Nigeria, South Africa sign audio-visual cooperation agreement

A major step towards the actualisation of a co-production treaty between Nigeria and South Africa was taken penultimate week in Durban, South Africa during the recently held Durban Filmmart (DFM). The Filmmart held on the sidelines of the annual Durban International Film Festival (DIFF).

The step – the unveiling of the Co-Production Procedure and Practice Handbook to service the Nigeria-South Africa Audio-Visual Cooperation Agreement is a product of a Cooperation Agreement between Nigeria and South Africa signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and Cyril Ramaphosa during the 10th Session of the Bi-National Commission held from November 26 – 28 2021, in Abuja, Nigeria.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony during the Nigeria Co-production and Cooperation Session at the Durban Filmmart, Dr. Chidia Maduekwe, NFC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive, stated the imperatives of the Co-Production Procedure and Practice Handbook, which as he said outlines the basic guidelines and requirements for co-production engagements between Nigeria and South Africa Film Stakeholders.

“The Handbook is to aid joint/collaborative film projects seamlessly. This event is indicative of Nigeria’s unwavering commitment towards the full activation of the Nigeria – South Africa Audio-visual Cooperation,” he said, adding that the long journey characterised by several domestic and inter-country engagements by supervisory government ministries, departments, audio-visual stakeholders as well as the implementation agencies of both countries – that is, the Nigerian Film Corporation, Nigeria, and the National Film and Video Foundation, South Africa, has made the dream of promoting cross border film production activities a reality.

Dr. Maduekwe further assured that the NFC and NFVF, as implementation agencies for the Audio-Visual Cooperation Agreement, are ready for its full activation and called on Nigerian filmmakers to take advantage of the huge cross border investment opportunities thereof.

Meanwhile, South African government agencies, as well as film and television production studios – including Stained Glass Studios; Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and several others – have indicated their interest to utilise the Audio-Visual Cooperation Agreement and invest in the development of Nigeria’s film industry, especially the establishment of cottage viewing cinemas across the 774 local council areas of the country in partnership with the NFC.

In addition to its commitment and desire to partner on film infrastructure development in Nigeria, ECDC’s Senior Manager, Export Promotions, Mr. Phakamisa George, at a meeting with the NFC MD, assured that the ECDC was ready to undertake the planned community viewing entrepreneurial hub development centres – CVEH, beginning with about 300 – 500 every year, if there are willing location providers nationwide, in line with the exhibition and distribution mandates of the NFC under the ICRC guidelines; as well as the provision of low funding and grants for co-production.

Stained Glass Studios (Film & Television), producers of current and longest running television series in South Africa – UZALO, has equally offered to partner with Nigerian filmmakers, as well as production companies wishing to shoot in Durban. Stained Glass Studios has also offered to undertake some of the Film Production Master Classes of Zuma Film Festival, 2023, scheduled to hold from December 1 – 10 in Abuja.