Nigeria today is in the midst of a new wave of filmmaking that marks a dramatic departure from the Nollywood phenomenon and which the new generation of film-makers have coined New Nigeria Cinema.
With sophisticated production techniques, stories that hold international appeal and themes reflecting contemporary African culture, Nigeria’s national cinema is rising.
Nollywood, Nigeria’s video industry has grown rapidly over the past two decades to become the second largest moving image industry in the world; in terms of number of output, second only to Bollywood.
With an estimated 200 titles produced every month, the films which are largely shot on video find mass distribution throughout Africa and its disparate communities around the world but rarely gets the attention of the industry and international festival circuit.
Today’s new generation of filmmakers’ demand to be taken seriously. Utilising professional production methods, they believe that their work deserves an international audience.
In support of these young guns of cinema leading the trail to be appreciated on the global platform and to mark Nigeria’s 50th anniversary, BFI Southbank, in association with the Virgo foundation, will present a day dedicated to New Nigerian cinema on Saturday October 30th from 11:00 – 17.30.
The day will include a screening of Kunle Afolayan‘s acclaimed new film, The Figurine (2009), a current hit on Nigeria’s film circuit and is a perfect example of the emerging talent that will be accompanied by selected shorts and trailers.
Archive Nigeria: The History of Nigeria on Film will also be a highlight of the day and will feature NAIJ (2008) by Jide Olanrewaju which, through two and a half hours of rare archival footage, tells the political history of Nigeria from British colony to the oil state of today.
Naij
Nigeria 2008. Dir Jide Olanrewaju. 150 mins. EST
Tickets £3. Free for ticket holders of The Figurine.
Sat 30 Oct 11:00-13.30
The Figurine (Araromire)
Nigeria 2009
Tickets £5
Sat 30 Oct – 2pm
