Filmmaker Urges Youths To Embrace Opportunities In Nollywood For Self-reliance

By Joshua Olomu

Ace filmmaker and co-founder of Fenmore Studious, Allen Agozie,  has urged teeming unemployed youths to embrace opportunities that abound in the Nigerian film industry in order to become self-employed.

Agozie made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the maiden edition of the Fenmore Film Festival on Saturday in Abuja.

The one-day film fiesta, organised by Fenmore Studious in collaboration with the French Institute, had in attendance industry stakeholders, young filmmakers and film enthusiasts drawn from different parts of the country.

He said that as Nigerian youths grappled with unemployment, the film industry was a viable option that could create jobs and make people self-employed if only the youths could tap into it.

Agozie said that a lot of opportunities were available both before and behind the camera for creative and talented young Nigerians whole may want to venture into the motion picture industry.

“There are opportunities for every passionate and talented youth out there in the industry; from acting to cinematography, script writing, costume design and many more.

“A lot of Hollywood films are being made with millions and millions of dollars and that is because they think it is an industry worth investing in, and Nollywood actually has the same potential.

“So, what we really need to do is to start telling our own stories very well, genuine stories that a lot of people will be interested to take and make bigger on larger scale.

“That is   when the money and employment will come; and   the industry is definitely worth investing in your time, talent and money.’’

Agozie  said that  as  Nigeria faced  economic challenges and sought to diversify its revenue mainstay , its rich  culture and creative sector  was a veritable alternative, if well harnessed.

He e urged government at all levels to make the sector attractive to creative young Nigerians by providing necessary support in form of funding and capacity building.

According to him, the film festive is an initiative to offer young filmmakers   a platform to showcase their talents and creativity.

“As a production company, Fenmore  Studio decided to organise this film festival  in collaboration with the French Institute to celebrate  short films and young filmmakers who are  trying to tell our stories..

“The aim of  Fenmore Film Festival is to  give them a platform to showcase their works and encourage them that they can be genuine and tell original humane stories.

“The theme of the festival is ‘Contemporary African Narratives’, which is  about  the new ways of telling African story, and we want to tell our young filmmakers that they can  change the nation through film.

“We selected and exhibited eight films that we believe shows exactly what it means for young filmmakers in this generation to tell the same story that have been told before about society.

“We hope that anyone that attended this festival fall in love with the films, and with this happening in Abuja, youth will join this community of young filmmaker,” he said.

NAN reports that  some of the short films screened at the festival include ‘Swimming in a Sea of Trauma’, `You Matter to Me’, `Boy Meets Girl’, ’Cementary of Doves’, ’Rare Fish’, ’Hanky Panky’,  ‘A Quiet Monday’ among others.(NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo