Nigeria to partner Japan, France, to develop film industry

There is some good news for Nigerian filmmakers coming from the ongoing Animated Film Festival, which is being organised by the Japanese and French Embassies in Abuja.

At the well-attended event graced by personalities in the Nigerian film and entertainment industries, the Federal Government expressed its intention to partner with Japan and France to develop the Nigerian film industry through animated movies.

In his welcome address, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, lauded the efforts of Nigerian filmmakers who have continued to churn out world-class productions despite the limited resources at their disposal.

“What we have seen here is another genre of movie making and I am sure we will be able to partner with the Japanese and French embassies for capacity building for our movie industry,” he said.

“We agreed to work together because the Japanese are developing this animation industry quite tremendously and they promised to partner with us again in capacity building. With technology in the movie industry, the potentials are limitless.”

Commenting on the partnership between Nigeria and France film industries, the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Denys Guaer, said, “Animated film is well developed in many parts of the world and that is why we organised this festival in conjunction with Japanese Embassy, bringing Japanese and French production and screening them here in Abuja.”

“So, you see how important it has become even for the image of modernity and of creativity of a country and at the same time, it is a business. It brings in money and there is a new market to occupy in Nigeria; that is why we want to make it more visible and cooperate to develop that segment in Nigeria.”

As the Animated film festival draws to a close today, a number of French, Japanese and Nigerian animated films will be screened to a teeming audience.