konknaijaboy | On 14, May 2013

NollywoodWeek Paris is expected to be an annual event dedicated to showcasing the best of Nollywood to a French audience to foster distribution opportunities in the untapped Nigerian market.

In a press statement released by the organizers, the event starts on Thursday May 30th with an opening night launch party and ends Sunday June 2nd 2013 with a Closing ceremony featuring the film voted best feature by the public.

NollywoodWeek is scheduled to take place at L’Arlequin Theatre in Paris, right between the Latin Quarter and Montparnarsse. During the course of the festival, seven of the best feature length films by Nigerian directors will be screened throughout each day and open for public voting. In addition to the film screenings, there will be a marketplace, a panel discussion, and special events taking place.

The seven films selected to screen this year are: Phone Swap by Kunle Afolayan, Maami by Tunde Kelani, Inalé by Jeta Amata & Keke Bongos, Tango with Me by Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Ijé by Chineze Anyaene, Man on Ground by Akin Omotoso and Last Flight to Abuja by Obi Emelonye.

Chineze Anyaene, Director and producer of Ije, one of the movies to be screened in Paris, has expressed joy that the efforts of Nigerian are been recognized in other continents. “It is great to know that our efforts are not in vain and that Nigerian movies actually appeal to foreign audience especially the French. It is not easy to pleas the French and it is really wonderful that this festival is happening there. It’s a great step for Nollywood and I am happy to be a part of it” she said.

Also Kunle Afolayan Director and producer of Phone Swap say “it is really a good feeling that the film got selected to be one of the films to be screened at the festival. It is my prayers and wish that the audience gets to enjoy the film. This isn’t about being the best film and all that. But, it is about telling our story to the outside world in our own way. Nollywood needs all the support it can get and this is a good step in putting Nollywood in its right place on the world entertainment”

This year, Nollywood turns twenty one. Now is the perfect time to shift gears away from its perception of low-quality films and move towards bringing recognition to the most influential story-tellers and production in Africa. The Nigerian film industry has gone beyond national borders obtaining worldwide recognition. Now, it will become known to the 62 million inhabitants of France, the birthplace of cinema.

Source: MediaSourceAfrica.com