FILM INDUSTRY GENERATES $200M ANNUALLY - MINISTER

Source: nigeriafilms.com

The Nigerian film industry generates 200 million dollars annually, Information Minister, Frank Nweke, Jnr. has said.

Nweke, who spoke at the third Abuja International Film Festival on Monday in Abuja, said that the country produced more than 1,000 feature films yearly.

It was gathered that more than 70 films from 40 countries would be screened during the festival.

Nweke said that the festival was part of an opportunity for the country to showcase its heritage, the heart of Africa project as well as the Nollywood success story.

He said the government would continue to support all activities in the industry as the successes in the sector were that of visionary leadership as represented by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The minister appealed to practitioners in the film industry to “refresh the recurring stench of systemic rancour in their midst”.

According to him, Nollywood upgrades courage and shrewdness by adopting the appropriate technology and keeping abreast with global trends in the sector.

Fidelis Duker, the festival director, later stated that the celebration was about creditability, and added that the country had achieved that through the film and video industry.

He said that this year's festival was a joyful one as 15 film makers from various countries were participating in the three-day event.