Grandeur of World Cup of Film Festivals

• Brad Pit… Killing them Softly in Cannes 2012

• NEXIM, FIRS, NFC hoist Nigeria’s flag

• Kunle Afolayan, Mahmood Ali-Balogun in touch!

There is a grossly unprecedented success at the 65th edition of Festival de Cannes, the largest gathering of filmmakers in the world. And Nigeria is not left out in the feat. Victor Akande, Entertainment Editor who is among the 4,300 accredited journalists from all over the world records the mood in this report.

*Wet… wet Cannes!

It is usually a summer experience, but this year’s edition of the prestigious Festival de Cannes caught all by surprise, as few days into the festival which opened on May 16th, the rains began, first in drizzles, then, a shower non-stop.  Sales of sweater rose instantly, but perhaps more than that, leather jackets to dispel the cascade that trickle down the skin, causing unpleasant shivers.  The beaches may have been deserted for those few days, and so are the skimpy summer dress sights that make for side attractions; but networking of film business continued. Jessica Aimes, a lady at the press office recalled that in the twenty years that she has served at the Festival, it is the first of this kind of weather. It was particularly a sharp contrast to last year’s weather wherein the sun stripped participants of their chunky coverlets. But on the 8th day, the sun resumed.

*Shop 114

This sounds like some movie title, but 114 is the number of the Nigerian Pavilion in Cannes this year. It is the last major official duty of Afolabi Adesanya, Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation, Jos. Incidentally, this year’s outing appears most strategic and forward looking; if the presence of Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) and Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is anything to go by. It marks an evidence of a purposeful reception of film production initiatives and support by the Federal government through these agencies, some of which are already showing support through the USD 200 million intervention fund promised by President Goodluck Jonathan, and the reason NEXIM Bank, one of the fund managers is at the festival. To say that the industry is ready for government support through financial intervention and tax incentives is stating the obvious. Apart from the usual Babylon Workshop, the presence of NEXIM officials and the FIRS is the first of its kind. The officials are however surprised that not many Nigerian filmmakers with whom they expect to open talks at an international platform of the magnitude of Cannes were at the festival.

*NEXIM Bank talks co-financing/co-production at Cannes Film Festival

The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) is partnering with the Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) in a co-sponsoring arrangement at the ongoing 65th edition of Cannes International Film Festival, holding in Cannes, France.

The NEXIM team is at the festival to seek co-financing/co-production opportunities in support of the Nigerian motion picture industry. At a special session held on Wednesday May 23rd 2012, in conjunction with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the NFC, the bank enjoined exhibitors to explore areas of synergies between producers and film makers. It was also an avenue to showcase the abundant opportunities in the Nigerian movie industry. Highlights of the Bank's participation included a paper presentation led by Mr. Awami Mohammed, the Bank’s Assistant Manager, Credit Insurance and Guarantee Department, issues on Co-financing/Co-production opportunities for the Nigerian Motion Picture Industry was exhaustively discussed. The festival provides a platform for the Bank to interact with international financial institutions and fund arrangers as it regards Film Finance.

Mohammed who represented the Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Roberts Orya explained that NEXIM’s activities in support of the movie industry is such that the bank considers the creative arts and entertainment industry as a very important sector with sustainable growth and foreign exchange potentials that would generate, sustain employment as well as create wealth and continuous pool of talents.

He noted that the co- financing/co-production opportunities is part of the Bank’s strategic policy of attracting investment capital and enhancing the adoption of new technology. He explained that some of the reasons the Bank encourages and supports Co- Financing / Co- Production arrangements include; exposing Nigerian practitioners to the benefits of the global film entertainment market revenues valued at over US$90 billion in 2010; facilitating the up-scaling of Nigeria’s film production quality; facilitating the establishment of adequate digital production and distribution infrastructures / platforms, and encouraging the adoption / transfer of modern production skills / techniques.

The session was attended by other officials of NEXIM, FIRS, NFC (led by Mr. Afolabi Adesanya, MD NFC), filmmakers from France, Germany, Kenya, South Africa and other countries; also in attendance were Nigerian filmmakers like Mahmood Ali-Balogun (Tango with Me) and Kunle Afolayan (Figurine) availing themselves with opportunity of the USD 200 million Intervention Fund for the Entertainment Industry that is being co-managed by NEXIM Bank and the Bank of Industry (BoI).

*Kunle Afolayan, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Jeta Amata in touch

Producer of Figurine, Kunle Afolayan is at the festival looking for international distributors for his latest films; Figurine and Phone Swap. But perhaps more importantly is his series of meeting with the NEXIM Bank team on how to access part of the USD 200 million intervention fund for the entertainment industry which is in the Bank’s custody.  Producer of Tango with Me, Mahmood Ali-Balogun is also talking to the fund managers, while also seeking distributors for Tango with Me. Jeta Amata has just re-shot Black Gold. It is now called Black November. The film trailer runs at the pavilion, even as he busies himself with other networking at the festival. Whatever Dayo Ogunyemi, the Kenya-based Nigerian and CEO of 234Media is discussing with the NFC and NEXIM, he will soon let the world know. But for sure, he did not travel all the way to Cannes just to play.  

*A Brad Pitt with Angelina Jolie

All may have waited for another talk of the town appearance of Hollywood hit star, Brad Pitt who last year engaged his heartthrob, Angelina Jolie on a red carpet romance. Pitt, a regular sight at the festival was here last year to fly the flag of Terrence Malick’s dramatic film entitled Tree of Life, and he was all about town with popular actress and wife, Jolie, making amazing appearances, walking hand-in-hand down the red carpet such that observers were asking if there is any couple in the industry as romantic as the two. Their disposition, many believed was meant to shot critics up, who say the relationship will not be for long. This year however, he came alone. This time, it is for the film entitled Killing them Softly; a more suggestive title for his outing last year.

*This film seeks a wrestle contest with Slumdog Millionaire

Bollywood cinema is indeed being celebrated by international audiences. Gangs of Wasseypur is a new product being advertised. It prides itself with having the muscle to wrestle award-winning movie, Slumdog Millionaire down.                                               

Described as Bollywood’s latest craze, Gangs of Wasseypur is India’s first Bollywood film to be part of the Director’s Fortnight. Billed as this year’sSlumdog Millionare, the film is cleverly told in two separate films, with the first releasing on the 22nd June. The flick combines clever filmmaking with a powerful, high-concept and entertaining plot, with revenge at its core.

Directed by Anurag Kashyap, a young, avant-garde Indian filmmaker, the film is an epic tale, spanning 60 years of a feuding family’s life set against the backdrop of the rural coal communities in Dhanbad, India.

Gangs Of Wasseypur breaks with Indian cinema conventions in the same mold as the Academy Award-winning Slumdog Millionaire, and other acclaimed films such as Bandit Queen. It’s the next stuff from Bollywood to watch out for!

*Brazil is guest country in Cannes

This year, the Festival de Cannes celebrates Brazil as its “special guest country”. Following on from Egypt in 2011, it is the second year in a row that the Festival has shone the spotlight on a great filmmaking nation.

The quality of Brazil’s output is clearly on display with four films in official selection, plus On the Road by Walter Salles in competition. The homage to Brazil was concluded with a musical fiesta on Tuesday 22 May at the Agora, one of the top events venues in Cannes. The feat, further attests to Brazil’s gradual positioning as a film nation outside football.