Come Friday July 29, 2022, the Nollywood Film Festival Germany (NFFG) and its sister event Nollywood Europe Golden Award (NEGA), will light up Europe’s financial capital city, Frankfurt, Germany as actors, movie producers, musicians, comedians and other stake holders from all over the world, gather for the much talked about event.
Thebladengr.com recently interacted with the Founder of the event, Ambassador Isaac Izoya.
The Culture Ambassador speaks to CHARLES NWAGBARA on what to expect at this year’s event which will hold from the 29th-31st July…
Give us a brief of how this year’s NFFG/NEGA will look like?
This year is going to be special and certainly not business as usual in all ramifications.
It is going to be the first event after covid-19 sentenced us to almost two years house arrest(lock down). Considering the fact that people want to go out of their shell to party, we’ve also gone the extra mile to give them what they will enjoy like never before. We have a super package to satisfy their needs.
For example, we’ll be screening some of the best films from Nigeria, Ghana and a UK based producer.
We are having Nollywood mega stars mixed with best top Comedians and 10 different musicians with extraordinary talents to rock the Gala and after party show. We are giving no room for anyone not to show up. It’s going to be fun unlimited. The number of hotels booked for this upcoming event shows our strategy is a perfect one. From America, Europe and to far Asia, it’s talk of the town and people are shopping like never before ahead of our event.
Who are the big guests you are expecting from Europe?
We are expecting a lot of high profile guests to grace this special event this year. Ambassador Wahab Akande will stand in as the host Ambassador. We are expecting Ambassador Rimdap retd from UK, Prof. Donald Muldrow Griffith, Founder: Fountainhead Tanz Theatre, Black International Cinema, The Collegium & TV Cultural Zephyr e.V. Prof. Stephania A A. Alofuokhai-Ghogomu (JP), Educationist/Linguist and Migration Expert.ZDF TV, Red. Kultur Berlin Boss, Matthias Huegle. We also expect Dr Eddy Yingomune, Atlanta Georgia USA, Okoro Akinyemi PhD from UK and Pastor Charles of CharleyWorld, Dublin, Ireland just to name but a few.
Can you give us details of the Nollywood guests you are expecting from Nigeria?
We are expecting the best of Nollywood, top comedians and musical stars as well as Nollywood stakeholders. Those coming include, Frederick Leonard, Victor Osuagwu, Uju Okoli, Mary Uche, Zeb Ejiro OON – BOT President, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Amb Queen Ebigieson – AMP Vice President, Ghanaian film Director, Frank Fiifi, Cynthia Agholor and David Rotimi, the MD Bahma Nissi Medialinks Real Estate, Lekki, Lagos and of course Hon Justice Peter Kekeme, Abuja Nigeria to name but just a few.
What will you say are the challenges of organising NFFG/NEGA in 2022?
Organising an event of this magnitude after the almost two years break of covid-19 is very challenging.
The first blow is that your sponsors and potential sponsors are struggling to stay in business and you are left with no sponsorship. That’s hurting us like fire.
We still have not seen a lot of the Nigerian government support after many years of projecting Nollywood in Europe. What is their interest like this year?
The Nigerian government is really not paying much attention to Nollywood despite the fact that the industry is one of the highest employers in Nigeria.
Peter Roth Director of FilmForum Hochst, here in Frankfurt, once wondered why the Nigerian government’s support is lacking in this annual event that is projecting Nigeria. Let me quote him, “You’re doing the job of German Goethe Institute in foreign countries. I think, your government is supposed to have a budget for such activities annually because your events always promote cultural heritage and image cleansing of your country to the outside world, you’re giving us opportunity to know much about your country’s culture without leaving our country. Such project never comes cheap. I think your government needs to do more in supporting your events”. But is the Nigerian government really noticing our activities? The answer is a story for another day.
But I must confess, the present Ambassador in Frankfurt Consulate General is God-sent. He’s really outstanding in supporting us personally. Ambassador Wahab Akande is so pleased with our records that he’s ready to do everything humanly possible for continuity of our cultural annual projects. In his words “EHIZOYA GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT e.V makes our job easier. You’re doing part of our job in promoting Nigeria’s image across Europe. We’ll do all it takes to see your dreams come true”. He’s really a man of his words because he has been doing just that. Keeping to his promises. May God bless him for us.
With the paucity of support, how have you weathered the storm?
Our motto said it all.. *”THE SHOW MUST GO ON!” We’ve learnt to remain focused and never to be distracted despite the obstacles that come our way. That is the spirit that is keeping us going.
What are your projections for the future of NFFG/NEGA?
If history is anything to go by and looking back to our humble beginning in 2002 till date, I think, sky is our beginning. We will surely get to the promise Land. By His Grace, “The Show Must Go On!” The future is bright.
