The first set of candidates for the Academy for African Filmmakers, an initiative of Unilever Plc, graduated in Lagos on Wednesday.
Leading film makers that included documentary expert, Femi Odugbemi, joined officials of the company at Protea Hotel, Maryland, Lagos, where the event held.
Inaugurated September, 2013, the Academy for African Filmmakers, in conjunction with MOFILM a new initiative which seeks to empower, equip, and celebrate African Film makers. It is designed to develop filmmaking expertise and give students the opportunity to work on Unilever briefs, and get possible funding for their works.
It is in this regard that MOFILM organized an intensive three-day course for selected filmmakers, created and delivered by experts from the filmmaking industry. Thursday was the last day of this course. As part of their final assessment, participants had been tasked to work in groups on film ideas and make a presentation to the panel.
According to the marketing Manager, Unilever Plc, Mr. Robert de Vreede, the organization is using the platform to invest in youths.
“What we are trying to do is to catch young African talents and skills and help to develop them. The initiative is an opportunity for young Nigerians to work in the industry and also prepare them for the future in,” de Vreede said.
One of the winners, Samson Oklobia, thanked the organisers and assured them that all he and his colleagues would make a good use of the opportunity.
“The course really exposed me to a lot of things. It gave me the opportunity to showcase my talent and meet film stars,” Oklobia said.
On the process followed, Odugbemi explained that the criteria for selecting the winners included presentation on interpretation of the brief, target audience, theme/message of the storyline, genre, story and structure.
Unilever Nigeria Plc was established in 1923 and is a leading player manufacturing and marketing of fast moving consumer goods in Nigeria.
