T
he Nigerian film industry
(Nollywood) is recognized as
the second largest in the world in
terms of volume of production. A
major employer of labor, Nollywood
contributed 2.3% to Nigeria’s GDP in
2016. While the industry has made
tremendous progress over the years,
challenges like financing, lack of
infrastructure, piracy and copyright
violations among others, continue to
hinder the industry from competing
globally in terms of profitability. The
U.S. Mission to Nigeria in the last
couple of years has supported Nigeria’s
vibrant film community through
capacity building workshops. One of
the vehicles it has used is the American
Film Showcase (AFS). Now in its sixth
year (and second year in Nigeria), the
AFS, a partnership between the U.S.
Department of State and the University
of Southern California School of
Cinematic Arts (USC), is designed to
bring award-wining contemporary
American documentaries, independent
fiction films, and documentary know-
how to audiences around the world.
Last year has been an exciting journey
learning about Nigeria’s film industry,
forging collaborations through various
interactions, and demonstrating the
power of film as a catalyst for social
change.
Hollywood Meets Nollywood
In late 2017 and early 2018, U.S.
Embassy Abuja invited three
filmmakers to Nigeria to participate in
a series of capacity building workshops
and film screenings. Film producer
Kathlyn Horan, Academy Award-
winning documentary film editor Doug
Blush, and television screenwriter
and community organizer Angelina
Burnett travelled to Nigeria in October,
December, and March respectively
hosting workshops, film screenings,
and meeting with filmmakers in Abuja,
Nasarawa, Jos, and Lagos.
Fall is for Film Festivals
Four AFS documentary films featured
in the 2017 Abuja International Film
Festival in October. The four titles: The
IF project, Class Divide, Fastball, High
School 9-1-1, which cut across sports,
education, and citizen engagement,
captured the theme of the festival:
Film as a Tool for National Security and
Patriotism. U.S. independent filmmaker
Kathlyn Horan also hosted a two-day
masterclass workshop on commercial
production and self-financing for
nearly 200 filmmakers and film
enthusiasts.
Similarly, the Embassy supported
the 2017 African International Film
Festival (AFRIFF) in Lagos. Veteran
American lighting designer Christian
Epps hosted a two-day masterclass
workshop on lighting design for
industry professionals. Four AFS
documentary films: She Started It, Class
Divide and Dream, Girl were screened
at the festival, while a special screening
of The IF Project was hosted by U.S.
Consul General John Bray.
We also supported the Tamerri
Festival, Abuja’s most prominent
music, arts, and cultural festival, held
from November 30 - December 2,
2017. Following in the theme of the
festival “Earth Made,” the Embassy
screened AFS short documentary film
Smoke That Travels which explores
a personal story of preservation and
loss of culture as told by the Native
American filmmaker Kayla Briët.
Capacity Building Masterclass
Workshops
Last year, we rekindled our relationship
with the Nigerian Film Corporation,
the regulatory body for filmmaking
in Nigeria and through this renewed
partnership we are committed to
building the capacity of students at
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