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The 2010
Association of Movie Producers (AMP) Eko International Film Festival
started at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, on Monday, November 22
with the governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, in attendance.

The governor’s
presence seemed a big issue to the filmmakers as they prepped
themselves prior to his arrival. The emcee, actor and TV programme
host, Bimbo Manuel, continuously warned the others to put their mobile
phones on silent or in vibration mode and stop moving about, as Fashola
would soon join them.

Veteran filmmaker,
Eddie Ugbomah, was among those who didn’t heed Manuel’s plea. His Fela
Anikulapo Kuti’s ‘Trouble Sleep’ ring tone startled even him as he
stood beside the governor

Mr Governor, please intervene

AMP president, Paul
Obazele, welcomed guests to the occasion. He disclosed cheekily that he
fasted and prayed for two weeks to be able to see the governor and
invite him. “He is my friend but because of the nature of his job and
demands on him, it is sometimes difficult to reach him,” he said.
Obazele noted that the filmmakers have a cordial relationship with the
Lagos State government but reminded Fashola of some promises he had
made to them earlier.

The AMP president
said they had fulfilled all the conditions demanded by the government,
including having a united house and improving the quality of their
productions. He appealed to the governor to help them combat piracy,
create a fund for filmmakers to draw from and establish neighbourhood
cinemas to show their works. “All of us have invested but have never
reaped the fruit; it’s a monster that is threatening movie producers,”
Obazele said while highlighting the effects of piracy. He also reminded
Fashola of his promise to introduce Cinematography as a course at the
Lagos State University.

For members only

The festival
director, Zach Orji, perhaps spoke the minds of the artists when he
expressed happiness at Fashola’s presence. He commended the Lagos State
government for always supporting filmmakers and disclosed that the wife
of the governor, Abimbola, had participated in past editions. The
popular actor noted that this year’s edition of the festival was
organised specifically for members, as it included film financing,
writers and coproduction fora. He added that there would also be
keynote speeches on “various sectors that touch the industry.” Orji
also acknowledged AMP’s collaborators, including the National Theatre.
“I hope that we would have moved a step further in the quest to grow
the industry after the festival,” Orji concluded.

Our own Broadway

Fashola, who spoke
extemporaneously, began by saluting the doggedness of the artists. He
noted that despite people’s reluctance to associate with actors in
times past because they were perceived as the wretched of the earth,
they have made significant contributions to the country’s economy. “I
shudder to think what would have happened if those pioneers hadn’t
opened the economy that was there, that so many of us couldn’t see,” he
said.

The governor also
commended the artists for joining the fight to ensure that the National
Theatre wasn’t privatised. “We should learn to put proper value and
take ownership of what is ours and be proud of it. People go to
Broadway… this is our own Broadway.”

Pirates are our brothers

Fashola made the
artists happy when he assured them that the government will join them
in the fight against piracy. “Piracy is a problem, it undermines the
returns that you get and it undermines your effort. But I can start by
saying you should never despair, you should never give up. The people
who pirate your work are also our brothers and sisters. Let us
understand that they do not dislike you. It’s not that they have a
personal quarrel with you but there is an economic opportunity there
and that is the best way they have responded to it. It is for us as
leaders to show that there is a better way, a way in which we can take
them along.

“And as I said when
I first met with you, they would become your distributors, marketers
and agents and everybody will have a win-win situation. It will require
advocacy, it will require even better communication from us, not only
from you. How many movies have we made about the ills of piracy? Have
we made many to educate people? It’s one thing to go and shut down the
place today but if people don’t understand why they must change, we
fight a very difficult battle.

“I will work with
you, hopefully using science and innovation to help further protect the
quality of your final output. I’ve made contact with some people that I
think can assist us, who are consulting for the government, from
Harvard University. They are very sensitive to the development of this
economy and are willing to help. Where it takes us, I don’t know, but I
have never been afraid to try.”

Look beyond government

He also advised the
filmmakers to look beyond government for financial support. “Banks in
this country, like in any other country, exist for one purpose: to lend
money… If the business is strong, if the business is good, if the
business is well presented, banks will support it. You and I have to
wear our creative caps and put on our creative thinking ability to make
this business more finance-friendly. Government alone can’t do it.”

Though he didn’t
rule out the possibility of government support, the governor urged
patience on the part of the filmmakers. “The idea of a government
supported fund, I take on board, but you will allow me not to make a
commitment because I think somebody has been sharing information with
you from inside my government. Until I finish what I’m doing in that
area, I will not announce anything. But you will get support from our
government.”

Restorer of dignity

Fashola further
noted that the moviemakers’ contribution extended beyond Nigeria and
just paying taxes. He lauded them for “helping to imbibe and sustain
dignity in people who will never have had the chance. People who
ordinarily would have gone cap in hand begging to live, they have the
opportunity to do dignified work for a dignified pay and be proud of
society.”

He promised that
their request for a section for Nollywood in his government’s proposed
film village in Badagry will be granted just as he assured that Lagos
places premium on tourism.

Sadly, it appeared that the opening ceremony was all the filmmakers
cared about, as they failed to provide a detailed programme of events
for the week-long event that ended on Friday.