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Universal Awards Holds November
The second edition of the Nigerian domiciled Universal Movie Awards (UMA) is scheduled to hold in Lagos on November 26.

Founder and President of the yearly international award, Hope Obioma Opara, disclosed that UMA is geared towards presenting a platform through which the Nigerian film industry Nollywood will host filmmakers all over the world.

“The primary vision of UNIMA is to add value and creatively enrich the entertainment industry through excellent work in film and television,” Opara said, adding that the 2022 edition will feature some activities such as workshops, a master class and industry interactive session preceding the awards night.

“The workshops will engage young men and women in more meaningful ways to look inside themselves to rediscover their potential. We are looking forward to having in attendance foreign invitees including members of the diplomatic corps, our Nollywood film industry practitioners and all the nominees in different categories and other local invitees. We also look forward to partnerships with the government and corporate organisations, who can leverage our platform to showcase their products and bring brand loyalty to their organisation.” At the first edition held in 2021, filmmakers from different countries around the globe won awards.

“The movie from Nigeria Voiceless by Robert Peters won the Best picture and best director, others are movies from USA Ghana, Kenya, Cameroun, Brazil, Russia, Zambia and Best TV Commercial Awards,” Opara disclosed, adding, “UMA is currently receiving entries for the different categories of the 2022 edition. The categories are Feature & Short Film. Feature and Short Documentary, Foreign Language & Indigenous Film (Subtitled in English), Best TV Commercial.”  

NIFS Names UK Country Of Honour
THE United Kingdom will be the country of honour at the 2022 edition of the Nigerian International Film and TV Summit (NIFS).

The NIFS is scheduled to hold in Lagos from August 29 through to September 1. As the country of honour, the spotlight will be on the vibrant UK film and media industry.

Founder and CEO of NIFS, Ijeoma Onah, disclosed that the UK Focus, which is supported by the British Film Institute (BFI), is aimed at specifically increasing the level of creative and commercial collaboration between the UK and Nigeria, particularly the Nollywood industry. Onah also mentioned that the special focus would provide an opportunity to increase the visibility of UK film professionals in the Nigerian film industry.

Giving more insight into the spotlight Onah said ‘’the spotlight on the UK will comprise of a series of tailored activities to promote the UK film industry in Nigeria.

The lineup of activities to drive the UK focus and promote the UK as a country of honour will include well-tailored film business panel sessions that will explore the huge potential between the United Kingdom and Nigeria in the film business’’. Onah also said the activities will include a pitching session, scriptwriting workshop and several networking events. Information on the NFIS can be sourced at www.nifsummit.com.

Submissions Open For Creative Producer Indaba
SUBMISSIONS have opened for the second Creative Producer Indaba, the professional development programme offered by the Realness Institute, in partnership with EAVE, International Film Festival Rotterdam’s IFFR Pro, and the Marrakech International Film Festival’s Atlas Workshops.

The Creative Producer Indaba (CPI) offers 15 Producers an opportunity to further develop their producer-related leadership and entrepreneurial proficiencies and build on their creative skills.

“Strong creative producers with connections to international financing serve as engines that can spur local media markets to grow, adapt, and thrive.

Our ultimate aim is to strengthen the pool of capable producers on the continent that can help drive the growth of our respective local markets and to equip these producers with the skills, community, and resources they need to develop and finance our stories,” says Mehret Mandefro, Director of Development and Partnership, Realness Institute. The programme comprises plenary sessions and group work, unpacking successful case studies, and having access to individual meetings with mentors and guest experts.

As this is a producer-facing development programme, the focus will be on project development and planning, financing, legal, PR and marketing, advocacy and lobbying, organizational development, network management, and leadership. 

Kristen Trapp, CEO at EAVE says, “knowledge sharing leads to progress and EAVE is a community committed to sharing experience and expertise in order to sustain and transform the business in a collaborative effort. It is proud to be a partner of Creative Producer Indaba for the second year to help foster a community of strong producers and industry leaders in Africa and build bridges on the continent as well as internationally.” The programme is anchored by two workshops.

Workshop one has online sessions from November 9 to 12, 2022, followed by in-person sessions at Atlas Workshops from November 14 to 17, 2022 during Marrakech International Film Festival. Workshop two has in-person sessions at the International Film Festival Rotterdam from January 26 to February 2, 2023. All details can be found on the Realness Institute website; https://www.realness.institute/creative-producer-indaba.

The deadline for submissions is August 22, 2022, at 17:00 Central African time.