CFC Hosts Conference on Future of Development Film in Africa

Communicating for Change (CFC) is hosting a conference on the Future of Development Film in Africa, in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (Wipo) in Geneva, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), the Nigerian Film & Video Censorship Board (NFVCB), the Pan African University and Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).

Scheduled to hold from October 13-15, 2008 at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Nigeria; this year’s conference is themed: "Best Practices in the Nigerian Film Industry," and is positioned to provide a professional and legal framework for financiers, small and medium-sized film entertainment businesses, and legal practitioners to expand their network of contacts with international bankers, copyright experts, entertainment investors, Nollywood directors, producers, distributors, as well as with Oscar-winning filmmakers.

The workshop and conference will be attended by leading international and local experts and professionals in the film and music industry, the finance & taxation sectors, from international and government agencies, as well as from the media, including broadcasters and film distributors.

Speakers at the event include Mr. Dele Olojede, Pulitzer Prize winning Journalist & Publisher; Prof. Pat Utomi, celebrated Nigerian finance & management expert; Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, EVC of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Mr. Tunde Kelani, award winning Nigerian filmmaker; Mr. Toyin Zubair of HI TV.

International experts to grace the event include Ms. Andrea Calderwood (UK) - Producer of Oscar winning film Last King of Scotland; Mr. Ezra Doner (US) - international financier working with Miramax Films, Gladden Entertainment, Cinema Group and Paramount Pictures; Rob Aft (US) - experienced Hollywood lawyer and financier, member of the Board of Directors of the American Film Marketing Association, celebrated international speaker on the business of film and film distribution in American Universities (USC, UCLA), the European Union, South American and the Middle-East; Ms. Donna Ghelfi (WIPO Switzerland) - Expert in advising national authorities and professional bodies in using intellectual property in the creative industries as a tool for economic growth, trade and development, including collecting data and developing methodologies for measuring the economic, social and cultural impact of the creative sector and Ms. Marisella Ouma (Kenya) - Expert in Intellectual Property Law; taught Intellectual Property Law at the University of Nairobi, regular contributor to the European Intellectual Property Bulletin.

Papers will be presented on Intellectual Property Rights for Professionals in the Film Industry (2 day workshop), Financing for Long Term Profits, Content Development to win an Oscar, the Fusion of Nigeria’s Creative Industries, among others.

Creating a framework for structured financing of the Nigerian Entertainment Industry by looking at case studies of international entertainment financing deals, principles, pitfalls and potentials; creating a platform where Nigerian films can use creative content development and international co-productions to win major international film awards, and produce media that matters; among others constitute the major objectives of the Future of Development Film in Africa.