It’s imperative we inculcate moral values in films – Duker

Weekend Magazine: Could you share your experiences being a film producer/director? Fidelis Duker: I have devoted over 20 years of my career as a writer, producer and director having done over 70 films and several other documentaries and TV programmes.  I’ve had my interesting times where I made money from my films and there have […]

Weekend Magazine: Could you share your experiences being a film producer/director?
Fidelis Duker: I have devoted over 20 years of my career as a writer, producer and director having done over 70 films and several other documentaries and TV programmes.  I’ve had my interesting times where I made money from my films and there have been productions I made losses. Other times I’ve had to face the hazards of the job when one of my films landed me in a legal case and I almost lost my life.  But in all, I’ve enjoyed every part of my career to the point that even if I come back to the world, I will return as a producer.   
Nollywood celebrated 20 years of existence not too long ago. What’s your evaluation of the industry thus far?
The industry has grown over the years to a major film industry in the world. The industry has done very well to the point that the quality of films have improved from when we shot ‘Living in bondage’ (1992) to what we see today with the new wave of filmmakers. There has been a positive paradigm shift from what the industry was in 1992. I see the industry growing beyond its present.  There is future as the industry has abundant talents and any sector with talents who are properly harnessed will definitely grow in leaps and bounds. So, I see a bright future where a Nigerian film or filmmaker in five years will win the Oscars in one category.
There have been a lot of collaborations between Nollywood and Hollywood. What impact have they had on the industry?
It will bring out positive impacts, because collaborations are a major driving force for any growing industry to progress.  Co-productions with Hollywood will simply make Nollywood grow, because Hollywood is already an established industry that if properly tapped into will induce Nollywood’s growth.
What did it feel like celebrating AIFF at ten?
It’s a pleasant experience to know that a film festival that started as an infant has grown to be a major film festival on the African continent with patronage from filmmakers across the globe.   Ten years down the line, there is this nostalgic feeling that we are not where we were when the festival held in 2004. Abuja had no cinemas. Today, there are more than two complexes with over 20 screens showing both local and foreign films.
Then, younger filmmakers with short films and documentaries had no platforms to screen, but today we can comfortably say the festival has encouraged the production of such genre of films with close to 30 Nigerian documentaries. It was a feeling of fulfillment seeing your colleagues in their numbers travelling long distances to support you and believe in what you are doing.
How did the AIFF came about?
It was due to the lacuna in Nigeria’s festival circuit. Before the AIFF, there were no film festivals in Nigeria. We felt there was need to bridge this gap especially with the yearning of young and established filmmakers to express their creative talents in a very conducive environment where creative excellence is exhibited and rewarded.
The National Film Festival had a ten-year gap between its two editions in 1992 and 2002 in Lagos. No growing industry will wait ten years to hold a second edition of the film festival. The  AIFF began with two others: Ebiere Ajibola Bodude and my wife, Temitope Duker, who remain its foundation team.
I also felt there was a need for the industry to have a platform where filmmakers and stakeholders meet, discuss and network. Interestingly, since then we are proud to say there are several film festivals which have emerged since then like Zuma Film Festival, which replaced the National Film Festival, AFRIF, LIFF and LEAP.
It is also important that today the AIFF has come to be known as the longest running film festival in Anglophone West Africa.
What were your expectations when you started?
To a large extent, they’ve not been completely met, although we can say we are moving towards our Eldorado. We look forward to the festival being so big that it will attract as many as 50,000 guests so that it is a part of the industry as we see with the Cannes Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival.
We’re very optimistic it will grow more to our expectations and I can confidently say we will begin to contribute to the country’s GDP and the FCT economy. We are very expectant it will become the biggest film festival in Africa and one of the biggests in the world.
Interestingly, we rank among the top five film festivals in Africa based on quality service delivery which the AIFF has become known for. In Nigeria, we’re the number one film festival in consistency and integrity.
How much has the public and private sectors supported the initiative?
Not encouraging, because as a film festival we expected that at 10, it should attract qualitative support from government in terms of institutional support.
The festival has grown to a point where government can prepare the enabling framework to aid private sector involvement.  But as we groan under the economic challenges of running it, we must say that there are some government agencies like the Censors Board, Film Corporation and National Broadcasting Commission who have supported us over the years, but we expect more of such support which will aid the support from the private sector.
On our part, we have identified the important role government can play in developing the film festival and as such we have decided to chart a new strategy of how the film festival will take shape from next year. So, as a way forward we have decided to engage the relevant government agencies early with a view to creating the required synergy to develop and build the Festival to an enviable position.
Does the AIFF rival the Zuma Film Festival?
There is no rivalry, because we are both working at developing the industry together. The Abuja Film Festival is a clearly defined international film festival with well-defined objectives and programmes tailored to developing the industry. We see Zuma and other film festivals in Nigeria as partners in progress. Ironically, all the festival organizers and events have a working relationship and that’s why we all attend our different events.  So, the mention of Zuma is nothing to worry about as there are over 20 other film festivals scattered around the country with which we have been able to create a working relationship.
What’s the most challenging part of your job?
All parts of my job come with their different challenges and as such I take them as they come. I won’t ascribe to any one as being the most challenging.  When I’m producing, directing or running the festival, the result is to surmount the challenges and get the job going. 
But for film, what else would you have been doing?
I would have loved to chart a career in Law if I wasn’t in film and I haven’t forgotten the idea of pursuing a Law degree in future.
What would you describe as the high point of your career?
I am yet to attain that high point, because I see my career as work in progress. Any new project comes with its achievement, success and of course challenges. I’d rather say I am confident I’ve achieved several successes either through the several awards I have won during my entire career in the last 24 years.
Which is the most difficult film you’ve been involved in?
All my films come with their different challenges. When I shot ‘King of money’ (1999), it came with its attendant challenges which were different from the creative challenges in ‘Not my will’ (1996), or what I encountered when I filmed ‘Senseless’ (2007). So you will realize that as a filmmaker you cannot really chose the challenges of one film over other. 
What projects are you working on at the moment?
I am working on a new film for later in the year which is my next project after my last film ‘Senseless’. I intend for this new project to not only have national appeal, but also seek to promote Nigeria’s tourism and culture because this is one area lacking in most of our films. It is imperative that we inculcate moral values. Another area I am working on is expanding my film training institute, because I think it’s important I build capacity for the industry by getting the younger generation to get the required training. So the Pan African Film Academy will be given the required attention in the next couple of months.