Tag Archives: Nigerian International TV Summit

NITV founder Onah eyes progress

Ijeoma Onah at the NITV Summit

 

Ijeoma Onah, founder of the Nigerian International TV (NITV) Summit, used the fourth edition of the event, held in Lagos this week, to emphasise the need for industry collaboration to move the sector forward.

With the three-day event based on the theme of Digital Consumption, Distribution & Disruption: Implications for Film & TV Content Business in Nigeria & for Sub-Saharan Africa, Onah acknowledged the importance of having conversations about how businesses can reposition themselves; what streaming businesses are doing to the film industry; exploring new possibilities and models within the ecosystem; and how businesses can navigate through these disruptive times.

Looking at the Nigerian film industry, FilmOne Entertainment MD Moses Babatope said NITV had been instrumental to key business relationships. “This seemingly local event has had global impact and we hope it continues to inspire people in the film business.”

He shed more light on some of the misconceptions people have about the film industry in an effort to let people rethink their positions about film across the value chain. These misconceptions include the suggestion that there is a monetary charge for film reviews; that producers, distributors and exhibitors are one and the same. He also said many people still don’t really understand what distributors do.

Clearing up these misconceptions, Babatope stated distributors like FilmOne’s activities range from forging relationships and ensuring cinemas get to release films, to engaging in marketing strategies as well as working with producers. Babatope added that films are selected for distribution based on censorship, cast, genre, release period, advertising and publicity.

On the issue of the existence of a so-called ‘film cabal’ – an inner circle of powerful industry execs – he said: “One thing often overlooked is that the majority of the chart-toppers are collaborators, especially from their first feature projects.”

Babatope added that the industry should ensure Nigeria’s cinemas grow and pay TV platforms thrive.

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NITV panel tackles digital disruption impact

A panel at this week’s Nigerian International TV (NITV) Summit explored the challenges and opportunities of the continued growth of digital consumption, distribution and disruption.

Opeyemi Ajayi speaking at the NITV Summit

On the panel were Patrick Lee, chairman of the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria and chief operating officer at Viva Cinemas; Joy Odiete, CEO of Blue Pictures Distribution; Opeyemi Ajayi, exec director of cinemas and entertainment at Genesis Group; Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, president of the Association of Movie Producers (AMP); and Moses Iwang, CEO of Nollywood prodco Sneeze Films.

Amid all the disruptions caused by digital, the proliferation of content and the fast emergence of streaming platforms, Lee addressed how these and other factors have affected cinema in Nigeria.

For him, there have been challenges ever since the Covid-19 pandemic that enabled streaming platforms to take advantage of the situation. More people have switched to streaming movies and there are more movies releasing simultaneously on these OTT platforms and in cinemas as well. Another challenge he identified was piracy, but nevertheless he was optimistic about the future of Nollywood.

“We are still developing cinema and growing our customer base. There has been development from within Nollywood. Content is getting better. Most clients have started coming to the cinemas and this shows there is a future for cinemas in Nigeria and we are confident we can make the cinema business successful,” he added.

On how the AMP can assist the cinema industry, Anyiam-Osigwe said: “We are trying to educate our members on the need to keep the cinema business thriving. A lot of work needs to be done between distributors and producers. [We need to] organise events that bring them together so they can engage with each other better.”

Sneeze Films’ Iwang elaborated on what goes through the mind of a filmmaker. He said that after post-production, all a filmmaker wants is for their film to be screened in cinemas in the best quality. The film also has to be well marketed to achieve a return on investment, he said.

According to him, if Nigerian films are released alongside top foreign movies like Hollywood blockbusters, they have a low rate of success.

Regarding the digital challenge, Iwang suggested that films should have at least two weeks of exclusive streaming. “From the point of a view of a filmmaker, we look at how much money has been put into making a movie. How can we take the content owners from where they are to where they have a say? We need to do better with negotiations, especially with the streaming platforms and how our films are presented to the world, he added.

In an effort to encourage the next generation of movie producers, Blue Pictures’ Odiete said that the company was born out of the need for inclusion and that she wants to give people the opportunity to push forward.

Ajayi of Genesis Group concluded by saying collaboration was important and understanding challenges would help the industry forge ahead together. He also suggested finding a balance so movie makers could make more money.

“The cinema and film industry has massive potential and technology always changes things to make it better. Collaboration across the value chain with different players in the industry is the way forward,” he said.

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NITV puts focus on France/Nigeria trade

L-R: Juliette Vivier, Ijeoma Onah and Tatiana Moussali

Strategies for increasing trade and business opportunities between Nigeria and France were the topic of a lively panel at the Nigerian International TV (NITV) Summit this week.

NITV founder Ijeoma Onah said that since the inception of the Summit in 2018, there have been plenty of collaborations between French and Nigerian companies that have helped shaped the narrative that language is no longer a barrier in the film and TV business.

Francis Nebot, CEO of IFind Pictures; Benjamin Budd, business development manager at Vivendi Africa; Olivier Pascal, CEO of L’Académie Franco-Anglophone des Arts Audiovisuels & Cinéma; Denis Ponac, CEO of Summview; Juliette Vivier, international director at Hiventy Group; and Tatiana Moussali, CEO of WE Entertainment were all on hand to discuss how French companies have invested in Nigeria in order to strengthen their relationship via better collaborations.

Budd talked about the business of France-based Vivendi in Africa and how the Canal+ owner has impacted the film industry by establishing a theatre in Abuja, opening the first Anglophone venue in Nigeria, while the venue in Lagos is still under construction. He added that Vivendi is looking to “develop its footprint” in the Nigerian market.

He also mentioned the function of the company’s African cinema subsidiary Canal Olympia, which is to promote African cinema in Nigeria. As an example, he highlighted Oge Obasi-produced feature film Juju Stories, which will be released by Canal Olympia in 12 West African countries.

IFind’s Nebot, a distributor of Nollywood and French-language African films, said: “It was quite a challenge getting a market to like African content and accept. Even dubbing the content to their standard so the African accent won’t be noticeable was hard.”

Hiventy’s Vivier said her company is already working with Nigerian partners and is taking the business model out globally. “We are the first technology partner for Netflix in Nigeria. You should think about your content when coproducing, and it should be produced in a way that addresses a global audience.”

Onah added: “Disruption is here and it changes the traditional way of doing things. The digital era is here to stay and there is an opportunity that needs to be tapped, but we need to pay attention.”

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NITV Summit to take place in Lagos

The next Nigerian International TV (NITV) Summit is scheduled to be held from September 28 to 30 in Lagos.

This year’s hybrid edition will mix in-person sessions with virtual content,  under the theme ‘Digital Consumption, Distribution & Disruption: Implications for Film & TV Content Business in Nigeria & for Sub-Saharan Africa.’

It will address the challenges, solutions and opportunities particular to the next generation of filmmakers, said the organisers.

In conjunction with the Emerging Cinema Market Africa event, there will also be a session that will look at the significant challenges and uncertainty that have arisen due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on Africa and the Nigerian film and cinema industry, aka Nollywood.

There will be special screenings in partnership with EbonyLIfe CEO Mo Abudu’s EbonyLife Place, aimed at bringing next-generation, upcoming and established Nigerian producers to the fore in terms of distribution and reach locally and internationally. The screenings will focus on the following categories: new movies seeking cinema distribution; new movies seeking TV, VoD and ancillary distribution; new drama series seeking TV, VoD and ancillary distribution; documentaries; and short movies.

Speakers include Joy Odiete, CEO of Blue Pictures Distribution, and Todimu Adegoke from the Next Gen Young Nigerian Producers organisation.

The NITV Summit provides a platform to examine issues related to the business of film in Nigeria as it relates to Hollywood distribution in the country and Nollywood’s international appeal.

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NITV to be held virtually during AFM

The Nigerian International TV (NITV) Summit will be held online from November 9 to 13 during the virtual version of the American Film Market next week.

With the tagline Beyond Borders in Film Business: Cinema Exhibition Business in Nigeria Before & After the Pandemic, this year’s NITV will examine how the pandemic has affected local content.

Speakers at the event include Mo Abudu, CEO of EbonyLife Media; Moses Babatope, co-founder of Filmhouse Group and MD of FilmOne Entertainment; Patrick Lee, MD of Diamond Cinemas and management consultant at Star Glazers Media; and Joy Odiete, MD and CEO of Blue Pictures Entertainment.

Ijeoma Onah, NITV founder, said: “It’s been four years of taking the Nigerian film business global at the American Film Market and the summit has remained Nigeria’s top-level flagship B2B professional event for deliberate positioning of the local film industry globally.”

To register to attend the summit, click here.

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NITV Summit to be held in Paris

The Nigerian International TV Summit is scheduled to be held on April 3-4 in Paris.

Themed Producing with Nigeria: Developing and Creating Original and Appealing Content for Africa and Beyond, the two-day event will bring together top local and international TV industry executives involved in the content business.

It will create a platform to encourage cross-cultural productions and TV content business between Nigeria and other African countries especially with the French speaking countries in Africa as well as other English-speaking countries, both within and outside Africa.

It will also be an opportunity to meet and network with Nigerian independent TV producers and discover new projects in development for B2B financing and coproduction and distribution with Nigerian independent production companies.

There will be special screening sessions for buyers seeking to acquire scripted and non-scripted programmes including TV series, movies, telenovelas, feature films, documentaries, Nigerian animations and fashion and cooking shows.

Industry workshops and round- table discussions will highlight new, existing and innovative content delivery solutions and opportunities for local channels in Nigeria as well as the role Nigeria plays in creating the demand and appetite for African content to the rest of the world.

The summit will also focus on Nigerian women in film and TV, including Stephanie Linus, executive director of Extended Hands Foundation for Best Reality TV Show (Make Me Fabulous), Emem Isong, CEO of the Royal Arts Academy for Best TV Movies (Lovers & Sinners), Chinenye Nworah, CEO of Giant Creative Media for Best TV Drama Series (Tough Love) and Gina Ehikodi Ojo, CEO of Geenamoore & Associates for Best Cooking shows.

Click here to register.

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NITV heads to France

The Nigerian International TV Summit (NITV) is scheduled to hold a number of industry events in France next month, including a conference in Cannes and another in Paris.

Between April 9 and 10, there will be a two-day event in Cannes called the Creative Africa Pavilion, as part of the MipTV conference. The Pavilion will house panel sessions between 4pm and 6pm, aimed at exploring ways African companies can work with international ones.

On April 12, NITV will host a roundtable discussion in Paris to explore how French and Nigerian companies can work together. This forum will bring together producers and distributors to highlight and develop content cooperation and exports.

At NITV’s events in France there will be roundtable discussions centred on the Nigerian TV business landscape, the opportunities available within the Nigerian audio-visual and TV ecosystem, film funding and production in Nigeria as well as other related TV topics.

There will also be specialised sessions on understanding coproduction with Nigeria, commissioning and discovering new projects from Nigeria, and networking opportunities.

Some new Nigerian TV series in development for international coproduction will be revealed in an effort to show that the best TV content can be found in Nigeria and also to create international visibility for Nigerian independent TV producers.

These projects include True Blue by Charles Novia, founder of November Productions; Broken by Agatha Amata, CEO of RaveTV; Maskers by Victor Okpala, CEO of Dope 7 Media; and The Mystic River by CEO Native Media, Rogers Ofime.

Other highlights include Kosi by Izu Osuigwe, CEO of Forest Media; The Masters Plan by Blessing Egbe, CEO of B’Concept Productions; The Redemption by Kingsley Omoefe, CEO of Golden Heritage; Hunted Heart by Emeka Ossai, CEO, Golden Pyramids Productions; Sinking Sand by Jerry Isichei, CEO, Daches Multimedia; Darker Shade of Black by Greg Odutayo, CEO, Royal Roots Communication; The Prenup by Paul Igwe, CEO, Whitestone Cinemas; and Princes and Paupers by Ariyike Oladipo, CEO, Apreel Ventures.

As well as NITV’s French events, the company is planning its NITV Summit in Lagos in September and another event in Los Angeles in November.

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