BOB TV 2010 - 7TH AFRICAN FILMS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMMES EXPO

BOB TV NEWS & EVENTS

BOB TV FILM FESTIVAL 2009: A JOURNAL

DAY ONE: OPENING

Truth be told, the BOB TV FILM FESTIVAL is a little more than that. As the DANA aircraft that bore yours truly made contact with the hard tarmac of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the frenzy of co-travelers to disembark and get to the Sheraton venue of the event, at the same time and in the same breath, pulled the veil from off my face. BOB TV FILM FESTIVAL is really a tourists’ stopover; an ogling center where star-struck fans converge to mob their screen heroes; a forum to network and broker business deals; and then finally, well, a film festival.

10: 30 - OPENING CEREMONY

Hall One of the Ladi Kwali Conference Center of the Sheraton Hotel is packed full with eager attendees many of who are budding or seasoned filmmakers, along with many gathered to ‘see’ the constellation gathered. Richard Mofe Damijo still has it. Chairman of the occasion, RMD stepped into the hall and immediately drew excited gasps from the admiring mass seated. The duo of Nkem Owoh and Okey Bakassi (Who represented Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, in his capacity as an advisor to the statesman) provoked a wild laughter and applause when they stepped into the hall.

The special guests, Richard Mofe Damijo, one-time NTA strongman, Peter Igho; head-honcho of the video censors’ board, Emeka Mba; MD of Nigerian Film Corporation, Afolabi Adesanya (Standing in for the Minister of Information, Mrs. Dora Akunyili); and the venerable pillar of film and television, Tom Adaba, all took turns to make the same point in refreshingly different ways – Nollywood is a global phenomenon that must be lauded for its achievements, even if it needs –as it does- to step up its production values. Another special guest, Onno Ruhl, Country Director of the World Bank, excellently remarked that Nollywood is arguably the second biggest money grossing venture in Nigeria, after oil, given its immense sales across the world, but one that cannot be confirmed because there’s no structure to record earnings and reward deserving laborers.

The keynote speech, delivered by Mike Izekhome, focused on Nollywood and the Federal Government’s move to rebrand the nation, encouraging the use of movies to paint Nigeria in better hues.

The ceremony ended with special awards for immense talent and skill awarded to giants from showbiz to the media. Some of the recipients were Nkem Owoh (Immense talent and skill as an actor), Zainab Bewell (Director), Lekan Ogunbanwo (Broadcasting and Management), Okechukwu Ogunjiofor (For growth of Nollywood), and Bukky Ajayi, a lifetime achievement award.
Okey Bakassi gave the vote of thanks and everyone moved to the exhibition hall.

1:00 EXHIBITION HALL

The Nigerian media and Nollywood were ably represented with the immense stands of AIT and LTV, Nigerian Copyright Commission, National Film Corporation and stands by frontline filmmakers like Emem Isong, who will be screening her latest movie, RELOADED, in the course of the week. Animators, sound and lighting engineers, as well as film academicians selling books on varied aspects of the art and business, spread their wares for view and sales.

Variety may be the spice of life but as BOB TV FESTIVAL proved, a pleasant bane. One was torn between attending the conference on Film Distribution and the one on Creating Content for television. The interactive session with Angus Gibson, Producer of Jacob’s Cross was an easy choice to make because of the South African soap’s popularity, and to boot, RMD hosted the session.

Mona Lisa Chinda, Desmond Elliot, Sam Dede, Bukky Ajayi, Nkem Owoh, and several Directors and Producers, sauntered around the environs with the leisurely air of friends about the hood. Great thing with film festivals – stars and fans mingle without the strictures of bodyguards and other restraining elements.

6:00 SCREENING OF SCOUNDRELS OF FAITH

What’s a film festival without a film, and SCOUNDRELS OF FAITH was a fitting one to end the first day with. Written, produced and directed by Babatunde , Canadian based filmmaker who’s enjoyed starring credits in Hollywood pictures, including Chow Yun Fat’s BULLETPROOF MONK. The story was about a man of faith’s struggle between love for God and return to crime as he strives to save his marriage fast crumbling under the weight of poverty.

BOB TV FILM FESTIVAL 2009 has kicked off on a successful note.
With more movies to be screened, training workshops on every strata of film and silver screen ‘stars’ dropping by to hobnob with fans and colleagues, this year’s edition appears set to be the best one yet.

- Anthony Kehinde Joseph

[top] | [back to news & events]