Meet the Industry Leaders Backing the AFCM Revolution

A quick look at the visionaries, experts, and stars who came out for the Information Seminar

You know an event is a big deal simply from the calibre of people who took time out to grace the event with their presence. On Tuesday, September 2nd, the industry really showed up for the info session of the first-ever Nigerian Film Market by Afriff. The AFCM Information Seminar wasn't just a regular meeting; it felt like all of Nollywood came together to say, "Okay, it's time for something new."

Here’s a look at the key people whose presence showed that everyone is serious about building this future.

The Team Behind the Scenes

So who put this all together? First up is the person with the main idea, Chioma Ude, the Founder of AFRIFF. She saw that the industry needed its own place to do business. We also heard virtually from Dennis Ruh, a global expert from Germany who used to run a huge film market in Europe. He's bringing all that knowledge to Lagos. And making sure the event ran smoothly, we had Latasha Ngwube as the host for the day, and Julian Nwagboniwe handling everything behind the scenes.

Big Support from Government and Guilds

It wasn't just filmmakers in the room. This market has big support. We saw top government people like Dr Shaibu Husseini from the Censors Board and Ayo Adeagbo, who works with the President on Arts and Culture, whose presence signals just how serious the business of filmmaking is to the Government and the economy. Also, the heads of the big industry groups (the guilds) were there: Amb. Dr Queen Blessing Ebigieson from the Producers Guild and Rev. Mrs Joy Osawaru-Akinyemi from the Designers Guild present to advocate for their various communities and show just how much impact the market has on the whole industry.

The Experts on Stage

The main event was a panel of experts who shared some real, honest advice. Leading the chat was the experienced producer Victor Okhai. He was joined by:

• Chioma Onyenwe, a producer-director, explained what it’s really like to pitch a project.

• Victor Okpala, the CEO of DOPE 7 Media, told a real story about landing a huge deal at a market.

• Victor Sanchez Agahowa, a strategist who gave great advice about solving a buyer's problem, not just selling your own thing.

• Enyi Omeruah is a creative producer and entrepreneur who connects African talent to the world.

L-R: Victor Okhai, Enyi Omeruah, Chioma Onyenwe, Chioma Ude, Dr. Shuaibu Husseini, Victor Sanchez Aghahowa and Victor Okpala. Via YouTube (AFRIFF TV)

A Room Full of Stars

And it wasn't just about the people on stage. The audience was packed with stars and big names. Veteran producer Charles Novia shared some advice, and famous comedian and filmmaker Bovi Ugboma was fully present. We also saw star actor Deyemi Okanlawon, who is looking to get into producing. Plus, big-time filmmakers like Obi Emelonye and the people behind the blogs we all read, like Sam Olatunji of Sam Olatunji TV and Akintunde Damilare from ShockNG, were in the room.

What's Next?

So what's the big takeaway? The new AFCM isn't just an AFRIFF thing—it's something the whole industry is getting behind. From the government to the biggest stars, everyone agrees it's time for this.

The room was full of Nollywood's best, and in November, you'll have a chance to be in the room with them.