Etim-Effiong hosts stakeholders ahead of culture, film festival

Ahead of Essence Festival of Culture set to hold in New Orleans, Louisiana and with Nigeria Day billed for July 1st, That Good Media has hosted a Nollywood forum at 1952 Africa in the heart of Lekki, Lagos on its partnership to lead a delegation of Nollywood’s stakeholders to the United States.

Founded by Toyosi Etim-Effiong, the event was graced with media personalities, including Shaffy Bello, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Mofe Duncan, Shawn Faqua, BamBam, Tola Odunsi and Erica Nlewedim, with representatives of companies like Inkblot Productions, FilmOne Studios and Dabz Productions.

During the forum, Director & Event Lead, Essence Film Festival, Lamonia Deanne Brown said: “Nigeria Day is Saturday July 1st. The entire Nigeria Day will be dedicated to filmmakers, storytellers, people who help with funding, producers, actors and everyone who makes the whole Nigeria film industry what it is today. ”

This year, for the first time in its history, the Essence Festival of Culture will include an Africa House. Among what will be featured at the event are panel sessions on ‘Creating and Promoting Globally relatable Content’ as well as movie screenings that highlight the Nigerian film industry and provide stakeholders with an opportunity to network with global counterparts.

Etim-Effiong highlighted her passion for Nollywood and interest in seeing it grow into an industry that is well-connected and ranked with its global counterparts. “Nollywood and Afrobeats are of the same mother and father. Nollywood cannot be the child that does not make it.”

The Essence Festival is an annual event that celebrates African-American culture and music and attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees from all over the world. The festival features a range of activities, including musical performances, panel discussions, and cultural events. First held in 1995, it has since become one of the largest events of its kind in the United States of America.