NFC challenges the minister on critical film industry policies

The Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has encouraged Ms. Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, to review several important film industry policies that have the potential to strengthen the business.

This information can be found in a statement that its Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Brian Etuk, released on Friday in Abuja.

Etuk claimed that Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, the managing director of NFC, delivered the recommendation in Abuja while presenting Ms. Hannatu Musawa, the minister of arts, culture, and the creative economy, with a catalogue of a film festival.

The policies, according to Maduekwe, would support the industry’s contributions to content production, efficient film distribution, and exhibition.

He continued by saying that the minister should review the National Film Development Fund (NFDF) as well as training and capacity building.

According to Maduekwe, the corporation and the FCTA signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2021 that established Abuja as the official host city and established a 10-year hosting arrangement.

In keeping with best practises around the world, he claims it is only reasonable for Abuja to be appointed the official host city for the film festival. Cities like Cannes, Toronto, Durban, and others come to mind.

The NFC chairman claimed that the NFC Act of 1979 and other rules needed to be reviewed, in addition to the issues facing the film industry that had hindered the sector’s development and growth pace.

He stated that other legislative basis for the Motion Picture Practitioners Council (MOPICON) and this had not been amended once in the previous 44 years.

“The National Film Institute (NFI), Jos has continued to provide training and capacity building for Nigeria in the creation of film and television, including the acquisition of entrepreneurial skills for youths across the country’s geopolitical zones.

“This is accomplished in addition to the Master’s Degree Programme in Film Culture and Archiving Studies through its Mobile Audiovisual Training Platform.

The National Film Video and Sound Archive (NFVSA), which was recently named the nation’s repository for audio-visual legacy, has made progress, the speaker added.

In response, the minister praised the NFC for its numerous accomplishments despite having an out-of-date law.

She acknowledged the vital role that the film industry had played and was still playing in the expansion and improvement of the US economy.

The minister gave NFC the reassurance that the government was committed to ensuring a successful and productive film sector.(NAN)