Nollywood Film Festival Germany and its sister event, Nollywood Europe Golden Awards (NFFG/NEGA), got a very big boost during the week when the organisers and patrons of Frankfurt-based Ehizoya Golden Entertainment, led by its founder Isaac Izoya, paid a courtesy call on the Consul General of Nigeria in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Ambassador Wahab A. Akande.
The meeting was to intimate him of plans for the 2022 edition of the festival, the first after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival is themed, unlocking all possibilities.
Flanked by Patron of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment Engr. Imade Iyamu and Head of International Relations, Heidi Ivangs-Kariuki, gave an overview of the activities of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment in the area of culture exposition, music, films and other formats like comedy over the years.
Izoya recalled the first integration shows in Berlin, which brought Nollywood superstars such as Lancelot Imasuen, Ngozi Ezeonu and Empress Njamah to Germany to perform and feature in a movie, Zero Your Mind.
Some Nollywood stars had earlier featured in the first Nollywood film produced in Germany titled, Sinners In The House. Shot in Germany and in Nigeria in 2002, the movie premiered on March 1, 2003, in Berlin, Germany.
Izoya acknowledged the supportive role the Nigerian embassy and consulate have played in the success of the festival, adding that more of such support is expected, especially, in the upcoming event. “There is no way I can forget Nigeria Embassy in Berlin and Consulate in Frankfurt am Main, Germany in all we have done in trying to use cultural activities to cleanse and project Nigeria image here in Europe. We came here today to intimate you of the big plans we have for NFFG/ NEGA 2022 so you can also take it personally and give us maximum support. This edition is very commemorative because it coincides with the 20th anniversary of Ehizoya Golden Entertainment cultural expositions in Germany.”
Responding, Akande, flanked by embassy officials including Head of Chancery Ismail Ahmad, Head of Culture, Education and Information Solomon Enejoh and Head of Trade and Investment Valery Lapang, commended the outfit for the onerous task of laundering Nigeria’s image abroad using films, music and comedy. Ambassador Akande pledged his support for anything capable of projecting Nigeria’s positive image and interest NFFG/NEGA inclusive. The festival will hold from July 29 to 30.
