By Uche Ikechukwu Nuel
It was a well attended gathering of Cinema & Film Industry stakeholders at the Prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria earlier today 20th, July, 2023.
The convention was declared opened by the Director General, National Film and Video Cendors Board (NFVCB), Mr. Adedayo Thomas.
In the opening speech of the Founder/Convener of Lagos International Film And Cinema Convention (LIFACC)- Mr. Theophilus Akatugba, he said ” The three days event with the theme, ‘Advancing the business of Film and cinema in Africa’ is here to deepen understanding among practitioners in the distribution and exhibition sector of the movie industry in Africa while helping producers to understand expectations for better, bigger, and creatively innovative movies to satisfy and sustain the ever dynamic need of audiences across the continent.
There are film festivals, film summits, and several other events for this motion picture industry in Nigeria but LIFACC is birthed as a business trade show for the film and cinema sector of the motion picture ecosystem, LIFACC is and will pattern after its likes CinemaCon, Cine Europe and cineAsia, etc. for the practitioners to have a platform to understand each other, learn about the business of film distribution and Exhibition and promote its cause of developing, growing and sustaining cinema culture across the continent of Africa.” he averred.
He further said “we hope that next year, we will witness bigger participation from more countries of the world. In this year’s event, we have carefully programmed interesting panel discussions, which you will find in your brochure. We have also curated master classes to help improve the practitioners improve understanding, increase knowledge and acquire new skills. LIFACC will help shape the trajectory of the Nigerian and African film industry, jump-start buzz around the box office, and set the stage for cinematic, film distribution, production, and innovations”.
Other important dignitaries at the event include Mr. Patrick Donald Lee (Former Chairman, Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria -CEAN), Moses Babatope -(Co-Founder/Managing Director, Filmhouse Group, Toyin Abraham, Filmmaker, Shileola Ibironke(MD/CEO, Micromedia Group of Companies), Jimi Aina (Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service), Adebukola Agbaminoja(Executive Secretary – LSFVCB), Joy Efe Odiete- CEO, Blue Pictures Entertainment/President, Film Distributors Association of Nigeria – FDAN), Ijeoma Onah (Convener, Nigeria International Film Summit -NIFS) amongst so many others .
Today’s sessions dealt with topics Overview of the Nigerian Film ecisystem-Production, distribution, exhibition, streaming and broadcast, this was delivered by Mr. Patrick Lee while Mr. Adedayo Thomas gave Industry Address.
The delegates from South Africa specifically University of Limpopo, were the speakers of the LIFACC 2023 Masterclass. They are Edgar Julius Malatji- (Lecturer, University of Limpopo, South Africa), Thembisile Sibeko (Film and Television Lecturer, University of Limpopo, South Africa) and Rudzani Muthambi, Senior Lecturer, University of Limpopo, South Africa).
The Highlight of the day was the panel session that dealt with “Taxation and the Film & Cinema Industry- Chains or Shackles: How creative can we be?” It was moderated by Yemi Adeniran (Partner, Andersen) with Panelists ranging from Patrick Lee(Head of Operations, VIVA Cinemas and Viva Film Distribution, Shileola Ibirinke (MD/CEO, Micromedia Group of Companies, Mary Ephraim-Egbas, (President, Homeland Films), Jimi Aina(Executive Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service)5 amongst others.
The Day 1 was indeed full of engaging sessions back to back with Igvadun (Chill Time), a networking session ending it all. Delegates and participants can’t wait for tomorrow’s sessions.
See photos below:
