Joke Silva, Colette Otusheso & Lala Adindoju at the closing of The Accelerate Filmmaker Project featuring the screening & premiere of 5 short films at AFRIFF 2017

The Accelerate Filmmaker Project which was brought to life in partnership with Access Bank and AFRIFF, launched in March of this year, came to a fabulous end at the 2017 Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF).

The closing of the Accelerate Filmmaker Project featured a screening and premiere of the five short films made by the five finalists of the competition in conjunction with AFRIFF on Friday, November 3rd, 2017 at the Genesis Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos State.

The five finalists got the chance to engage with veterans in the industry on their films, while one person was picked as the overall standout filmmaker by AFRIFF. This was Priye Diri, who made the short film, XOXO staring Ade Laoye. Priye will be going to France to continue her film making journey on an AFRIFF filmmaking scholarship.

The other finalists whose films made the premiere include Adenike Adebayo who produced TANWA; Mannie Oiseomaye, who made GOODWILL;  Micheal Akinrogunde, who produced PENANCE; and Joshua Olanrewaju, who made BLACK.

Among over 200 guests at the event were Nollywoods finest including Joke Silva, Mildred Okwo, Ade Laoye, Seyi Babatope, Ego Boyo, John Njamah, Lala Adindoju and AFRIFF founder Chioma Ude amongst others.

Project Manager of the Accelerate Filmmaker Project, Lala Akindoju who was also the compere at the event, brought out each film maker who talked about their learnings and experiences throughout the Accelerate Filmmaker Projects duration, and then allowed comments from the filmmakers mentors and guests about each film as they were shown.

Head, Accelerate TV, Colette Otusheso, who spoke about the success of the event, revealed that the Accelerate Filmmaker Project will hold its second season next year, and it will be much bigger and better. She appreciated everyone who partook in the project and thanked all the judges, mentors, facilitators, teachers, and the Afriff team, as well as members of the Accelerate team for their efforts in executing the project.

Speaking about the project, Nollywood producer, director and actor, John Njamah, said: “I am very proud of what Accelerate is doing; and cannot wait to be a part of subsequent projects. I am always happy to see young minds do great things, since I also started very young and it is really amazing.”

The Accelerate Filmmaker Project is a mechanism of Accelerate TV to give young people the chance to achieve their filmmaking dreams. Over 600 applications came in when the project kick started back in March 2017 with the call for short films centered around the theme ‘Love and Freedom’. From the entires, 30 candidates were longlisted, while 15 made the final cut and were engaged in a week long intense filmmaking training and mentorship programme under the tutelage of professionals in the Nigerian filmmaking industry, including Joke Silva, Seyi Babatope, O.C. Ukeje, Lala Akindoju, Bobo Omotayo, Lawrence Adejumo, Bibi Shasore, Niyi Akinmolayan, Judith Audu, Jennifer Alegieuno, Bose Oshin, Julian Nwagbuniwe, James Omokore and Tolu Ajayi.

Eventually, all fifteen pitched their film ideas to a panel of judges and five people were selected to make their short films with Accelerate TV. The Five people, now known as the “Accelerate Five” were in charge of the directing and the production of their short films with the Accelerate crew and their films premiered on the Accelerate Day at AFRIFF 2017.

The films will be aired in a series called ‘The Dark Series’ on the Accelerate TV platform and Youtube channel later this month.

Watch out for season two of the Accelerate Filmmaker Project next year, which will be brought to you again in partnership with Access Bank and Afriff, so stick with Acceleratetv.com for all the information.

 

——————————————————————————————————————
Sponsored Content