Last week, Moviedom teamed up with some leaders
practitioners in Nollywood to take stock of how movies are in 2022 and hopes for 2023. Here are the opinions of the last practitioners interviewed
Filmmaker, Administrator and Festival Organizer Mykel Parish Ajaere Award-Winning Actor Segun Arinze: ‘Nollywood economic scale to be expanded in 2022’.
By the end of 2022, many high-budget and well-produced movies have been produced and released in Nigeria, mostly by new young filmmakers, thus expanding the economic scale of Nollywood. Some streaming platforms provide commercial value to the film industry and earn good money for producers and distributors. The year 2022 is perfect for Nollywood; filmmakers made real deals, actors earned more and local crews worked in collaboration in various productions on a larger scale. Cinema owners and producers have even succeeded in attracting large audiences back to cinemas to see big-budget films, homegrown films, sequels, remakes, and even animated films. We even had the important release of the first Nollywood film in the US and more participation in international film festivals. This year 2023, is off to a great start with Nigerian movies to be screened at the Sundance film festival and various deals for stakeholders. I believe 2023 will be one of the most successful years for the Nigerian movie industry.
Film Producer Emem Isong ”Nollywood Will Bring Imperialist Influence On Local African Filmmaking In 2023”
Nollywood is doing great in 2022 in my opinion. We are witnessing better production quality, great stories and more global recognition. There is also a wonderful representation of women and female writers that I am very proud of. By 2023, I see Nollywood fully embracing imperialist influence in local African filmmaking. I also see the rise of indigenous films on African oral and cultural stories told more with better production values. I see Nollywood that preserves and African identity in the midst of a global environment that is increasingly hybrid due to today’s digitization operations and I see Nollywood fully as a ‘home grown’ industry in the sense of transnational Cinema.
Former President of the Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP) Alex Eyengho: ”The National Assembly must now pass the MOPICON Bill before May 28, 2023”
I believe that Nollywood is moving forward well in 2022, despite the effects of the global crisis, post-COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. Yes, the volume of production is down but the quality of production is also improving in 2022. In 2023, I expect to see more professionalism in the industry regarding the modus operandi of associations, guilds and individual practitioners. Above all, I hope to see the life of the much-delayed but very important Motion Picture Council of Nigeria (MOPICON). I particularly tasked the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to do what he has been saying for almost 8 years now by ensuring that the National Assembly (NASS) now drafts the MOPICON Executive Bill for President Buhari to sign into law before May 28, 2023 If the Minister fails Nollywood in this regard, the industry must take its fate into its own hands by sponsoring the MOPICON document as a Private Bill and push it until the necessary attention is given by NASS now or later. . MOPICON is the only sure way for Nollywood to have a structure that withstands the force of law.
Actor and Producer of the Main Stage and Screen Francis Onwochei: “We need a council of practitioners who can strengthen the loose areas of practice”
2022 brings significant improvement in the Nollywood space post-Covid. We clearly see interest and intervention from streamers especially Netflix and Amazon. This interest generally increases production values in features and series. In addition, DSTV has increased its offer of 260 episodes of television series under various titles and this naturally translates into job creation for the sector. In 2023 there are clear signs that this will not only continue but also increase business across the board. I hope that investors will take advantage of the ever-growing population in Nigeria to increase the cinema screens available to the audience. The government at this time should carefully examine how the policies that have been developed to support the creative industries can be applied. Not only revisiting the National Endowment for the Arts but also policies like the Council of Motion Picture Practitioners that strengthen these areas of practice. I hope that the provisions in the film are reviewed and the cultural policy can start to ask for activation. Finally, the incoming Minister of Information can review the signed agreements that help collaboration for the creative sector.
Prolific Movie Producer Rogers Ofime ”Nollywood must maintain its growth momentum as a collective”
For Nollywood, 2022 is rising. It’s us trying to get it right. There is huge growth in the industry. The industry opens up various streams of expression and understanding of the film and Television business angles. In 2022, Nollywood is experimenting a lot, from talent to technical, genres and pushing the envelope beyond in 2021. It all paid off, not as expected by some or the response it received but it paid off. why we can export our talent all over the world even to Hollywood. There is more collaboration, strategizing, sharing ideas and creative space. Some of us push the envelope, we dare to go into production areas or stories that will rank among world-class film productions. 2023 is a clean slate for Nollywood to build on the success of the past year and maintain the momentum of growth as a collective, diversifying not only in creativity but also in business.
Prolific film producer Ugezu J. Ugezu: ”2023 will be a year of consolidation for the industry”
The Nollywood industry has been doing very well because despite the limitations faced by producers due to the lack of a reliable functional system to support small businesses, individual financiers are able to maintain the Nigerian flag in the global space. Actually, Nollywood has managed to divert global attention to our industry, and that is why all major distribution companies are showing interest in Nollywood. By 2023, I expect that Nollywood filmmakers should be able to put aside their differences, and develop a joint distribution strategy that will ensure a return on investment for investors and huge profits for the producers and executives.