NOLLYWOOD: CNN meets Nigerian filmmakers

The latest episode of Marketplace Africa, CNN international has beamed its searchlight on two Nigerian filmmakers who hope to leave behind the usual stereotypes created by Nollywood.

Rising from the success of Marvel’s Black Panther which has become one of the highest grossing superhero movies of all time, many industry experts believe the African film industry now has an opportunity to prosper and gain more confidence and so does Nigerian filmmaker C.J Obasi.

His latest film, Hello Rain, is classified as a science fiction movie which is a far cry from Nollywood. Although Obasi understands the popularity of Nollywood, the director strongly believes it shouldn’t define the Nigerian film industry: “I don’t think it should be the definition of an entire industry. I think it should be the definition of a certain kind of film. It should just be Nigerian film or Nigerian cinema just like any other film that comes out of America is American cinema.”

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Obasi also talks about the new breed of Nollywood filmmakers; “When you think about the Nigerian film industry you automatically think about Nollywood… a certain style of film, a certain genre of film, a certain aesthetic that is associated with Nigerian filmmaking but then there is a new breed of filmmaker… who want to tell new stories, make new films and really explore genres [of] filmmaking in a way that hasn’t necessarily been seen.”

On her part, Jane Maduegbuna, Executive Director of Afrinolly, sympathises with desires of new filmmakers, she argues money is necessary for change. When speaking to CNN, Maduegbuna said: “It will always be about the money for us here because we don’t have enough cinemas, we don’t have enough outlets, it’s always going to be how you get great content for less money and then get it out to as many people as you can.”

Despite suggestions that there aren’t the financial capabilities to produce better quality films, Maduegbuna praises the next generation of Nigerians who are eager for success: “I met a lot of people talking about improving production quality, bringing in great equipment, training younger people because older people are somewhat set in their ways, but the younger people are very hungry for success.”

 

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