Entertainment is a big business and Edo State is investing hugely in the sector to share in the revenue it provides. Little wonder, in 2022, it inaugurated the Edo State International Film Festival. With the modest success it recorded during the first edition, the state government is set to host the second, next month, from November 30 to December 2 in Benin.

The organising committee disclosed that this year’s festival is a gathering of moviemakers, investors, distributors, exhibitors and industry enthusiasts from across the globe.

The festival equally hosts a variety of workshops, master classes and sessions which provides a platform for up skilling delegates and bring them up to speed with the latest trends in the film industry as well as providing resources for thousands of filmmakers and film enthusiasts, networking opportunities and a space to showcase their craft,” the committee said in a statement.

At the maiden event, about 3,820 delegates participated with 1150 movies submitted from 96 countries. This year, 3094 movies had been submitted already from 126 countries with $35,000 prize money at stake for the 19 categories of awards.

“It disclosed that the films launched at the festival last year have continued to gain critical recognition reaching worldwide audiences eager for fresh perspectives and new voices.

Wanting the film festival to be bigger and better each year, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was in Lagos at the weekend to market the festival to players and stakeholders in the creative and entertainment industry.

At the event, he said Edo is working and investing to be the creative hub for West Africa and Africa. He said the yearly film festival is about supporting local filmmakers, creative industry partnerships, global promotion, innovative technology and cultural exchange.

According to him, the state has made huge investment and will continue to invest in the sector because about 68 per cent of the five million residents of Edo State are young people under the age of 30 years, who are very creative. He added that the state understands that it could also use the creative sector to jumpstart its economy.

He maintained that Edo State is ready to host many willing to participate and further invest in the creative industry in the state.

According to him, the state government is not just investing; it is facilitating and providing enabling environment for filmmakers and other creatives to come to the state for productions.

Listing the investment done to promote film production in the state, Obaseki said that a 92ft by 183 ft professional sound stage for films of any kind was built just as the state has developed a high end movie production solution using black magic, Davinci Resolve, which is specifically designed for professional video editing and advance colour grading.

He added that to support theatre practitioners and dancers, a dance studio that is spacious with well equipped facility where dancers of all genres come to perfect their moves and prepare for breathtaking performances had been built.

He also said that a Pavilion, a world-class centre for heritage management, research, and innovation in the heart of the historic city of Benin, Edo State is under works.

He further said that when he came in, he knew that he must fix infrastructure and institutions including those within the entertainment and culture sector, especially if the state must get the best of the sector. He said it is one of the reasons about 2000 fibre optic cables have been laid across the state.

“It has always been about the people. We are in government to secure the people. Education and healthcare are not negotiable. We have to rebuild the education system so that the next generation of people we produce in Edo State can read and write. Agriculture and manufacturing are key for us. The state is rich and endowed

“However, there is something that we have that no one else in Nigeria has as rich as we have it in Edo, which is culture and abundance of creatives. Also, when you talk about African culture today, I think Edo stands out. Globally, the whole discussion about returns of artifacts on the continent centres on Edo. For us, they are symbolic of the people’s creativity, history and culture.

“And for us, the same blood that flows in the people who created those beautiful works then still flows in many people in the state. The issue is how do we utilise the innate creativity in our people to jumpstart our economy? So, that is what this is all about and why we need your support.

“When we talk about culture, we want you to see the culture when you come to Edo State. This means the infrastructure for the creative must be there. So, we decided to redesign our city centre into culture districts and we have created a 13 hectare spot for creative.”

Obaseki noted that some people might argue that these efforts are coming and materialising at the twilight of his administration.

“But it is the culmination of a well thought-out process we started years ago when we came into office. And we understood the crisis we faced as a people, particularly a minority, from a very rich past. Yes, it has been quite a bit of investment that has been made but the bulk of the investment has been in the people”

The governor noted that though the market may not be in Edo, the state government is very optimistic that no matter the number of creative that is groomed in the state, there is market for them outside the state and with technology they need not travel out to push out their contents.

“Entertainment products are quite interesting with technology today. The key is being able to produce or create products that have market acceptability. If you look at Nollyhood, all the production that takes place there, quite a number of it is sold outside of this country. The strategy for us is to be able to develop Edo as a hub for production, make it easy for producers to come work. Make sure it is more convenient and, most cost effective.

“And how do we do that, we just ask what do the producers need; if it is talent, or being to manage their cost. So, when you come to Edo, you should be able to get the needed support. With Edo jobs, we are training people across the spectrum, sound engineers, cinematographers, and in all the sub aspects of production so that at the click of hand, you find somebody who is talented and experienced enough for what you want.

“We are also investing in technology. This is so that when you want to stream your content, you are connected to high speed Internet. The Sir Victor Uwaifo Hub for instance, the light there does not blink, it is 24/7 electricity, because we have a dedicated Independent Power Project (IPP) that supply the facility and anywhere else. So, what we are doing strategically is to focus on those areas that will make it easier for producers to produce their products and works in Edo State.”

Since the governor is leaving next, what is the sustainability plan, Obaseki said: “There are different ways to sustain an idea or a product. First, is the way we have structured it, government has been an enabler so that the industry players can take it on as their own. So what have we done? Somebody used to produce in the Southeast and there is the IPOB crisis and they could not produce. And we said come to Edo State, anything you want that would aid your production, we would give you. And they have started producing and the guys have found their ways around the places and process.