Friday, 11th October
Venue: HEK Creative Space.
Cross Harbour
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Networking Lunch
1:00PM - 1:10PM
Welcome Speech
1:10PM - 1:30PM
Industry Presentation
Moses Babatope Group CEO, Nile Media Entertainment Group
Moses Babatope
Group CEO, Nile Media Entertainment Group
A leading figure in the Nigerian film industry. With over 20 years of experience, he is widely regarded for his pioneering work in film distribution, exhibition, and production. Pioneering the global distribution and exhibition of African films. he has played a pivotal role in transforming Nollywood and bringing African films to global audiences. Babatope has produced and executive produced more than 40 of Nollywood's biggest titles, contributing to the industry's growth and international recognition.
1:30PM - 2:30PM
Keynote Conversations
Naz Onuzo
Founder Inkblot
Chinaza Onuzo is the CEO of Inkblot Studios, a leading Nigerian film and TV production company founded in 2011. Under his leadership, Inkblot has released over 25 movies, grossing nearly N2 billion, and became the first African company to sign a global output deal with Amazon Prime Video. Inkblot also produced Nigeria's first Netflix Original Young Adult Show, "Far From Home," which debuted in December 2022 to critical acclaim. As a filmmaker,
Chinaza has worked on numerous films and TV shows showcased in cinemas, global streaming platforms, and festivals like the Toronto International Film Festival. His work often addresses themes such as gender, feminism, and women's roles in the workplace, presenting an aspirational vision of Nigeria.
Chinaza is also an experienced investment professional, having spent over a decade at African Capital Alliance (ACA), a major African private equity fund. He worked on transactions totaling over $1 billion in sectors like TMT, Financial Services, and Oil and Gas. Chinaza also founded Dussius Nigeria Limited, offering consulting services in the TMT space. In advocacy, he worked with various government and civil society initiatives, including the Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum and the Creative Industry Finance Initiative. He holds an M.Sc. in Economics and Finance from Warwick Business School and degrees in English and Economics
from Duke University.
Colette Otusheso
CEO Accelerate Group
Colette's a seasoned, marketing, communications and project management expert who's successfully led strategic/business planning, marketing, advertising and diverse marketing communications campaigns in various organizations like IBM, MNET Africa, Viacom International Media Networks Africa now Paramount Africa and many others. Now the CEO of a Lagos-based multimedia content creation start-up, Accelerate (www.acceleratetv.com) The digital youth-focused content platform with the ethos to entertain, empower and educate via its 4 business Arms, Accelerate Production Studios, Accelerate Plus an African focused SVOD platform, Accelerate Creative Agency and The Phoenix Project which is fully focused on training and empowering young people in the creative sector.
2:30PM - 5:00PM
Diaspora Film Finance Forum (DFFF)
Budgeting and Planning Gaps in Nigerian Independent Productions (20 minutes)
Wonuola Fasehun, FCCA.
Production Accountant/Finance Business Partner
Wonuola is a chartered accountant, investment professional, SME business consultant, and facilitator with almost 2 decades of experience across the entertainment, non-profit, financial, and professional services sectors in the UK and Nigeria. She led the media and entertainment division of ALP Professional Services Limited (ALP NG & Co, Nigeria) where she led the finance/accounting team on several productions, including a Netflix Original TV series, MTV TV series, feature films and documentaries. Her professional interests are in supporting Nigerian storytellers, by providing structures and processes that facilitate the smooth running of financial operations and reporting, of productions and the production company, as well as providing advisory for fund raising. Wonuola is committed to building the capacity of small to medium sized entrepreneurs and serves as a volunteer at non-profits, which exist for this purpose and sits on the advisory board of an independent content production company.
Overview: The Special Diaspora Film Finance Forum that will drive high level conversations on challenges and limitations for film financing opportunities for Nigerian and Diaspora filmmakers.
Bode Odetoye
CEO KHERUT Films Ltd
Bode Odetoye is an award-winning film producer and writer driven by a deep passion for the transformative power of visual images. With a mission to bring African films to a global audience, Bode's work captivates and provokes the artistic minds of viewers. Their dedication to storytelling through visual mediums breaks stereotypes, challenges perceptions, and celebrates the rich tapestry of African cultures. Through their remarkable contributions, Bode is shaping the landscape of African cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the world stage.
Tosin Otudeko
Writer/Producer, The Garden Theatre
Tosin Otudeko is a writer, poet and producer who has written for film, theatre and TV and has developed a catalogue of musical poems. She is the writer and producer of the 'Heartbeat' Musical which has further been developed with collaborators and produced by Lufodo Productions. She is the writer and producer of 'Over The Bridge' feature film (2023 release), a commissioned writer for film and series writer for TV (The Wedding Party - Netflix, E.V.E – Africa Magic DSTV, Desperate Housewives Africa –Ebony Life TV), the writer and producer for the poetry album 'For The Love of Words and Music.' The Garden Theatre was set up as a vehicle to create, perform, produce and collaborate. It has enabled her engage a variety of inspiring talent including musicians, dancers, actors, poets and singers.
Agatha Amata
CEO, Rave TV
Multiple award winning television icon, Agatha Amata is a Nigerian Media Entrepreneur, Veteran Talk show host, Seasoned speaker, Marketing Consultant, Film maker, and Philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show "Inside-Out with Agatha” and "Inside-out Extra" which gained widespread popularity due to her unconventional style of topic delivery on the show; it remains the longest running independent talk show(s) on Nigerian television with over 20years of broadcast. She is the Managing Director of Inside-Out Media Ltd, a media consultancy, and production outfit based in Lagos, Nigeria. Through it, she created RAVE TV in 2014, a youth-interactive, multi-broadcast TV platform on DTT (GOTV 113, Free TV 745, Avo TV, and Limex World TV); in 2015, Trend FM 100.9, a 24-hour radio station situated in Asaba, Delta state, Rave Films, and IOWA foundation, her not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, which she uses to communicate for change.
The Funding Gap: Securing Resources as an International Filmmaker.
Overview
The focus of conversation will be on the scarcity of financial support for African filmmakers: are international voices being silenced due to lack of access? Hoe can they overcoming the challenges of applying for funding and grant opportunities? What are the strategies for securing international co-production deals and alternative sources of funding
Moderator:Ijeoma Onah
Yemi Daramola
Film Distribution Consultant
Yemi Daramola serves as a consultant specializing in movie marketing & distribution, lending his expertise to diverse film projects across a spectrum of production budgets. Acknowledged as both a festival founder & programmer in London, his overarching mission is to make Black films captivating and accessible to a broader, multiracial global audience. Yemi's noteworthy achievements include the establishment of two prominent Black film festivals in London in the pursuit of enhancing the appeal and accessibility of Black films to a diverse audience in the city. An esteemed international speaker renowned for his insights into Nollywood, specifically in the domains of movie marketing and distribution, Yemi holds the position of Managing Director at Darimedia Distribution Ltd. Over the past five years, Yemi has consulted on a number of films both in the UK & Nigeria, he has also played pivotal role in nurturing the growth of more than twenty filmmakers both in the UK & Nigeria through mentoring and film consulting.
Don Omope
Film Executive/Story Specialist
Don Omope is an experienced script & story specialist, film director and executive producer. He published and edited the defunct African cinema magazine "African screens" for almost a decade and was a former senior studio executive overseeing the development and production of films at the entertainment group filmOne, where he produced 'The Wedding Party 1&2,' which saw theatrical releases in Nigeria, UK and 17 other countries, subsequently gaining global recognition on Netflix. His portfolio also boasts films like the celebrated 'Nolly-Noir Taxi Driver - Oko Ashewo,' which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, among many other titles etc. He is the founder of Pictograph, an international story development and film production consultancy based in the UK & Nigeria and he is also currently the technical delivery partner for the British council's Africa wide producers training lab programme, FilmLab Africa.
Shantelle Rochester
Producer
Shantelle is an entrepreneur with experience in business and planning for companies and individuals which she brought to Film & TV over 15 years ago. She has spoken at the Marche de Film in Cannes Film Festival, Durban Film Festival and supported the 1st 17 strong Black delegation of filmmakers by the BFI to Berlinale in 2020. She is constantly speaking on panels and teaches workshops globally for those wanting to understand the business of film from script to screen. With her knowledge of film and connections globally she has now created the ‘Know Your Power’ which supports creatives and companies with project analysis and 1-1 in person and online access to professionals such as herself, heavily discounted so it can be accessed by low income filmmakers. She had her first in-house Award winning film ‘Two Graves’ bought by Netflix. She has worked on numerous other European films as a producer and line-producer. In 2020 under covid protocol she produced the ‘Black British Theatre Awards’ alongside Kwame Kwei-Armah for Sky Arts. She continues to work at her companies Ida Rose & The Culture Collective on a diverse slate of films, series, documentaries and digital projects in excess of 5 million pounds. She is the only candidate that has been awarded two funds via the UK Global Screen Fund Co Production /International Business awards. She is a Breakthrough Leader & Bafta Elevate alumni.
5:00 PM - 5:30PM
6:00PM - 7:00PM
NIFS London Opening Cocktail in Partnership with UBA Group and Red TV
Saturday, 12th October
Venue: HEK Creative Space.
Cross Harbour
3:00PM - 3:45PM
Producers and Scriptwriters Roundtable Conversations
Moky Makura
Executive Director, African No Filter
Moky Makura was born in Nigeria, educated in England and has lived in London, Johannesburg and Lagos. She has been a TV presenter, producer, author, publisher and a successful entrepreneur in her own right. She is currently the Executive Director of Africa No Filter, a donor collaborative focused on shifting the African narrative. Moky started her media career as the African Anchor and field reporter for South Africa’s award-winning news and actuality show – Carte Blanche. She conceptualized, co-produced and presented a lifestyle TV series for the pan African pay TV channel MNet called “Living It”, which focused on the lifestyles of the African continent’s wealthy elite. She also played a lead role in the groundbreaking and popular MNet Pan-African drama series Jacob’s Cross. Her book Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs with a foreword written by Richard Branson, featured on the top 10 best-selling business books in South Africa when it launched. Moky has since compiled and published a number of non-fiction titles under her imprint MME Media. Titles include South Africa’s Greatest Entrepreneurs, Going Global which tells the stories of South Africa’s most successful global companies and a biography of one of its top entrepreneurs; Herman Mashaba, called Black Like You. Moky started a fiction book series called Nollybooks aimed at getting young Africans to read, and then adapted the series for television co-producing over 21 television movies for the South African TV station etv. The books are available on Worldreader, and Okadabooks. Watch Moky at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM6EnulUQf0 (Living it promo) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDLWWP8N6MU (TED Talk on telling the African story)
3:45PM - 4:15PM
Entreprenurial Opportunity: The Nollywood Film Makers' Construction
4:15PM - 4:45PM
The UK – Nigeria Collaboration Opportunities
Agnieszka Moody
Head of International Relations, British Film Institute
Agnieszka Moody is the Head of International Relations at the British Film Institute. She looks after international policy, strategy and engagement, developing and nurturing international relationships and opening opportunities for UK-based screen professionals. Agnieszka has extensive international network and in-depth understanding of international screen business and culture. She is currently working on the implementation of the international segment of the BFI’s new ten-year strategy Screen Culture 2033. Previously, Agnieszka was the Director of Creative Europe Desk UK, a promotion and information office of the European Union’s funding programme Creative Europe, where she helped hundreds of British companies secure funding for their projects from the EU and organised a range of industry events and conferences promoting co-production and wider international cooperation. In 2018, Agnieszka was seconded from the BFI to Creative Scotland where, as Interim Director of Screen, she supported the launch and the first six-months roll out of Screen Scotland, a partnership of several public agencies to promote the development of screen sector in Scotland. A graduate of the Film Production Department of the renowned Polish National Film and Television School in Lodz, she has worked on several feature films including Steven Spielberg’s Schindler's List.
4:45PM - 5:15PM
Red TV Content Showcase
13 Kinds of Women
Writer:
Eddie Seddoh
Producer:
Olufemi Bamigbetan, Eddie Seddoh
Director:
Eddie Sedoh
Executive Producer:
Alero Ladipo, Bola Atta
When Are We Getting Married
Writer:
Ife Olujuyigbe
Producer:
Olufemi Bamigbetan, Kayode Kassum
Director:
Diji Aderogba
Executive Producer:
Alero Ladipo, Bola Atta
5:15PM - 6:00PM
Presentation and Tour of HEK Studios and Creative Space
Bode Odetoye
CEO KHERUT Films Ltd
Bode Odetoye is an award-winning film producer and writer driven by a deep passion for the transformative power of visual images. With a mission to bring African films to a global audience, Bode's work captivates and provokes the artistic minds of viewers. Their dedication to storytelling through visual mediums breaks stereotypes, challenges perceptions, and celebrates the rich tapestry of African cultures. Through their remarkable contributions, Bode is shaping the landscape of African cinema, leaving an indelible mark on the world stage.
6:00PM - 7:00PM
NIFS London Screenings Red Carpet and Networking Reception in Partnership with Red TV
7:00PM - 8:30PM
Movie Screening
Unintentional
Writer:
Zeina Otonjo
Producer:
Obinna Okerekeocha
Director:
Olufemi Bamigbetan
Executive Producer:
Bola Atta
Unintentional, REDTV’s first feature-length film, stars some of Nollywood’s biggest names, featuring Kate Henshaw, Efa Iwara, Omowumi Dada, Beverly Osu, Chioma Okoli, Tina Mba, and Mike Uchegbu.
Unintentional is a feel-good love story that follows Sefi Madaki (played by Omowumi Dada) and her best friend Rosy (Beverly Osu) on a journey of self-discovery after a tumultuous heartbreak at the start of their national youth service year. Filmed around the beautiful landscape of Enugu State in Nigeria, the movie delves into the lives of these two young African girls on a road trip that leads to the discovery of love in the least expected place, triggered by a weird scenario.
Omowunmi Dada’s Sefi seems to be the absolute unluckiest when it comes to love. She leaves Lagos for her youth service in Imo state after her boyfriend, Ladi (Tobi Bakare), proposes to another woman. Rosie (Beverly Osu), her friend, has informed her and other friends about her posting to Imo State for her service year as well, which makes the duo to be entangled together throughout their service year.
On their way to Imo, they have a very bad traveling experience from issues with other passengers to an engine breakdown in the middle of the road. The ladies are saved from the stress of waiting for another bus by the easy-to-love Uzor (Efa Iwara), who is traveling on the same road at that time. It isn’t an easy one at first because Sefi has decided not to ride with him, despite their unfavorable situation at that time until Rosie forces her to accept the ride.