Telling our stories positively Remarks By ORONTO N. DOUGLAS

Special Adviser to the President on Research, Documentation and Strategy at the closing ceremony of the 4^th Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), at Tinapa, Calabar, Cross River State, on Saturday, 15^th November, 2014.

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It is my pleasure to be here with you all at this Closing Ceremony of the fourth Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF). The constellation of the stars of the screen from Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora here this evening, is quite breathtaking. Equally impressive is the fact that the festival is holding for the second time in the historic city of Calabar, at Tinapa – a place purpose built to propagate the glory of film. It makes me feel that, indeed, film has come home.

The Nigerian Film Industry, popularly called Nollywood, has come a long way in its two decades of existence to become the second largest in the world. It has held up a mirror to Nigerian society, one in which we can look at ourselves and reflect about the issues that affect our lives. Film has projected the image of Nigeria and Nigerians to the outside world in a way that corrects the single narrative of negativity that may proliferate in the international news networks. Our beloved film industry has been a major employer of labour and has provided new vistas of opportunity for our teeming youths; while contributing its quota to the economic resurgence of our great country, Nigeria.

Furthermore, the Nigerian Film Industry comes with a Star System, creating luminous icons – new heroes in the Nigerian Story. Thanks to Nollywood, the likes of Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Segun Arinze, Genevieve Nnaji, Rita Dominic, Jide Kosoko, Patience Ozokwor, Funke Akindele and Aki & Pawpaw – are household names in this country and beyond our shores.

In recent years, the focus has moved from producing films in the cheapest, quickest ways possible for instant financial turnaround in the shortest time. Increasingly, the emphasis has moved towards the need to produce highly artistic films that will endure – of international standard, employing the latest technology and expertise. Film festivals have been an important part of this renaissance in the Nigerian movie industry, while facilitating an important dialogue and sharing of ideas between filmmakers across the African continent. And as film festivals go, AFRIFF is well on its way to becoming the one to beat.

I am very proud to be a patron of AFRIFF, an indispensible film festival whose vision is the raising of awareness about the role that African Cinema can play in the realization of positive change in society. I note that ‘Africa Unites’ is the theme of this year’s festival. Among the exciting programme this year are films and documentaries from Algeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Botswana – alongside bold, new Nigerian features including: ‘Dazzling Mirage’, ‘October 1’ and ‘Invasion 1897’. Ladies and gentlemen, I am confident that the discussions and ideas that will move film industries in Nigeria and Africa to the next level, have been shared here in Tinapa during this festival.

However, you will agree with me that there is still much to do, in order to tell our stories effectively through the moving image. Film is a powerful medium. One of the reasons America is great, is its film industry, Hollywood. Through its movies, the United States of America promotes its culture in all its diversity, nuance and richness. It emblazons its own narratives, its own view of the world, its model of society – and by so doing, the American nation has dominated the planet.

Nigerian and African filmmakers must therefore take up the challenge by promoting irresistible images of our societies on the screen, to show that our stories are also important, and also valid. We need more biopics on the heroes whose exploits have impacted on our societies. We need more films focusing on pivotal episodes in our history. We need more period dramas that examine the past, and more speculative films about the future. We need greater cross-pollination between the art forms. Why, for example, do we not have more film adaptations from the rich literature emanating from our world conquering writers? These are some of the issues I would like our filmmakers to consider, as this year’s festival comes to its glittering close.

Fortunately, we have a government that has demonstrated political will in helping the Nigerian Film Industry to attain greater heights. Not only has President Goodluck Jonathan taken special interest in the development of the industry, he has been walking the talk by providing concrete support through grants and the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) so that the industry can become bigger and better for the benefit of Nigeria, Africa and the world. Evidently, no government has done so much for the industry in the history of Nigeria. This is because President Jonathan believes in the value that it adds to economic and cultural development.

I thank the organizers for a very successful AFRIFF, as we look forward to the next edition. Long live the Nigerian Movie Industry. Long Live African Cinema. Long Live  AFRIFF.

 I thank you all.