The New York Film Academy seeks to support blossoming film industries all over the world. This past spring, NYFA ran a one month program in Nigeria in collaboration with Nigerian media and communications company Del York International to teach filmmaking and acting to Nigerian citizens. Since working with Del York International, we have been happy to hear more and more about the growth of Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry.
Increasingly, filmmakers in Nigeria have begun to focus on making fewer, higher quality films with strong scripts and better production values, instead of churning out several cheaply-made movies in a year. By investing in the quality of the films, Nollywood has a chance to send them to theaters and increase artistic standards in the industry. Movies that have a theater run also have the opportunity to earn money in the cinema before being sent to DVD to inevitably pirated.
Education and the rise of the Nigerian film industry have been closely tied. At least three New York Film Academy alums have successfully broken artistic ground in Nollywood. Kunle Afolayan did the practically unheard of and reportedly made a good profit on The Figurine’s theater run, his latest full-length film. NYFA Acting School alum Stephanie Okereke wrote, directed and starred in Looking Through the Glass. She received excellent reviews for her work in the relatively high-budget picture. Along with Afolayan and Okereke, New York Film Academy alum released Chineze Anyaene Ije this summer. The film is reputedly one of the best films ever to emerge from Nollywood.
Nollywood’s rapid growth is truly impressive. We are looking forward to hearing more about the work of New York Film Academy alums from our Del York International collaboration. We’re sure you guys are just getting started!
