Afolayan storms Tokyo

The film festival billed to take place between today and 23, 2013, ecpectedly screened ‘Phone Swap’ yesterday and today at the Auditorium Shibuya, Tokyo. In recognition of his immense contributions and recognition of his works, the award winning filmmaker will be hosted to a dinner by the Nigerian High Commission in Tokyo on the day the […]

The film festival billed to take place between today and 23, 2013, ecpectedly screened ‘Phone Swap’ yesterday and today at the Auditorium Shibuya, Tokyo.
 In recognition of his immense contributions and recognition of his works, the award winning filmmaker will be hosted to a dinner by the Nigerian High Commission in Tokyo on the day the festival opens.
The organizers of the festival who said it is aimed at introducing African films by African directors, producers, for cultural exchange between Africa and Japan, has also lined up activities for Afolayan and these include a short speech as a filmmaker and curator, his perspectives on Nigerian film on the opening night and back to back interviews with major newspapers and the nation’s television station, NHK, transmitting to both domestic and global audiences.
The organizers of the event Weekend Entertainment that “we can see many films focusing on Africa, or filmed in Africa, but what we want to bring to you is the true voice of Africa, and not the films about Africa made in Hollywood or western media. Therefore, we basically introduce African films made by African filmmakers/producers through their own perspectives, which is the only way for us to learn about them. We cannot just wait for major film festivals in Europe or the United States to make their own pick of ‘best’ African films.
“We would like to tell Japanese people what we found in Africa. We try to go as many times as possible to Africa to attend African film festivals, held in Africa to see with our own eyes and collect the latest films.”
  Afolayan said  “it is no doubt another groundbreaking opportunity to showcase and promote African cinemas to the Asian world. It will also afford many people to have a direct experience of cinemas in Africa, made by Africans and understand our stories as told by us. Africa and Africans can no longer allow their stories to be told from Hollywood’s perspectives or other’s eyes.
Afolayan also commended the support of the Presidency and the Lagos State Government for providing the necessary logistics to the festival.
He is also billed to leave Tokyo for Paris to attend the Nollywood Festival in Paris where ‘Phone Swap’would also be screened. The Cinema Africa is supported by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.