40 Nollywood stars to get N150 million grant, Okonjo-Iweala says

The 40 have been chosen and the money being processed.

The Nigerian government on Wednesday said it awarded various grants to 40 Nollywood stars operating in the country’s film industry under the recently launched Capacity Training Fund of the Presidential Intervention scheme called “Project ACT Nollywood.”

The training portion of the Capacity Building Fund valued at about N150 million is dedicated to training and skill acquisition for Nigerian movie practitioners in all competencies along the value chain of Nigeria’s movie industry.

The training programme covers scriptwriting, directing, film production and production design, special effects, lighting, sound effect, HD techniques, acting, cinematography, make-up, editing, etc.

The Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Paul Nwabuikwu, said beneficiaries of the grant emerged after the applications submitted by the practitioners were processed  and found to have met the qualification for the training and skills acquisition programme

The grants, which are currently being processed, would enable the practitioners receive high quality training in accredited institutions to improve their competencies in various areas of film craft.

She said another N150 million has been set aside as grants to existing Nigerian-owned private institutes that offer training courses, programmes and technical certification in the movie industry.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed satisfaction with the development and appealed to individuals or more applications from qualified practitioners.

“The objective of ACT Nollywood is to help the industry to make further progress on a more solid foundation,” the minister said, adding that this was in line with President Jonathan’s vision for the industry.

The minister said, however, that more practitioners need to come forward and take advantage of the opportunity.

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala announced the take off of Project ACT Nollywood, the Film Production Fund, saying interested applicants should visit the website, www.projectactnollywod.com.ng. She added that more qualified practitioners need to apply from different parts of the country.

She said the rate of applications from the north has been particularly low; pointing out that the project was for the whole movie industry.

The Film Production Fund, FPF, valued at about N700 million, is an instrument through which grants are given to production companies and independent producers for the making of commercially viable films at any stage of production.

The stages include Pre-production (scripting, budgeting, location, cast and crew); production (shooting, film set); post-production (editing, sound, and graphics); and marketing/distribution/exhibition (selling the movie to audiences)

The minister said the FPF would contribute to commercially viable film projects with grants of up to N10 million, adding that a number of medium budget film projects would be considered for a higher grant contribution.

She said funds were used to subsidize pre-production, production or post-production costs of films, adding that in making these grants the initiative supports the further development of the Nollywood film industry and filmmaking talent.

“Eligible formats include feature films, documentaries, animation, short films, TV formats. Movies may be in English or from any of the three main regional genres; a limited number of films in other indigenous languages may be considered,” she said, adding that to qualify, movie projects must have national and international appeal.