AFRIFF, Ford Foundation sponsor African youths to American Film School

The recipients in a group picture on arrival at the John F Kennedy Airport

A total of 15 young Nigerians are currently at the Montana State University, United States of America for a summer course in filmmaking. Sponsored by the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, the scholarship scheme, which is now in its second year, provides capacity development for young talents in the area of filmmaking.

The beneficiaries, who left Nigeria on Sunday, were selected from the AFRIFF Talent Development Workshops sponsored by Access Bank and Africa Magic at the 2015 edition of the festival, which held in Lagos. The initiative provides beginners and intermediate courses for young people in their choice areas of filmmaking. The scholarship scheme, which is meant to advance the aspirations of these burgeoning talents, is an intensive hands-on training camp on various aspects of filmmaking with emphasis on documentary filmmaking.

Though a total of 20 students qualified for the scholarship, only 15 (13 Nigerians, one Ghanaian and one Rwandan) were granted visas by the American Embassy to attend the training programme. They include Morakinyo Fapohunda from Lagos; Leke Oyeyinka from Ogun State; Kalu Nnamdi Anaga from Enugu; Damian Ashinjo from Benue State; Richard Odilu from Delta State; Tunray Femi from Delta State; Kelechi Nduka from Anambra; Dan Ikpoyi from Delta State; Osei Owusu Banahene from Ghana; Adebusola Adeboyejo from Ondo State; Kenechukwu Nwatu from Enugu; Alero Okorodus from Lagos State; Joy Igbe from Benue State, Susan Akalazu from Imo State, and Vanessa Uwase from Rwanda.

Ford Foundation has often expressed how their organisation’s vision and support for creative talent fits into AFRIFF’s capacity development for the Nigerian film industry, hence the partnership. Also in the partnership is Arik Air, Montana State University and Africa Magic.

Last year, the scheme had a total of 35 participants; 15 young film students, selected by AFRIFF for the Ford Foundation scholarship, and 20 upcoming filmmakers, who attended first-hand training at Relativity School, Los Angeles.

Mr. Paul Nwulu, Programmes Officer for Ford Foundation said his agency is excited about the scheme, saying they already had proposals for 10 of the 15 guys, who made the training last year. According to Nwulu, the choice of Montana State University was strategy owing to the quality of training they offer.

For Founder/CEO of AFRIFF, Ms Chioma Ude, the scholarship is one in a series of other talent development initiatives of the six-year-old festival. The skill acquisition and youth development initiative, according to Ude, was designed to use filmmaking as an authentic vehicle for youth empowerment.

AFRIFF’s vision is to raise awareness about African cinema, its vast potential and the tremendous socio-economic impact of creative professionals on the African continent.