Fun, Excitement As Lagos Unveils ‘Cinema In Lagos’ In Cannes

FUNKE OSAE-BROWN, Cannes, France

It was a great moment of music, snacks, drinks and networking on Monday May 22 when Lagos hosted the world at its pavilion at the on-going Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France.

Film makers from different countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, United States, Sweden, France, Armenia, Jordan, to mention a few converged at the Lagos Pavilion to learn more about the business opportunities in Lagos and to share in the joy of the unveiling of the ‘Cinema In Lagos’ a magazine that offers detailed information on the business of cinema ad film in Lagos.

In his welcome address, Dele Balogun, executive secretary, Lagos Film and Video Censors Board, said Lagos state’s presence at Cannes in 2017 is significant in many ways. According to him, it is a year, Lagos is celebrating its 50^th birthday which coincides with Cannes Film Festival’s 70^th.

Guests at the unveiling of ‘Cinema In Lagos’ at the Lagos Pavilion in Cannes on Monday. IMAGE/TLR

“This is a great year for us as a state. We are marking our golden jubilee anniversary,” he said. “The celebration started last year and it will culminate into a state banquet on the 27^th of May, 2017. Lagos is a state with many investment opportunities in film making and we are open to business. We will like to collaborate with you as film makers if you are interested in investing in our growing film industry. Lagos is the capital of Nollywood and there are investment opportunities in the building more cinemas in the state. It is also a great location for your film if you would like to shoot in Nigeria.”

Kunle Afolayan, board member, Lagos Council of Arts and Culture, observed Lagos is a hub of film making in Africa while Nollywood is the largest film industry in Africa; hence Lagos offers a veritable investment prospects.

“The film distribution network is getting better,” he explained. “We have about 30 cinemaplex in Lagos and the state government has flagged off the building of three theatres across the state. There are many renovation of existing structures going on. We hope to have additional cinemas by converting under bridges that are currently beautified by Polly Alakija, an artist, to theatres. Also, Lagos is developing a film city which will serve as a hub for pre- post production activities for film makers.”

OC Ukeje, actor, reading a copy of ‘Cinema In Lagos’ magazine at the Lagos Pavilion in Cannes on Monday. IMAGE/ Shaibu Husseini

Also, Mayor Akinpelu, publisher, Global Excellence Magazine, said Lagos has been the leading light in governance in Nigeria which informs the State’s presence at Cannes to showcase its marketable potentials in the film industry at Cannes.

Two film makers from Sweden who visited the Lagos pavilion were excited by the news and the possibility of coming to Lagos to shoot scenes of the film they are currently working on in Lagos.