi said it was necessary for Nigeria to be a part of the event. “Being the first time we are attending the Indian Film Festival, it was  a familiarisation tour to see and interact with the another world film super power.

Abdullahi said the NFVCB wanted to see how and what the Indian government’s role is in the development of their local film industry. “I think the trip has been a worthwhile one.”

The ten-day fiesta which began on November 20th and ended on 30th, featured world movies which attracted hundreds of film enthusiasts, critics and stakeholders who flooded the premises of the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), Kala Academy. These included members of the National Film and Video Censors Board, (NFVCB) delegation comprising Mrs. Fatima Sa’adu, Director Of Operations; Mr. Chiedu Okolue, Deputy Director of Operations; Mrs. Olayemi Oyadiran, Deputy Director, Zonal Office;    Dr. Dul Johnson, Film Director and Creative Writer as well as Kannywood producer/actor/director, Hamisu Iyantama.

In different sections and at different times of the day at least 300 movies were screened and were part of the competition. These gave diverse flavours to the outing as viewers got hints of the different cultures of the globe as presented by the film makers.

The IFFI was climaxed with a glamorous closing ceremony where winning films and their creators were awarded prizes at the Kala Academy.