The Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF), as part of its developmental agenda for the film sector, is planning to take 10 students to the United States for practical training in various aspects of filmmaking.
Chioma Ude, founder/CEO of the festival, was reported by the Leadership newspaper that the top 10 students who attend the aptitude during the AFRIFF organised training workshops holding during this year’s festival, the most, will be eligible for the sponsorship.
This disclosure was made at her Victoria Island office recently, where she said that the training in America is planned as a reward scheme for meritorious film students.
According to her, the scholarship would be to attend a short film course at a prestigious American university, and is a collaborative effort with a key AFRIFF partner.
The aspects of filmmaking to be taught at the workshops this year will be acting, scriptwriting, directing and cinematography.
This year’s edition of the festival will hold from November 9 to 16 at the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort, Calabar, Cross River State and interested candidates have been advised register at the new AFRIFF website as only registered candidates would be eligible for shortlisting for the workshops.
She said the skill acquisition and youth development initiative was conceived using filmmaking as a veritable vehicle for youth empowerment. “Tagged, “AFRIFF talent development workshops,” the initiative provides beginners’ and intermediate courses for young people. AFRIFF also organises master classes for more established filmmakers and professionals in the industry,” Ude noted, adding that the planned US training is in line with the vision of providing growth opportunities for graduates of the festival’s training programme.
“AFRIFF has since its first edition in 2010, provided free training and talent development opportunities for young people and aspiring filmmakers. We have provided ground-breaking education in sound for film, cinematography and screen writing for over 500 students. This we have done in partnership with Sound & Motion Technical College and City Varsity, Cape Town, South Africa. We have also worked directly with students of the National Film Institute, Jos; the Creative Arts Department of University of Port-Harcourt; PEFTI Film Institute, Lagos, as well as other aspiring young film makers.
“We believe we can use this model for a social revolution that will change the economic horizon of the African film industry, by providing technical knowledge and skills to the abundant talents in our film community,” she emphasised.
