As part of
activities celebrating Lagos at 50, the state government has unveiled a special
publication named Cinema in Lagos ahead of the 2017 Cannes Film Festival
holding in France from May 17 to 28.
The unveiling
was done on Friday at Filmhouse Cinema in Lekki and Silverbird Cinema in Ikeja
during a programme tagged “Lagos Love the Cinema”.
Speaking at
the Lekki event, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr
Steve Ayorinde, disclosed that the publication was conceived to highlight the contributions
of the film industry to the economy and culture of Lagos.
He added
that it was produced to complement Nollywood’s participation at the Cannes Film
Festival.
“Lagos will
have a pavilion at Cannes Film Festival which is celebrating 70 years in the
same month our dear state celebrates 50 years. As you know, Lagos is home to Nollywood,
the second biggest film industry in the world, and Cannes is the biggest film
festival in the world. We have therefore put together this special publication
called Cinema in Lagos. It will be presented in Cannes to filmmakers,
journalists, film buyers and other from across the world.
“This is
about our love for cinema and part of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s vision to
promote art and culture in the state. We are excited that films by Lagos
producers are doing well in the cinema and contributing significantly to the
economy of the state. The state government is therefore pleased to showcase the
creativity and business opportunities that abound here to a global audience
through this publication,” the commissioner said.
Mr
Ayorinde’s words were echoed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Information and Strategy, Mr Fola Adeyemi, while unveiling the publication in
Ikeja.
Like the
commissioner, the permanent secretary promised that there will be other
editions of the publication in line with Governor Ambode’s intervention in the
creative industry.
Cinema in
Lagos was produced by a team of film journalists and critics led by Mr Olumide
Iyanda.
The magazine,
according to Iyanda, “provides ready information about what is unarguably the
capital of African cinema. It is invaluable for filmmakers, investors, fans and
other Nollywood stakeholders.”
Joining Ayorinde
and Folarin for the unveiling were eminent personalities like co-Chairman, Lagos
at 50 Planning Committee, Hon. Habeeb Fasinro; Chairman, Lagos State House of
Assembly Committee on Health Services, Hon. Segun Olulade; Lagos State Head of
Service, Mrs Olabowale Ademola; Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service,
Mr Ayodele Subair; Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors
Board, Mr Bamidele Balogun and filmmaker, Mr Kunle Afolayan.
Ayo Midele/GEE
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