The film industry is a global, multi-billion dollar sector encompassing the creation, production, distribution, and exhibition of movies, involving diverse roles from actors and directors to technicians.
In Enugu, the Enugu State capital, two major groups of Nigerian film makers in collaboration with an art gallery, last Sunday, rekindled the hope of the people of South East geo-political zone in having a rejuvenated entertainment industry. It was accompanied with glitz and glamour as the audience was thrilled all through the sensitization.
The filmmakers who organised the event are: Afrochives studio, Filxax, and the N-gallery.
The event proper kicked off by 6 pm at Plot 685, Valley Crescent, Independence Layout, right in the highbrow of the Coal City with exchange of pleasantries by the audience and the organisers.
The speakers dwelt on key areas which included filmmaking (scripting, shooting, editing), distribution (theaters, home entertainment, streaming), and related businesses, with recent trends showing growth but also challenges like AI’s impact and changing consumption habits.
Adachukwu Onwudiwe of Afrochives Studio, Enugu explained the essence of the film collective, saying, “It is a gathering of filmmakers and people who generally love film. It is all about celebrating cinema, watching it, debating on it, criticising and learning and collaborating with each other.
“We want a community where Southeast film makers showcase their films to audience and get feedback. Apart from Southeast filmmakers, others can showcase, connect with our audience, get feedback.
“We are looking for a way to collaborate with the government and create opportunity to work with them. We have the national sports festival coming up in Enugu, and filmmaking is one of the aspects. The fact that someone is putting a camera and there is a commentator, that is filmmaking.”
Still on the film collective event, Onwudiwe said, “This is huge and it’s been a long time we kept talking, let’s do this, let’s bring the community together and having these people here is heart warming, people that are interested in films. The people here, 80% of them are not filmmakers, they came out because they enjoy film and they want to have discussion on how films are made.
“I am 100% satisfied with the outcome of the meeting. I also charge my colleagues on the need to work together. There are festivals that we have here in Enugu and no one should be scared to collaborate. We need more studios than individuals. We need more structures because that is how we are going to be better.”
Creative Lead, Afrochives Studio, Mr Toochi Gabriel, corroborated with the assertions of Onwudiwe on the agenda of film collective, saying it a forum of filmmakers where they tell their stories.
“It is a place for us not to be afraid of. Every era there is a new film, movement in every part of the world, so we are trying to have our own. Many of us that went into Tech because of movie and games we played. There are alot of films that are in history and can equally pass the message. Film can be a tool of propaganda”, he said.
On the challenges facing film industry in the zone, Gabriel said, “There are times getting the right people to do the right films is difficult. We need people that can do the right films. We do not have school film here too. There alot of resources in internet. Today, your phone can shoot. For us, it is challenging but the most important is the ability to tinker with these.”
Gabriel also noted that film is not growing in the Southeast because many people do not like to build in the zone.
“You will always build when you have fund. In film, you need direct investment. If you can get that investment, good then you can actually shoot here in Enugu.
Chucks Edeoga of Flixax Studio and Sunday Chukwu of N-Gallery, jointly gave synopsis of the film collective, saying, “Ekiri Film Collective is a new platform committed to celebrating, promoting, and showcasing African cinema, with a special focus on filmmakers from Eastern Nigeria. Founded through the collaboration of Afrochives Studio, Flixax Studio, and N-Gallery, the collective brings together filmmakers, storytellers, and audiences to engage with films that reflect the rich diversity and creativity of the continent.
“Our mission is to create a space where emerging and established filmmakers can showcase their work, experiment with new ideas, and connect with communities both locally and globally.”
In his reaction, one of the participants who gave his name as Nnamdi Chukwuma, a graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) said he enjoyed his stay at the event, agreeing that film can influence people.
“I will go home and watch more films and try to make my own,” he added.
The high points of the event were showcasing amazing works of art and providing a glimpse into movies. The films screened are
“Precognition and Journeys of singlesness”. Guests savoured the delicious taste of Abacha and Zobo, local delicacies.
