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 others 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.
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