Nigerian Film Corp begins Documentation of Guilds in Film Industry

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) said yesterday in Abuja that it had commenced the documentation of film guilds and associations operating in the nation’s movie industry.

The statement by Mr Brian Etuk, NFC’s head, Public Affairs, said all film schools and film academies operating in the country were also to be enlisted in the documentation exercise.

It said all film festivals, festival awards, exhibition and markets were to undergo the documentation process.

It added that the documentation process was scheduled to commence from Wednesday.

The statement explained that the dearth of verifiable information on the film industry informed the reason for the documentation.

It said the exercise would ultimately lead to a robust film industry for Nigeria.

The statement said the documentation would enable film practitioners to have access to funds meant for the sector.

It will also ensure the sustenance of adequate industry support policies by the government for effective intervention in the film sector, it said.

The statement quoted Dr Danjuma Dadu, the Corporation’s Managing Director, as saying that the exercise would focus on those who were eligible to practice in the industry.

“The documentation of guilds and associations will focus on persons or group of persons who are entitled to practice as registered professionals within the Nigerian motion picture industry.

“The list of practitioners at the end of the exercise will be published alongside the recognised guilds and associations,” it said.

The statement said that the entire exercise was meant to provide the needed pathway for the Nigerian film industry to grow.

It decried the non-availability of reliable data on a number of practitioners, film production, investment inflow and job creation emanating from the industry.

The statement further quoted the NFC boss as saying: “The Nigerian film industry is capable of creating over 500,000 direct and indirect jobs annually”.

It said the corporation would also undertake the documentation of the film production studios, sound stages and post-production companies before the end of the year.