Nollywood actor and filmmaker Muyiwa Ademola has appealed to the federal government to support the film industry with financial and structural support in order to thrive.
In a chat with Channels Television’s Rubin Minds, Ademola decried the lack of accessible funding and the bureaucratic stress involved in producing films in Nigeria.
He also disclosed that government intervention could revolutionize the filmmaking process and attract investors to the sector.
“We still have that spark — our stories are original, and that’s our strength. That’s what made the industry what it is today. I always tell my peers, ‘Let’s stick to our authentic, original storytelling style,’” he said.
“It’s a very big industry, and the government needs to do better. Movies here are personal projects. Abroad, you put your concept together, present it, and get funding.
“But here, it’s so stressful. You need to know someone who will take you to someone else, and so on. And in the process, your work of art can get doctored. That pressure shouldn’t exist,” he said.
“We need funding, grants, and more cinemas. Especially community cinemas — places that can encourage people to invest in filmmaking because they’re confident about returns. Right now, it’s a whole lot of stress.
“We need systems and policies that make the process easier. Investors should be able to come in, and the government should create an enabling environment for that,” the filmmaker stated.
