N3bn grant: Filmmakers demand full involvement
FOLLOWING Federal Government N3 billion proposed grant for the Nigerian motion picture industry, the need, it appears, becomes necessary for filmmakers to be a part of decisions on disbursement modalities. Hence on June 18, 2013 some members of the industry, under the aegis of Nigerian Motion Picture Experts Group (NIMPEG) convened a summit with discussions touching other areas of concern. These include professionalism, code of conduct, broadcast licensing, regulatory agencies, distribution and exhibition of films and audio visual rights society among others.
Following deliberations of the practitioners, the summit observed that the proposed fund is grossly inadequate to reposition the industry. It further observed that the appointment of members of the ministerial committee is undemocratic and does not reflect the wishes and aspirations of the industry.
A communiqué issued at the end of the deliberations stated; “The release of the guidelines for accessing the capacity building fund has no input from the industry and its elected leaders contrary to the agreement reached with the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister for Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
“The guidelines are unprofessional and inconsistent with global best practice. It is an abnormality for Assessors to be anonymous as it denies applicants the opportunity to assess their assessors and where necessary challenge the decision of the board. Additionally some members of the committee have vested interest in training. There is therefore a Conflict of Interest.”
Consequently, it stated, the Summit rejects the guidelines on accessing the three hundred million naira capacity building tranche of the N3b Presidential Intervention fund.
The summit was attended by representatives of the various guilds and associations which include Film & Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Yoruba Film & Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, Motion Picture Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Association of Movie Producers, Association of Nigerian Theatre Practitioners , Screenwriters Guild of Nigeria , Creative Designers Guild of Nigeria , Coalition of Nollywood Guilds and Associations , Nigerian Society of Cinematographers , Nigerian Society of Editors and the Actors Guild of Nigeria.
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What kind of involvement exactly do the movie practitioners want?
The government is carrying members of the movie industry along as much as necessary. I don’t see any reason to cry foul except the movie practitioners have some hidden agenda or pecuniary interests.